Doncaster Saturday reports, reaction and free video replay

Thunder roars back to winning ways

More Thunder claimed his first victory of 2026 when running away with the Betfred Park Stakes under Tom Marquand.

William Haggas’ charge has been keeping top company this term, finishing second in the Lockinge and Queen Anne on his first two starts before a fast-finishing fourth in the Summer Mile at Ascot and fifth in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

Down in trip and class, he was anchored at the rear of the field with Qirat helping to force a strong early pace.

That suited the closer who was unleashed inside the final two furlongs and ran down the pacesetter and eventual runner-up Flora Of Bermuda to win, going away, by a length-and-three-quarters.

Philip Robinson, representing owner Saeed Suhail, said: “I was very, very pleased and that’s the More Thunder I’ve been waiting to see. I always knew it was there. He looked tremendous today, I thought he was the absolute stand-out looking at him in the paddock, and he won like it and really quickened away.

“Tom says going back to a mile, ridden like that, won’t be a problem so he’ll probably go for the QEII, that’s the plan. Tom rode him full of confidence and says ridden like this, he’s a terrific horse. He said he was never worried at any time. The ground makes a big difference to him and there’s no excuse for anybody on that ground.”

Air Force One in command of Portland

The thriving Air Force One added the Betfred Portland to his seasonal haul with an ultimately authoritative success at Town Moor.

Winner of a valuable pot at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival, before finishing eighth in the Constantine later in the week, the five-year-old was produced with a sustained challenge by Clifford Lee to run down fellow 11/2 chance Twilight Calls and win by half-a-length.

Al Shabab Storm was only a neck further away in third.

Winning trainer Geoff Olroyd said: “He’s improved all year and got stronger. He had a quite a few issues when we first got him but now we’re able to manage them and he’s just getting better and better. We’ve been able to put an edge on him today, we stretched him by running twice in the week at York.

“I’m pleased for everybody. He’s not in the Ayr Gold Cup, I wouldn’t even think of it. That’s six and he doesn’t want soft ground. Thankfully it dried out today. We’ll go back home and have a look at see how he is. You might think of a Listed race and giving him a shot at that.”

Godolphin land early blow

There was a rip-roaring Godolphin v Ballydoyle clash in the opening race of Betfred St Leger day at Doncaster with Al Jabbar just hitting the line in front in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes.

It looked set to be far more comfortable for Billy Loughane’s mount once he got racing room a furlong-and-a-half out and swept to the eventual runner-up who had always been to the fore.

However the Irish raider battled on tenaciously under Wayne Lordan and things got desperate for the Charlie Appleby-trained winner in the closing stages, the pair coming close together too.

The verdict went to Al Jabbar by a head but a stewards’ enquiry was immediately called. After the deliberations the result was allowed to stand.

The success provides the winner with a free entry into the 2027 Betfred St Leger.

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