Horse Racing Betting: Donn McClean’s Horses To Follow

Before we dive in, some basic rules for a horses to follow list is to keep them in a tracker and on your radar for the next three runs.

Consider ideal conditions across variables like venue, ground, opposition and ensure prices on betting sites are satisfactory to you as a punter. 

This column should help you build up a list that proves profitable under those circumstances.

It should also provide timely reminders to reduce repeated form study and assist with your enjoyment of a season, be it National Hunt or Flat racing.

Coeur D'Or - Leopardstown, 13th July

Coeur D'Or did well to finish third in the nine-furlong premier handicap at Leopardstown last Thursday. 

Allowed drift back in the field early on from his outside draw, he was only 12th of the 14 runners as they left the back straight. He travelled nicely around the home turn and he picked up well at the top of the home straight when Chris Hayes asked him to. 

He didn't have a whole lot of room on the run to the furlong marker, but he continued his forward momentum, getting up for third place in the end behind Redstone Well and Carracci.

This was a race in which it was difficult to make ground from the rear. The winner and the runner-up raced in first and second places respectively from early, while the fifth Lan Cinnte was third into the home straight. Coeur D'Or was the only one who was able to get close from the rear.

Winner of a handicap over this course and distance last month off a 10lb lower mark when he made most of the running, Dermot Weld's horse proved here that he was well able for this mark of 92. He is versatile though in terms of race tactics, he can be ridden from the front or from the rear. 

He is seven now, but he is a relatively lightly-raced seven-year-old, and he is in the form of his life. Coeur D'Or will be of interest wherever he goes next. He goes well at Leopardstown, but he has run well too at The Curragh, and he goes well on good or easy ground.

Tower Of London - Newmarket, 13th July

Tower Of London was probably unlucky not to win the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last Thursday. 

Settled in third place along the rails by Ryan Moore behind a sedate pace that Think First set in front of him - the winner's finishing speed was 111.55% of overall speed - he had to try to make his ground into a quickening pace and in traffic.

He moved out around the weakening leader on the run to the two-furlong marker but, as he did, Saint George moved up on his outside and held him in. 

He had to switch inside on the run to the furlong marker, but the leader Castle Way was picking up at that point, it was difficult to make ground. He did make ground, but not enough, hitting the line, as he did, a head behind the Godolphin horse.

Not much went right for Aidan O'Brien's horse here, and he remains a talented and progressive individual. He went into the race with momentum, having won the Listed King George V Cup at Leopardstown in early June and the Ulster Derby at Down Royal later that month. 

A full-brother to St Leger and Irish Derby winner Capri, the St Leger looks like a good target for Tower Of London now. 

It appears that he has the requisite stamina for the final Classic, which is obviously a true test, run over an extended 14 furlongs and up Doncaster's long home straight, where they tend to get racing early. 

He could take in the Gordon Stakes or the Great Voltigeur Stakes on the way, and he would be of interest in either of both of those races.

Astro King - York, 15th July

Astro King ran a big race in the John Smith's Cup at York last Saturday, going down by just a nose to Pride Of America in the end. 

Dropped in early on, he was towards the rear of the field early on and along the inside rail. Still well back in the field when they turned for home, he made his ground on the far side of the field as the runners angled towards the stands rail. 

He came under pressure on the run to the two-furlong marker, but he responded to pressure. He continued to close on the leaders out in the centre, furthest from the stand rail, and he lunged at the line, failing by a whisker to catch the winner.

It was a big run by the Kingman gelding on just his third run for Daniel and Claire Kubler, in a race in which the pace held up well. He was the only one of the first five home who didn't race prominently from early, and it probably wasn't an advantage that he raced well away from the stands rail. 

He was a talented handicapper for Sir Michael Stoute, he finished second in the 2021 Royal Hunt Cup and he finished fourth in the 2022 Royal Hunt Cup, and he finished third in the Clipper Logistics Handicap at York's Ebor meeting in 2021.

He under-performed in his last two runs for Sir Michael Stoute last season, but he ran well in the Hambleton Handicap at York's Dante meeting this year - a race in which he had run well before - on his first run for the Kublers, before disappointing in the Royal Hunt Cup this year. 

He was a massive price for Saturday's race on the back of that, and on easy ground, and stepping up to an extended 10 furlongs for the first time since he was beaten when sent off as joint-favourite for this race in 2021. 

The handicapper raised him by 3lb to a mark of 102 for this, but he will remain of interest off that mark, and he will be of particular interest when he returns to Ascot or York.

Scriptwriter - York, 15th July

Scriptwriter was only just beaten by Hamish in the Group 3 John Smith's Silver Cup at York last Saturday. 

Settled in third place early on behind a decent pace that Tashkhan set, just in front of warm favourite Hamish, he travelled well through his race and rider Clifford Lee appeared to be unperturbed when Hamish moved up on his outside as they rounded the home turn and relegated him to fourth place.  

Squeezed along from the top of the home straight, he got back past Hamish two furlongs out and he got past Tashkhan to hit the front on the run to the furlong pole. He was challenged again by Hamish inside the final furlong and, in the end, he just gave best to William Haggas' horse, going down by just a head at the line.

It was a fine performance by Milton Harris' horse though, going down by a narrow margin to the high-class Hamish - rated 117, 14lb his superior- and receiving only 3lb from him. 

He has lots of potential for progression too as a stayer on the flat. This was just his sixth run on the flat, and it was just his second run since he finished fifth behind Zenta in the Grade 1 juveniles' hurdle at Aintree in April. 

A 3lb hike for this was not harsh, it takes him up to a mark of 106, but he would run off his old mark of 103 in the Ebor if he takes his chance in that race, and surely that is the plan now. 

Winner of a one-mile maiden for Aidan O'Brien as a two-year-old, he proved here that he can go well at York, and he could be an interesting outsider on betting apps if he takes his chance in the Ebor.