Denton Hall News

Concerns about heavy going as Brunch and Get Knotted head to Newmarket

TRAINER Michael Dods has expressed concern about the "terrible" ground at Newmarket ahead of Brunch and Get Knotted travelling to HQ tomorrow.

Brunch (winning at York in the main picture) is given a second crack at earning listed status in the Bet In-Play Mansion Bet Ben Marshall Stakes after a decent third in the Guisborough Stakes at Redcar last time..

And Get Knotted goes in the MansionBet Trick or Treat Handicap following his improved showing to be fourth at Doncaster last week.

Michael reports that both horses are in good form but it remains to be seen how they'll cope with the heavy going following a lot of rain at Newmarket.

Michael assesses their chances in his regular Weekend Preview below:

WEEKEND PREVIEW

'Just a week to go now until the end of the Flat season and we’re pleased with the way things have gone in the face of all the challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

We’ve broken through the 40-winner mark and that’s a good return considering what a difficult season it’s been for everyone.

We go into battle with two runners over the weekend – both making the journey south to Newmarket, with Callum Rodriguez riding.

BRUNCH has done us proud this season – winning three times – and we’re giving him another crack at listed level in the Bet In-Play Mansion Bet Ben Marshall Stakes over a mile.

He acquitted himself well when he stepped up to listed company over seven furlongs in the Guisborough Stakes at Redcar last time, finishing third.

The biggest concern is that the ground at Newmarket is terrible after a lot of rain. He’s a very good mover and doesn’t want it too quick but he also wouldn’t want it at the other extreme. He doesn’t mind it soft, and we think he’ll cope with it, but it’s obviously not ideal.

Whatever happens, this will be his last run of the season and the plan is for him to stay in training next year. He’s a very good horse and we think he’s up to this level so, hopefully, he’ll run well.

Then we have GET KNOTTED in the MansionBet Trick or Treat Handicap over seven furlongs.

We all know what Get Knotted (pictured below) wants in a perfect world – a turning seven furlongs at York. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been a race there for him in the schedule, and this Newmarket race was an option.

He ran well last week when he was fourth at Doncaster and he’s in good form, so we’ve decided to bring him out again. Again, he wouldn’t ideally want extreme ground, but he seems well in himself and, hopefully, he’ll run well.

There’s a chance he might run again before the end of the season but we’re not sure yet.'