Eight set to go post for the Speedy Services Doncaster Cup

Times Up (right) just holds High Jinx in last year’s race – will they be first and second again this year? Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Eight runners are set to go to post for the two and a quarter mile Speedy Services Doncaster Cup and last year’s winner, Times Up, will be looking to build on his solid third in the previous Long Distance race, the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup at York.

Although well beaten by Ahzeemah and Simenon, he did not have the clearest of runs and might therefore have finished a bit closer.

It was also his first race since June, so he can be expected to improve on that and must have a good chance of following in the footsteps of the likes of Millenary, Double Trigger and Le Moss by winning the race in consecutive years.

His toughest opponent looks to be High Jinx, who was beaten just a neck by Times Up in this race last year.

He missed Royal Ascot and York because of the fast ground, but the forecast good ground on Friday will be fine for him.

He has raced only once this season due to the dry summer, but one can be confident that James Fanshawe will have him ready for Friday.

This was always going to be the season in which they expected High Jinx to shine and they have just been unfortunate that there has been so little rain.

Biographer would not be without a chance – he ran his best career race on his only attempt at two miles in July and may improve for the extra two furlongs on Friday – while last year’s Gold Cup winner, Colour Vision, who represents Godolphin, can never be ruled out.

He has struggled ever since to recapture that Royal Ascot form from June 2012 and he has plenty to find with Times Up on York running, but if Saeed bin Suroor has been able to rekindle his verve for racing, then he must come into calculations.

Repeater, who ran well in this race last year when finishing fourth for trainer Sir Mark Prescott, has not lived up to that form in his three runs for new handler David O’Meara this season, but he is another with place chances if things fall right for him.

Sir Mark is represented by Mutual Regard this year and while he is a solid handicapper, this represents a big step up in grade.

Chiberta King is another with a lot to find though could have place claims, while Desert Recluse looks outclassed.