15:50 Doncaster

Wednesday 13 September 2017

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Clipper Logistics Leger Legends Classified Stakes (Str)

Off time: 15:53 | Winning time: 1m 44.84s

(6)

Character Onesie¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: I Mongan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 70| D

9/2

Not tasted success since August 2016 (1m1f, Yarmouth good to firm), but on the premises over this trip on multiple occasions. Forecast conditions hold few fears.

Form: 223626

(10)

Detachment¹²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Ollie Pears| T: J L Eyre| OR: 70

8/1

Ran well when a runner up on his stable debut at Lingfield in March (1m standard), but bitterly disappointing on his next three starts. Eased a total of 9lb, but needs to be much stronger on his first start since May.

Form: 48-2569

(16)

Haraz^b⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Luke Harvey| T: J A Osborne| OR: 69

9/1

A 25 race maiden who has made the frame on his last two starts, including in an ambitious venture to Laytown last week (7f). Race fit, and should be fine over this longer trip.

Form: 454932

(4)

Hitman²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: T G McLaughlin| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 68

20/1

Won over 7f at Newbury for William Muir in July 2016 and joined this trainer for 16,000 gns in October 2016. Not really progressed since a promising start to the season and well beaten over 7f here last month.

Form: 305630

(15)

Mustaqbal^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Dale Gibson| T: M Dods| OR: 67| D

12/1

Not won since June 2016 (1m, Redcar good to soft), and seemingly below his best form this term. However, not beaten too far when third at Thirsk last month (7f), and this extra furlong and stronger handling could suit.

Form: 247773

(3)

Off Art¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Brian Harding| T: T D Easterby| OR: 70| C| D

5/1

His course success (7f) was the second leg of a treble back in 2013, but despite a free falling mark, he's not been able to win again since June 2013. Claims of sorts based on his recent narrow third to Mon Beau Visage (1m) at Redcar.

Form: 507563

(8)

Secret Missile⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Rodney Lappin| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 65

66/1

Races over 5f and 6f in the main and has been badly out of sorts this year. Finished last of 11 on his reappearance from a short break at Thirsk on Saturday (6f soft) and is impossible to fancy.

Form: 745450

(9)

The Gay Cavalier^p,t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D J O'Donohoe| T: J Ryan| OR: 66

20/1

Much more effective on the AW than on turf, winning just once in 30 starts on grass. Generally races over longer trips (1m2f) and hasn't exactly been suggesting that his turn is near recently.

Form: 244537

(5)

Fire Palace³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-11| J: Adrian Nicholls| T: R Eddery| OR: 69

10/1

Her sole career success to date came on the AW at Kempton in August 2016 (7f maiden). She's largely found handicapping tough despite tackling a variety of trips (6f to 1m2f) but this classified stakes represents her easiest opportunity in a while.

Form: 4-08455

(2)

Patching^b¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-11| J: Gary Bardwell| T: G C Bravery| OR: 67| D

16/1

An emphatic winner of a similar contest (rated 60) at Yarmouth in June (good to firm) implies that she probably has reasonable enough claims, and it's fair to say that she has been fairly consistent in handicap company since.

Form: 282253

(12)

Soldier Blue⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-11| J: George Duffield| T: B Ellison| OR: 69

9/2

Once raced for Charlie Appleby (€300,000 juvenile), who moved on for £18,000 in May 2017. Bumped into Important Mission on stable debut at Newcastle (7f) in June, and showed a fraction more next time over 1m at Pontefract. Improvement a possibility.

Form: 863

(7)

Undiscovered Angel³³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-11| J: Tony Clark| T: K R Burke| OR: 70

33/1

Eight race maiden who seemingly is suited by cut given her unsuccessful recent adventures to Deauville, Compiegne and Clairefontaine. Difficult to assess that French form in the context of this race, but well beaten in a claimer latest.

Form: 334947

(14)

Diamond Runner^b²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J Mackay| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 58| D

16/1

In decent order during the summer months, winning at both Nottingham and Redcar (1m2f). However, he has plenty to find on official ratings in this classified stakes, and that's before worrying about his effectiveness over a much shorter trip.

Form: 155313

(11)

Poor Duke^v²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tony Culhane| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 55| D

100/1

Goes well with some cut in the ground, and was recording a sixth career success when scoring over 7f at Leicester in June. Not able to recapture that form off higher marks since and likely to struggle at these weights today.

Form: 801706

Non-Runners

(13)

Thello⁴⁶

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: J S Goldie J: Non Runner

(1)

Poetic Force⁶

Weight: 10-11| Age: 3

T: A W Carroll J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Character Onesie (9/2), Soldier Blue (9/2), Off Art (5/1), Detachment (8/1), Poetic Force (8/1), Haraz (9/1), Fire Palace (10/1), Mustaqbal (12/1), Thello (12/1), Patching (16/1), Diamond Runner (16/1), The Gay Cavalier (20/1), Hitman (20/1), Undiscovered Angel (33/1), Secret Missile (66/1), Poor Duke (100/1)

Classified Stakes races are difficult to solve at the best of times without throwing in the conundrum of talented former riders from yesteryear, but there's no denying that this race has really taken off and adds some variety and a novelty factor, as well as an important charitable aspect to the opening day of the St Leger Festival. The majority of these seem to have forgotten how to win (horses, not jockeys), and that is best illustrated by Off Art who has remained dormant since 2013. Character Onesie and Mustaqbal should be capable of playing leading roles on the pick of their form, whilst the unexposed Soldier Blue is the likeliest 'dark horse'. However, the three-year-old filly FIRE PALACE gets the vote as she seeks to break her duck on turf in a contest which represents her most suitable opportunity to score since her Kempton maiden victory in August 2016.