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Robert Eddery is feeling in a bullish mood about the chance of top-weight Donncha in the Betway Spring Mile at Doncaster on Saturday.
Run as a consolation for horses who failed to make the cut for the Lincoln, the fact Donncha, with a rating of 97, is taking part shows just how much the class of both races has risen in recent years.
Donncha finished third in the International Stakes last summer as well as running with credit in the Betfred Mile at Goodwood and the Balmoral Handicap back at Ascot.
His only disappointing run was in the Cambridgeshire and Eddery, who also runs Craftsmanship, feels he has an excuse for that.
"He's been working well, I've been more than pleased with him," he said.
"I think he deserves top weight based on his performances last season.
"He's got decent horses around him from stall 19 and with showers forecast, the stands rail is hopefully the place to be.
"The only time he disappointed last year was in the Cambridgeshire but that was at Newmarket and he didn't run well the only other time he ran there so it looks like he's not a fan of the place.
"I'm sure he's improved again over the winter and with Tom's (Marquand) claim, he should be thereabouts.
"The other fellow is a good, honest horse but he wouldn't be in the same league as Donncha. He's 3lb wrong at the weights with his penalty but with the money on offer down to sixth, it's worth a go.
"He appreciated being back at a mile last time, I thought he was badly handicapped last year which is why he was running over further. He came back in a stronger horse so he can handle being back at a mile now."
Another trainer doubly represented is Marco Botti through Azraff, the mount of Ryan Moore, and the William Buick-ridden Emerald.
"Azraff has been gelded since his last run and last year he progressed nicely," said Botti.
"He has good form in the book and handles cut in the ground. Obviously, with such a big field you never know how they will handle it but on form he's going there with a good chance and we also have Ryan Moore on board .
" I'm happy with Emerald, I think he's better than he has shown to date. He's only lightly raced and will like the ground.
"So far he hasn't shown his best on a racecourse, I don't think, and he can be a bit tricky b ut he seems in good form and he's certainly not one to rule out."
Another lightly-raced contender is Jeremy Noseda's Keystroke, a winner of three of his four starts to date.
" I was delighted with his comeback win in a good race," said the Shalfleet handler.
"He seems to be going there in good heart. The fact he is relatively inexperienced hasn't even crossed my mind. When they are racing over a straight mile on turf, I think it's all about whether they are good enough or not."
Right Touch ended last season in great heart for Richard Fahey, winning his final two races. He will be ridden by the unheralded 7lb claimer Adam McNamara.
"His last two runs were solid. He won a handicap at Ayr over seven and he wasn't stopping, and he's been working extremely well," said Fahey.
Instant Attraction represents Jedd O'Keeffe, but he is 12lb higher than at this time last season.
"He's the type of horse who has proven himself in big fields like this and we felt this would be a nice starting point," said O'Keeffe.
"We've done plenty with him at home and he will like the ground, but like most of ours there will still be a touch of improvement in him.
"Obviously, he is starting this season off a lot higher mark than last term, so life will be tougher. But he's pretty straight and he's drawn 20, so we have no question about where we are going to go.
"He'll be racing prominently, if not making it (the running), so it will be straightforward what we do."
Ralph Beckett's Master Of Irony is another likely improver in the field and the trainer feels he might be well treated off 86.
"I hope he'll be competitive off that mark," said Beckett.
"He's got a good draw and we know from his win there last year that he likes the track and the ground. He's been working very well."
