13:15 Doncaster

Saturday 18 August 2018

All13:1513:4514:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Follow Top Tipster Templegate At Sun Racing Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 1m 26.31s

(9)

Siege Of Boston^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: J Balding| OR: 71| D

7/1

Three-time 7f AW winner who remains a maiden on turf (0-17); however, he returned from a short break with a solid effort at York (6f) last month when finishing 1½L third in a Class 4 handicap (50/1).

Form: 043003

(7)

Nick Vedder^b²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: F Norton| T: M Wigham| OR: 71

9/4

Not the easiest to win with (1 from 15), but solid in the main throughout 2018; effective between 7f-1m, and whilst the handicapper seemingly has him just about spot on, his recent Ascot third (7f) did come in a Class 3 handicap.

Form: 292243

(2)

Groupie¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: J Quinn| T: T P Tate| OR: 69| D

25/1

Very few positives to draw from her career path since winning at Haydock (7f, good to firm) over 12 months ago; scarcely managed to beat a rival in four starts in 2018, falling 7lb in the weights since June.

Form: 89-6350

(5)

Muatadel⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 68| C

15/2

Likes Doncaster and generally can be relied upon to run his usual solid race at this track, but whilst two of his three wins have come here (5f-6f), he's raced over this trip just once previously in 31 career starts.

Form: 942406

(8)

Saisons D'Or³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 72| D

5/1

Brought along steadily (gelded over the winter); tends to take a keen grip in his races; made all to get off the mark in a moderate 7f Catterick maiden (good) last month; respected, but competes in a much tougher contest.

Form: 34-2381

(11)

Berlios⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: D Loughnane| OR: 64

16/1

Debatable as to whether or not this 7f trip will suit; won (for Rebecca Bastiman) off a 4lb lower mark at Ayr in June (6f, good to firm); often thereabouts, but win record not the strongest (2-30), so can be opposed.

Form: 224147

(6)

Naralsaif^v⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 63| D

40/1

Placed over 6f here in August 2017; five-race turf maiden who has done all of her recent racing on the AW, including landing a hat-trick of wins during February and March (7f-1m+); unconvincing when last seen in action.

Form: 811186

(1)

Rock Warbler^h,t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 61| D

7/1

AW specialist, four-time Newcastle winner (6f-1m); hasn't fared too badly on turf in lesser races more latterly (placed over 1m here in June (66/1)), but in truth there's most likely far better opportunities upcoming in the next few months.

Form: 986345

(10)

Amy Blair¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Gray| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 57

66/1

No win for 13 months (over 1m1f for Keith Dalgleish), and in fact all of his previous successes have been gained up at Hamilton; well beaten on his first start for this trainer (cost £4,000) at Redcar earlier this month.

Form: 695870

(3)

Honey Badger^v⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: J Mitchell| T: M Herrington| OR: 54| D

8/1

Now 9lb lower than when finishing third over C&D in April (soft), but that's because he's performed below that level in four starts since; however, with few qualms regarding forecast conditions, a revival wouldn't surprise.

Form: 037676

(4)

Space War²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 8-9| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 52| D

10/1

Veteran who is a winner of 10 of his 97 starts and is capable of competing between 6f and 1m; raised 3lb for his neck second to Champagne Bob at Leicester last month (7f, good to firm); place possibilities.

Form: 028772

Forecasts

Nick Vedder (9/4), Saisons D'Or (5/1), Rock Warbler (7/1), Siege Of Boston (7/1), Muatadel (15/2), Honey Badger (8/1), Space War (10/1), Berlios (16/1), Groupie (25/1), Naralsaif (40/1), Amy Blair (66/1)

The first division of a 7f Class 5 handicap to kick off the Doncaster action in which there's no obvious standout contender. Saisons D'Or remains the least exposed horse in the race, but can race keenly so could find seeing out this 7f trip more of a challenge than when scoring in a Catterick maiden. Honey Badger is feasibly handicapped and could make an impression if bouncing back to form, but the focus should sit with the top pair SIEGE OF BOSTON and Nick Vedder. Neither horse could be described as prolific, but they've both held their own in better races than this lately, with the former just preferred despite being a 17-race turf maiden.