Twin shows winning appeal at Doncaster

Twin Appeal resumed winning ways for David Barron in the Betdaq.com 50% Comm Back First Three Months Handicap at Doncaster.

He won three of his final four starts last season and after a pipe-opener at Ayr, he was always travelling well for Graham Gibbons before beating George Cinq by a length at 11-1 with Shared Equity in third.

Gibbons said: "He's done it quite well in the end as it was quite messy at the start.

"We sorted ourselves out after a couple of furlongs and I didn't get a lead for long enough. We got away with it.

"He was immature but he got his act together towards towards the back end of last year and he came on a fair bit for his first run."

Keystroke (9-2) made a pleasing debut for Jeremy Noseda in the first division of the Betdaq-sponsored one-mile maiden.

He got the better of John Gosden's Alkawn in a driving finish with jockey Jimmy Fortune thinking the winner has a bright future.

"He was very green when he hit the front and I had to drag him off the other horse but he won with a bit in hand I think," he told At The Races.

"That was his first run and this place can be quite daunting for young horses when they are in front.

"He's a big, strapping sort and can only improve."

Fortune made it a double on the day as the Brian Meehan-trained Critical Risk (13-2) came out on top in the Cash Out On The Betdaq+ App Handicap.

Paul Hanagan was out of luck on Alkawn but Sir Michael Stoute's Mustaaqeem (11-10 favourite) went one better than on his promising debut by winning the second division.

Runner-up in the Wood Ditton, the Dynaformer colt wore down the front-running Maybe Definitely to win by a half a length.

"He did that nicely, he's just a big baby," said Hanagan.

"I gave him a few flicks just to teach him, but I always thought he'd catch the one in front.

"He'll stay further and he's not had a hard race there as he pricked his ears."

No trainer is in better form at present than Newmarket's John Berry and his Grand Liason defied a 9lb rise in the weights in the Betdaq #20 Free Bet & 3% Comm Fillies' Handicap.

The winner was following up a success at Wolverhampton last month.

"She's six now and is obviously a late developer," said Berry.

"She showed nothing at two and I couldn't get her right at four so she went to James Given.

"I got her back and I'm not doing anything different to what I was before, she's just coming to herself."