17:10 Doncaster

Thursday 13 September 2018

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

DFS Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 1m 25.63s

(4)

Pettifogger⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: M Botti| OR: 100| D

12/1

Has only raced in Italy to date (3-8), with his more recent 2018 efforts coming in Listed and Group races; off the track for 96-days since finishing a weakening 3+L third at San Siro (1m, good) in June; keen prominent racer.

Form: 115-132

(1)

Mystic Flight²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 98| D

13/8

Shown a degree of natural progression in each of his four career starts; kicked off with back-to-back 7f fast ground wins at Newbury and Haydock, before a respectable handicap debut third at York (1m); up 3lb on softer ground.

Form: 1123

(6)

Maverick Officer^h¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 91| D

3/1

Set some stiff tasks this season (finished 16th of 30 in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot), but is a two-time 1m winner, including when readily justifying favouritism at Yarmouth (good to soft) last month; up 3lb.

Form: 241001

(5)

Ulshaw Bridge^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J D Bethell| OR: 91| C

5/1

Beaten a neck by Maverick Officer (1m) at Haydock in June, and despite the progression shown by both horses since (5lb higher), they clash at identical weights today; course winner in June (1m, good to firm); softer ground a concern.

Form: 342129

(7)

Whinmoor³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: N Tinkler| OR: 89| D

11/1

Has risen by no less than 37lb since winning at Carlisle (6f) in June; on a five-timer following another ready success at that Cumbrian venue latest, but his subsequent 10lb rise looks steep; very tough task on easier ground.

Form: 701111

(2)

Highlight Reel^h¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: M L W Bell| OR: 87| D

9/1

Regular on the July Course at Newmarket, with both of his career wins having come there (spread over 12 months apart); placed off this revised mark latest, but more required at a different track on predicted easier ground.

Form: 063613

(8)

Los Camachos¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: J Quinn| T: P D Evans| OR: 84

33/1

6f winner at Lingfield in January (Polytrack), but competitive on turf this summer, regularly placed over 7f on fast ground; bombed out latest on good to soft at Yarmouth, so needs to bounce back with predicted conditions a major concern.

Form: 123234

(3)

Picture No Sound⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| D

20/1

Decisive Newbury maiden winner (6½f, soft) last back-end before switching to Doug Watson for an unproductive stint at Meydan; back with Richard Fahey now, but offered little after a slow start off a five-month break latest (7f Thirsk).

Form: 51-6709

Forecasts

Mystic Flight (13/8), Maverick Officer (3/1), Ulshaw Bridge (5/1), Highlight Reel (9/1), Whinmoor (11/1), Pettifogger (12/1), Picture No Sound (20/1), Los Camachos (33/1)

Conditions (forecast easy ground) are a worry for any number of these runners, with only MAVERICK OFFICER and the more recently disappointing Picture No Sound holding any previous UK form on good to soft or soft ground. Therefore, we'll keep things relatively simple and side with the David Simcock-trained horse. Both he and Ulshaw Bridge have shown improvement since meeting at Haydock in June and from identical weights today (neck apart) would be tough to split - but for the ground conditions. Mystic Flight is another progressive type to consider if he fully adapts to the cut underfoot, whilst Pettifogger makes his first appearance in England.