16:40 Doncaster

Thursday 13 September 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:4017:10

Mechanical Facilities Handicap

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 2m 9.01s

(9)

Mountain Hunter¹⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 105| BF| D

4/1

Unbeaten in two starts on turf on these shores (1m-1m1f), and translated that form to Meydan during the Carnival Season making most to score by 3L from Banksea in a 1m2f handicap in January; mildly interesting back from 196-days off.

Form: 14-9125

(8)

Plutonian⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Spencer| T: C Hills| OR: 102| D

4/1

Boasts a 33% overall strike-rate (3-9), and a record of 1,1,2 over this 1m2f trip; beaten just ½L by Alfarris in a Class 2 handicap at Glorious Goodwood in July (good); raised 5lb and needs to prove equally effective on slightly easier ground.

Form: 361-012

(5)

Banditry^h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: Ian Williams| OR: 98| D

7/2

Runner-up at York in May (1m2½f), and produced another pleasing effort on the Knavesmire when just over 3L third to Pivoine (Alfarris second) in a Class 2 handicap latest; up 2lb, but is a C&D winner who handles good to soft.

Form: 2-42053

(4)

Kyllachy Gala¹¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: M Botti| OR: 96| D

16/1

Always in the rear when down the field (eighth) behind Banditry at York in May, and absent from the racecourse since; mark fair, but just the sole 1m2f win on his CV (AW), and hasn't scored on turf outside of Italy (2016).

Form: 531348

(2)

Society Red¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 94| D

16/1

Has struggled since winning a Class 3 handicap in good style at York in June (1m2½f); still 8lb above that winning mark with the handicapper showing no signs of wavering from his initial opinion; tough task.

Form: 131070

(10)

Cote d'Azur^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Liam Jones| T: J L Eyre| OR: 93| D

22/1

Back on song with a game all the way win at Nottingham (1m2f) in July; finished third of 34 off this mark in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September 2017 (good to soft), so merits plenty of respect.

Form: 053415

(1)

Another Eclipse^b¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D M Simcock| OR: 87| BF| D

11/2

Won just once in 12 starts, and that was in a modest maiden (2/5f) at Brighton in July 2017; beaten a neck in this race in 2017, and placed over C&D last month, but the suspicion is that the 2018 renewal is stronger.

Form: 32-9332

(3)

Aquarium¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 96

16/1

In decent order during July, winning twice over an extended mile (at Epsom and Nottingham); 7lb above his last winning mark and not overly competitive of late, so he'd rate as a surprise winner over a trip that he's unproven over.

Form: 103208

(7)

Finniston Farm^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 95

8/1

Hasn't won since his 2yo debut at Haydock (6f, good to firm) in May 2017, but is now 6lb lower than when finishing second in the Listed European Free Handicap (7f) at Newmarket in April; stamina doubts; half-brother to nine Flat winners.

Form: 6-25500

(6)

Petrus^b¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: B J Meehan| OR: 94

14/1

Sole career win came over 7f at Sandown in July 2017 (as a juvenile); fairly consistent throughout the majority of his racing career, with a noteworthy third at Ascot (1m Class 2) a highlight; looks risky stamina wise over 1m2f.

Form: 804353

Forecasts

Banditry (7/2), Mountain Hunter (4/1), Plutonian (4/1), Another Eclipse (11/2), Finniston Farm (8/1), Petrus (14/1), Aquarium (16/1), Kyllachy Gala (16/1), Society Red (16/1), Cote d'Azur (22/1)

There are doubts about some of these horses including the respected Plutonian (ground), Finniston Farm (trip), and the lightly raced Mountain Hunter (sizeable absence to overcome). Cote D'Azur will be in there pitching early and should run a solid race (placed off this mark in the 2017 Cambridgeshire), whilst Another Eclipse finished runner-up in this contest in 2017. However, the least risky option is probably BANDITRY. Although in excess of his last winning Flat mark (by 8lb), he's won over hurdles since then and has posted a couple of decent efforts on the Knavesmire at York this summer. The forecast ground conditions will hold few fears.