13:50 Doncaster

Saturday 16 September 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:55

William Hill Portland Handicap

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 1m 6.81s

(2)

Lancelot Du Lac^h⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: L Dettori| T: D K Ivory| OR: 107| BF| D

12/1

Winner of the Stewards' Cup in August but very disappointing at York last time off his revised mark. Clearly effective carrying big weights in handicaps but others probably on more lenient handicaps marks.

Form: 124015

(17)

Duke Of Firenze⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Finley Marsh⁽⁵⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 106| D

33/1

Produced a big run in the Prix De L'Abbaye last year and won't mind any rain that falls but very disappointing on his more recent starts and only beat one home at the Curragh last time. Still above his last winning mark and others preferred.

Form: 300500

(5)

Line Of Reason¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P T Midgley| OR: 102| D

33/1

Returned to form with a win at Musselburgh and won again at Newcastle next time. Has been a little out of form since but getting back down to a more workable mark now and trainer has had a winner here already this week.

Form: 911788

(11)

Pipers Note¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 101| CD

25/1

Winner over 6f here in June and has been running well in defeat subsequently. Struggled a little in Listed company last time but had a poor draw and likely he's still in form. Interesting runner.

Form: 133429

(10)

Stake Acclaim²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 101| CD

8/1

Winner at Ascot last month and respectable effort at Windsor last time out. Won't mind dropping ½f back in trip and versatile ground wise so likely to run well again.

Form: 126013

(6)

Eastern Impact^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Adam J McNamara⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 100| D

20/1

Not won since 2015 and losing run now stands at 15. Was running well in defeat earlier in the year but has been disappointing on his last three starts. Down to a very useful mark now but he's hard to fancy in current form.

Form: 032700

(15)

Lexington Abbey^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: K A Ryan| OR: 97| BF| D

10/1

Has been in excellent form this year without getting his head in front. Not far behind Stake Acclaim at Ascot last time out and arrives here on better terms with that rival here. Booking of Moore is an obvious positive and ought to run well.

Form: 02-2243

(8)

Vibrant Chords²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: H Candy| OR: 97| BF| D

7/1

Goodwood winner in May and back to form with an excellent effort here last time over 5f. Not fully exposed and trainer is in excellent form in recent weeks; should be thereabouts if he's in the same form.

Form: 7-61202

(7)

Harry Hurricane^b⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: T E Whelan| T: George Baker| OR: 96

12/1

Won twice last year and was in good form when he returned this campaign but gone a little off the boil lately. Well beaten last time out at Goodwood and wouldn't want any rain to fall.

Form: 420790

(19)

Hakam^p1⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 96| D

20/1

Two-time winner on the AW this year but yet to score on six starts on turn and likely to want faster ground than what he's likely to get here. Useful 3lb claimer takes the ride and first-time cheekpieces could see him improve so can't be ruled out.

Form: 119042

(20)

A Momentofmadness²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 95| D

14/1

Won on seasonal return at Kempton and has run some big races in defeat subsequently. Rising in the handicap for not winning isn't ideal and high draw has been a disadvantage this week so perhaps best watched this time.

Form: 243324

(9)

Compas Scoobie^v¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 95| D

14/1

Winner three times already this year but failed in hat-trick bid last time off his revised mark. Trainer has to be respected around here and jockey rides this course particularly well but there's a suspicion the handicapper has caught up with him.

Form: 229115

(1)

Merlin²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: George Wood⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 95| D

11/1

Has placed on all seven of his starts since debut and winner on three of his last five outings. Possible the handicapper has caught up with him a little though and may want a step back up in trip to be seen at his best.

Form: 211213

(16)

Captain Colby^b⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: E Walker| OR: 92| CD

16/1

Landed this contest last year but has been largely struggling since. Too soon to be writing him off though, particularly back here, and he's back below his last winning mark.

Form: 0-20007

(22)

Spring Loaded¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Joey Haynes| T: P W D'Arcy| OR: 92| D

12/1

More effective on the AW than he is on turf but has been running well in recent starts, including when third of 12 at Chester last time out. Would probably want faster ground here though and draw looks problematic.

Form: 340253

(18)

Justanotherbottle²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: A Fresu| T: D Carroll| OR: 93| CD

22/1

C&D winner here in July and back in form when fourth of 19 last time out. Claims back here and won't mind conditions but high draw probably not ideal.

Form: 331094

(3)

Under The Covers⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: S Hitchcott| T: R Harris| OR: 91| D

40/1

Improving sort who won back-to-back races before a slightly disappointing effort off her revised mark last time at Salisbury. Likes to front-run and unlikely to get an easy lead here but she's less exposed than most.

Form: 120116

(21)

Aleef^h¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 91| BF| D

33/1

Won from a 2lb lower mark at Newmarket last season and went close in this grade next time. Has been limited to just one start this term though, when favourite and last of nine at Ripon earlier in the month. Needs to bounce back and draw won't help.

Form: 20312-9

(13)

Bossipop^b⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jason Hart| T: T D Easterby| OR: 90| D

33/1

Career best at Pontefract earlier in the campaign in soft ground at Pontefract and largely running well in defeat since. May need some relief from the handicapper before he gets his head back in front though.

Form: 312025

(4)

Evergate²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Hayley Turner| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 92| D

14/1

Has been running well since joining this yard and not beaten far on return from a short absence at York last time out. Trainer excels with his sprinters and should be thereabouts again, particularly if he comes on for that run.

Form: 222153

(14)

Move In Time²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-6| J: S H James| T: D O'Meara| OR: 89| CD

25/1

Not won for over two years now but that win did come in a Group 3 contest in France. Sliding down the handicap to a very attractive handicap mark now but he's finished unplaced on all six starts this campaign.

Form: 000589

(12)

Major Pusey^t⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: M Dwyer| T: J Gallagher| OR: 88| D

16/1

Winner at Haydock last time out but finds himself on a career high mark in a tougher race here. First-time tongue-tie may have seen him improve last time and that headgear retained today but needs to pull out more again this time.

Form: 732271

Forecasts

Vibrant Chords (7/1), Stake Acclaim (8/1), Lexington Abbey (10/1), Merlin (11/1), Spring Loaded (12/1), Lancelot Du Lac (12/1), Harry Hurricane (12/1), A Momentofmadness (14/1), Evergate (14/1), Compas Scoobie (14/1), Captain Colby (16/1), Major Pusey (16/1), Hakam (20/1), Eastern Impact (20/1), Justanotherbottle (22/1), Pipers Note (25/1), Move In Time (25/1), Duke Of Firenze (33/1), Aleef (33/1), Line Of Reason (33/1), Bossipop (33/1), Under The Covers (40/1)

VIBRANT CHORDS is less exposed than most in the field and he ran well here last time out; he could be hard to beat for a yard in form. Evergate interesting runner and he may be capable of more improvement for a trainer who has a fine record with sprinters. Lexington Abbey has been in good form this year and he completes the shortlist with Ryan Moore taking over for the first time today.