Doncaster Saturday
1:50 Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) 7f 6y
Rosallion looks to have outstanding claims in the Champagne Stakes based on his rout of nine rivals – including the reopposing Sunway – in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot in late-July.
The son of Blue Point showed a scintillating turn of foot to pull four lengths clear of Al Musmak, and the form was franked when the runner-up landed the Ascendant Stakes at Salisbury.
Sunway was a much shorter price than Rosallion at Ascot, but failed to match the form of his debut win at Sandown, stopping quickly.
The Sandown form is solid, however, and fitted with a tongue tie, I’d not be at all surprised if he was the one to give Rosallion most to do.
2:25 Betfred Portland (Heritage Handicap) 5f 143y
The Portland looks wide open at first glance, but the ground will still be on the slow side despite a fair forecast, and allied to the intermediate trip, that helps to narrow the field.
King’s Lynn, formerly owned by the late Queen, now has his first outing in the silks of trainer Andrew Balding, and last year’s Temple Stakes winner has plenty to recommend him if ignoring a rare poor run in almost unraceable conditions in the Stewards’ Cup last time.
King’s Lynn can be forgiven his runs on genuinely heavy going, and his record on ground ranging from good to soft is 02321352121402, improving to 0213211406 in fields of ten or more, and to 1221 at this course.
He is effective at a stiff five furlongs, but stays six, and this intermediate trip looks right up his street. He’s eased slightly in the ratings after three unplaced runs and is 3lb lower than when an excellent second to stablemate Nymphadora at Chester in May.
He’s gained two of his four wins under Oisin Murphy, so it looks a positive that the champion jockey is on board for the first time in nearly two years.
3:00 Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) 7f 6y
The turnout for the Park Stakes is a poor one, and if the going remains on the soft side of good, then it will count against confirmed fast-ground performers Audience and Jumby, while Pogo needs to bounce back (sorry, not sorry) from some below-par runs.
In short, this looks a straightforward task for Spycatcher, who had Sandrine back in sixth when a short-head second of 10 to King Gold in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time.
Sandrine advertised the strength of that form with a fine third to Kinross in the City of York Stakes next time, and it’s possible she will get closer with her effort at York seemingly helped by the addition of a visor, but it’s not easy to see her turning the tables on the classy Spycatcher, who has two wins on easy ground this term to his name and looks an improved performer at the age of five.
3:35 Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) 1m 6f 115y
I’m far from sold on those at the top of the market in the St Leger, with Arrest looking smart but not top class, and Gregory abandoned by Dettori after an odd showing in the Great Voltigeur last time, going off too hard before staying on again when the race was over.
The winner of that race, Continuous, was the recipient of a sensible ride by Ryan Moore in a race where the leaders overdid it, and he strikes me as better suited by a mile and a half than further, based on how he won at York.
The Gordon Stakes won by Desert Hero from Chesspiece has been let down by the subsequent runs of those behind, and that pair make minimal appeal as a result.
Middle Earth is upped markedly in class after winning the Melrose at York, but runner-up Denmark comes out a better horse at the weights having conceded 4lb there, and he is deemed only suitable as a pacemaker by connections here.
Something must be overpriced, and while that may well be Gregory, who has drifted since Dettori switched mounts, I’d argue that the forgotten horse is Tower Of London, who should have won the Bahrain Trophy in July (Moore uncharacteristically dropped his whip) and had run out an impressive winner of the Ulster Derby off a mark of 99 on his previous start.
He appears held on a line through Bahrain Trophy winner Castle Way, who was beaten by Continuous in the Voltigeur, but appeals as the likelier of the pair to relish the longer trip at Doncaster, and in Jim Crowley, has an able substitute in the saddle.
Chester Saturday
2:05 Tote Stand Cup Stakes (Listed) 1m 4f 63y
Bluestocking is the obvious one here, and her second in the Irish Oaks is the best piece of form on offer this season. She probably ran to a very similar level when fourth to Warm Heart in the Yorkshire Oaks last month, finishing just half a length further behind Savethelastdance than she had at the Curragh.
A repeat may well win her this, but she’s plenty short enough, and I prefer to take a chance on the fitness of Al Qareem, who has been given a break since running at Riyadh and Meydan early in the year.
Winner of the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp last season, he has scope to improve again this year for all those foreign jaunts didn’t see him to best advantage, and the return to turf with some dig will suit the son of Awtaad.
2:40 Camden Hells Handicap 1m 2f 70y
Despite a wide draw, the relative lack of pace here suggests that Box To Box can get to the front early here, and that might prove enough of an advantage for him to win, assuming David Probert can control the pace when getting across.
Box To Box is suited by Chester, with form figures here of 11612, improving to 1112 in fields of 10 or fewer. Baryshnikov is another course specialist who has a handy draw in stall 2, and that gelding is perhaps the main threat, albeit with few of the runners easy to discount entirely.
Rosallion/Sunway 1:50 Doncaster – 1pt Exacta
King’s Lynn 2:25 Doncaster – 1pt e/w @ 10/1 (Bet365, LivescoreBet – 6 places)
Tower Of London 3:35 Doncaster – 1pt e/w @ 12/1 (general)
Box To Box 2:40 Chester – 1pt win @ 6/1 (general)
