15:00 Newmarket

Friday 12 October 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

Godolphin Stud And Stable Staff Awards Challenge Stakes (Group 2)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 1m 24.87s

(7)

Breton Rock²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: S Donohoe| T: D M Simcock| OR: 111| D

25/1

Three-time Group Two winner hasn't added to tally in 2018 although was twice third at that level earlier in the season behind Sir Dancealot. Not at best last twice at Goodwood and Doncaster however so others more appealing now.

Form: 0-53348

(4)

D'bai^b,t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 111| D

3/1

7f Haydock Group Three winner earlier in the season has run admirably well despite some really stiff tasks since and continues to thrive as shown with his latest neck second in a 7f Doncaster Group Two. Leading claims at same level and distance.

Form: 165642

(6)

Gordon Lord Byron¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: T Hogan| OR: 110| BF| D

33/1

Hugely-popular 16-time winning veteran has twice been second in Group Three's this season and was a close fourth at the same level latest at Naas. Third in this last year behind Limato but will do well to better that here.

Form: 522244

(3)

Limato³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Candy| OR: 114| CD

7/4

Won this by 3½L last year and after a slow start to this campaign he has won his last two impressively at Listed level. Rerouted from Ascot last week where soft ground saw him withdrawn and as a dual Group One winner he very much sets the standard.

Form: 1-00011

(5)

Mankib²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 110| D

6/1

Won three of five starts since transferring to this yard from France and took form to new level latest when winning a Newbury Listed race by 4½L. That form alone is competitive and no suggestion his improvement has halted yet so rates a big player.

Form: 6-71191

(2)

Salateen^p1,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: D O'Meara| OR: 103| CD

20/1

2016 C&D winner but just one from 10 at Pattern level and that on AW when winning a Wolverhampton Listed race by a nose last year. Won twice this season and been consistent between but very much up against it at this level.

Form: 243224

(8)

Zonderland¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 109| D

7/1

Decent fourths at this level the last twice at Goodwood and here, both over 1m. Beaten 5¾L behind Mustashry latest but D'bai got within neck of that rival at Doncaster so bit to find overall.

Form: 8-00344

(1)

Dancing Star²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 105| D

7/1

Improving mare ran really well when a neck second of 16 in a Goodwood Group Three before going one better at the same level next at Doncaster, both over 7f. Another rise in class but clearly thriving and mares allowance always useful.

Form: 302421

Forecasts

Limato (7/4), D'bai (3/1), Mankib (6/1), Zonderland (7/1), Dancing Star (7/1), Salateen (20/1), Breton Rock (25/1), Gordon Lord Byron (33/1)

LIMATO may be a pound or two short of his very best these days but he absolutely hacked up in this race last year and has won well the last twice so will take an awful lot of beating once again. D'bai is a big danger having gone down by a neck to the very useful Mustashry latest at Doncaster at this level and that rival followed up under a penalty here. Mankib steps up in class but he was most impressive at Newbury latest and is clearly on the up now in the care of William Haggas.