Portland Tip: Joe Packet

It goes without saying that the 2.35 Portland handicap at Doncaster is fiercely competitive. A case can be made for several but at the current odds, Joe Packet interests me.

After a progressive three-year-old campaign, big things were expected from this horse. Unfortunately the start to 2011 was a damp squib. Well beaten in his first three starts he then had a three-month layoff. It transpires that something was amiss with the horse. Trainer Jonathan Portman admitted that tests found a physical problem.

After those issues were resolved, he bounced back with a good win at Windsor. It was impressive after a long layoff, especially on ground softer than ideal. He backed up that run with a good second at Bath in a conditions event. Racing over a trip very similar to the Portland, he was unlucky to be boxed in, eventually finding a gap when the winner had flown. With a clear run he could have beaten Desert Law, a horse who competes in a listed race at Goodwood today. That is high quality form, good enough to translate into a handicap win.

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