2012 Racing Post Trophy Betting Preview Part 1

We've just gone through another declaration stage as we get closer to this weekend's Racing Post Trophy race at Doncaster. The going is expected to be soft for this 1m race that sets up the premier two-year-olds with a great opportunity to get things off to a high-profile start as they head into their three-year-old campaigns.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE BET WITH STANJAMES.COM!

Aidan O'Brien seemingly has half the horses entered in the race with a full six horses lining up for him. Nobody has decided which one Joseph O'Brien expects to ride but you reckon that just might set up a few clues. A number of talented colts are ready to roll in this one and we've got nary a filly in the house so no weight allowances are to be considered.

From a ratings standpoint, one of the best-looking options is the talented First Cornerstone, who has been unraced since a solid victory in a Group 2 race at the Curragh back in August. He won on the day by a length and a half. Owned by American syndicate Team Valor, he broke his maiden at Tipperary and delivered for punters at a hefty 33/1 price tag with Chris Hayes in the irons.

Steeler has been out a full five times and has a Group 2 score in the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes to his credit. Expect him to be prominent early on and deploy his trademark stalking style. He mustered up a second place finish to Dundonnell at York back in August and has rattled off a pair of victories since then Kieren Fallon up. He looks a high-quality son of Raven's Pass.

Autumn Stakes winner Trading Leather is another son of Teofilo who has excelled at shorter distances. He's proven over the mile and has won on ground rated good to soft so you reckon that he'll be able to handle the softer going here. Yielding may be a concern though. He was beaten in his Leopardstown debut by none other than Battle of Marengo, who lines up for O'Brien and seeks his fourth score on the bounce.

He's gotten the better of a few in here and he had Joseph in the irons for all of his past three races. Expect him to put in another solid shift for his high-profile connections.