Flat racing: weekend betting outlook

There are some classy animals on display on the Flat this weekend, despite the racing having a moderate look to it. There is only one Group race this weekend, which takes place at the Curragh, and all eyes will be trained on US Ranger, Aidan O'Brien's recently-acquired miler.

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The four-year-old used to be trained by Jean-Claude Rouget in France, but late last year he was bracketed into the Coolmore operation, and won on his debut for his new connections by hacking up in the Testimonial Stakes, also at the Curragh, in September.

His last outing was in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, where Kieren Fallon could only finish fourth on him behind Toylsome, who was a 100/1 shot that day. It will be no easy task for the son of Danzig, although due to the race's conditions, he gets a handy pull at the weights from some of the better horses in the race.

Another Danzig colt, Haatef, looks a considerable danger. Kevin Prendegast's charge put in an impressive performance in Teofilo's Dewhurst in 2006, before struggling in last year's 2,000 Guineas. The key to the lock was found later on however, when a drop in trip and a strengthening up of this late foal saw him take the scalp of Wokingham winner Dark Missile in Ascot's Diadem Stakes in September. The problem for Haatef though, is that he must give US Ranger 6lbs, which at this stage of the season, probably looks beyond him.

Kempton hosts two Listed races on their All-Weather track, the Masaka Stakes (2.45pm) and the Easter Stakes (3.20pm), but the classiest race in Britain is the Doncaster Mile (3.35pm). Don't Panic sluiced up in the Spring Mile on Town Moor three weeks ago in such impressive style, that it was hard to think that he was anything else other than a Group horse. He thrashed all those horses that were racing on his side of the track by a full ten lengths and he looks very difficult to beat here.

He'll have to be though, because in Medicine Path, he has a very classy rival. Peter Chapple-Hyam's colt came within three lengths of toppling Derby Winner Authorized two years ago, and after a shoddy early campaign in 2007, he finished with a rattle, winning two races at Nottingham and Kempton. 

Medicine Path picked up an All-Weather event in February and he should be spot on for this contest.

Verdict: 1pt US Ranger; 1pt Don't Panic

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