13:50 Doncaster

Saturday 15 September 2018

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

William Hill Portland Handicap

Off time: 13:52 | Winning time: 1m 6.04s

(1)

Tis Marvellous^t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: C G Cox| OR: 105| BF| D

14/1

Very disappointing at York last time when failing to follow up his win on Shergar Cup day at Ascot. Clearly has plenty of ability but doesn't look the easiest to train and others preferred.

Form: 054010

(22)

Lancelot Du Lac^h⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 102| D

16/1

Won the Stewards' Cup in 2017 and seen at his best with cut in the ground. Not an easy horse to predict and well beaten on his last three starts. Opposable given that his very best form is over a bit further than this.

Form: 141500

(3)

Savalas^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 102| BF

25/1

Rattled off a hat-trick earlier in the campaign and only narrowly denied in four-timer at York in June. Signs the handicapper may have caught up with him on recent starts but first-time cheekpieces may eke out some improvement.

Form: 111258

(18)

A Momentofmadness^h⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: C Hills| OR: 99| D

25/1

Broke the 5f course record at Kempton earlier in the campaign but his turf record is patchy and it's hard to envisage he wants this step up in trip.

Form: 713820

(6)

Golden Apollo^p²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 99| BF| CD

9/1

Has been in good from throughout most of this campaign and not disgraced at Ripon last time, despite finishing position. Has won at this course and he holds claims if he copes with the drop back in trip.

Form: 845520

(19)

Orvar²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: P T Midgley| OR: 97| C| D

20/1

5-26 is a respectable strike rate in these sort of races and he is up 6lb for winning a 0-95 over 5f here last time, when equaling his best turf effort. A repeat would give him claims and he has won over further.

Form: 403801

(11)

Encrypted¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Palmer| OR: 98| D

20/1

Got his head back in front at Chelmsford last time but has a 4lb rise to cope with in a much deeper race here and his turf form is patchy, particularly with any cut in the ground.

Form: 9-51001

(17)

Abel Handy²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: D Carroll| OR: 96

12/1

Smart juvenile who won a Group 3 at Newmarket but his form in four starts this year has been a long way below that level and he's hard to fancy at present.

Form: 21-6060

(16)

Duke Of Firenze⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 94| D

25/1

Struggling for any sort of form this year and his losing run is alarming. Out of his depth in a Group 1 at Goodwood last time and while a return to handicap company is a obvious positive, he's hard to enthuse about at present.

Form: 670400

(8)

Wentworth Falls^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: S H James| T: G A Harker| OR: 94| CD

14/1

Course winner. Has been running well in defeat throughout this year but this is a step up in class and there's a suspicion he will need a little help from the handicapper before he gets his head in front.

Form: 8-24324

(21)

Blue De Vega⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: L Dettori| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 94

12/1

Impressive when winning at Ascot back in July but has struggled to maintain that form on softer ground in three starts since. There's a suspicion the ground has gone against him again here.

Form: 061353

(13)

Open Wide^b,e/s1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 93| BF| D

12/1

Got his head back in front at Salisbury earlier in the campaign and has been running with credit in defeat lately but all his best form is on top of the ground and the rain that arrived Friday won't be in his favour. Wears first-time eye-sheild.

Form: 303032

(14)

Udontdodou²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: R Kingscote| T: R C Guest| OR: 92| D

8/1

Most of his best form has come on AW in recent times but got his head back in front on turf at Windsor last time. Good value for that win and only up 4lb but gets softer ground here and that's probably against him.

Form: 522561

(7)

Roundhay Park⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R Ffrench| T: N Tinkler| OR: 94

16/1

Given very little chance when given too much to do at York on Sunday but well backed prior to that effort. Steadily improving and should give another good account off this mark.

Form: 413253

(9)

Holmeswood^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: S De Sousa| T: M Dods| OR: 91| BF| D

13/2

Produced his best effort for some time when third at York last time out. Remains on the same mark and he's a leading player if that run is a sign of things to come for the rest of the season.

Form: 946763

(5)

Muscika¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 91| D

25/1

Inconsistent sort but got his head back in front at Thirsk last time. Only narrowly prevailed though and he's 4lb higher in a tougher race here.

Form: 270801

(15)

Dakota Gold¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 91| BF| D

7/1

In good form in recent starts, following up an excellent second at Ripon with a smart placed effort at Thirsk last time. Still well-handicapped on some of his placed form last year and should go well again.

Form: 300623

(20)

El Hombre⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 90| D

20/1

Won back to back races towards the end of 2016 and in good form throughout that campaign but it's been tougher this time around. Hinted at a return to form at Musselburgh last time but would probably have wanted quicker ground.

Form: 211-007

(2)

The Daley Express²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: R Harris| OR: 90| D

33/1

Goes well with cut in the ground and got his head back in front at Bath over a similar trip earlier in the campaign. Could only finish sixth at Ffos Las last time though and looks vulnerable from a handicapping perspective in a race of this nature.

Form: 9-12156

(12)

Dougan²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: A Fresu| T: P D Evans| OR: 90| D

20/1

Gained a first turf win in 24 starts at Bath earlier in the season. Handicap mark slipping back down and he's run well at this course without winning before. Each-way claims.

Form: 290555

(4)

Powerallied¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: S A Gray| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| D

40/1

Goes really well around Chester and doesn't mind some cut in the ground. Disappointed last time out and needs a career best in a race of this nature.

Form: 242318

Non-Runners

(10)

Marnie James²¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: I Jardine J: M M Monaghan

Forecasts

Holmeswood (13/2), Dakota Gold (7/1), Udontdodou (8/1), Golden Apollo (9/1), Abel Handy (12/1), Blue De Vega (12/1), Open Wide (12/1), Wentworth Falls (14/1), Tis Marvellous (14/1), Roundhay Park (16/1), Lancelot Du Lac (16/1), Marnie James (16/1), Encrypted (20/1), Dougan (20/1), Orvar (20/1), El Hombre (20/1), A Momentofmadness (25/1), Muscika (25/1), Savalas (25/1), Duke Of Firenze (25/1), The Daley Express (33/1), Powerallied (40/1)

GOLDEN APOLLO has been in good form throughout 2018 and looks like a progressive sprinter; he might be worth taking a chance on at what is likely to be an each-way price. Holmeswood more than hinted at a return to form last time and he looks feasibly handicapped. First-time cheekpieces may see Savalas eke out a bit more and he's another who can't be ruled out.