Frozen fires in Racing Post Trophy?

Three of the last ten winners of the Racing Post Trophy have gone on to be Derby winners and five of the last six have proceeded to win a Classic. This is a very classy race indeed, and punters should get acquainted with the whole line-up over the winter months in time for next season. In 2002, 2003, 2004 the Racing Post Trophy was won by Brian Boru, American Post and Motivator, all of whom were sent off favourite by the betting public. And yet in the last two years we have had Palace Episode at 20/1 and last year Authorized was allowed to start the race at a dismissive 25/1. Punters are in for a difficult time here. Uneasy favourite for the 3.40pm race at Doncaster is Curtain Call, who ran star two-year-old New Approach to within three lengths at the Curragh in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes in August. A quick glance at the colt's form however, indicates that the son of Sadler's Wells has only ever run on soft ground. He will have it all to prove on this firmer surface at Doncaster. Next in line is Godolphin's Ibn Khaldun, who was very impressive in the Autumn Stakes last time out. Frankie Dettori's stand-in, Kerrin McEvoy gets the ride and he has a solid chance of winning this as the horse seems to keep on improving. There may be others in the Racing Post Trophy line-up, however with a bit more improvement in them at a bigger price. Aidan O'Brien's Frozen Fire is one such colt. The Irish handler has won four of the last ten renewals of this contest, two of which rocked up to Doncaster with just a maiden victory to their names. By all accounts, Frozen Fire's debut at Gowran Park 80 days ago was a taking performance. He quickened up well, and took the lead with any amount of energy still in reserve. It seems that O'Brien has laid out the son of Motnjeu for this particular contest and at 9/2 with VCBet, it looks worth hoping that the Ballydoyle runner will find the necessary improvement at Doncaster for the Racing Post Trophy. Those looking for a double-figure price could do worse than Sir Michael Stoute's Tajaaweed. Martin Dwyer's mount won his Nottingham maiden by five lengths and although several of the horses to have come out of that race have been beaten, the time was far quicker than the other two-year-old race on the same card that day. The colt can be expected to improve dramatically for that run and at around 8/1, he looks the best long shot. Verdict: 1pt Frozen Fire @ 9/2 (VCBet).