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Captain's Blog - Friday 26th October

The use of Lasix when horses have had it before is nowhere near as significant as its use for the first time when it's effect can be dramatic.

At the Breeders Cup in the last three years the Europeans have had ten winners who raced on Lasix for the first time. Without Lasix their record is one winner out of nineteen over the same period! This year the Euros do not have one single first time user. Only Nahrain and Treasure Beach are getting Lasix and both have run on it before.

Horses that run on first time Lasix in the States often improve markedly, and quite simply this is because Lasix stops them bleeding. Horses who stop quickly in races or race with their heads in the air are usually behaving in such a way because they have bled. These traits normally manifest themselves when they come under maximum pressure and it is that extra exertion which causes them to bleed. Not only is a bleed painful for a horse, it impairs their breathing because their lungs fill with blood, thus the high head carriage, searching for oxygen.

Consequently the effect of Lasix first time can be a very good angle for punters in the States and this year many horseplayers will be putting a line though the Euros because, unlike other years, not one single European contender has the L1 symbol next to their name. This line of argument will not relate to the two-year-old races as Lasix is banned in those events but it is a very significant point as regards the other races.

No Dominion was a 7/2 winner for us yesterday and today I am going to take a chance on Secret Witness in the 3.15 at Doncaster. He should be backed each-way at 25/1. Quite simply Doncaster is a specialist's track, rather like Ascot and York: some go on it an others do not. This horse has won at the course before, was third in the Portland, and as such he may well leave a couple of recent poor efforts behind him. I rate him as a three point each way bet at the 25/1 available at the time of writing.

Today's Selection

3.15 Doncaster - 3* Secret Witness (each-way 25/1)

* If I have a strong view about a selection I will always make that apparent and I scale the confidence I have in my selections. One is minimum faith and 10 is maximum bet stuff.