13:45 Doncaster

Saturday 27 October 2018

All13:4514:1514:5515:2516:0516:3517:10

Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 1m 11.69s

(7)

Dave Dexter¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: R M Beckett| OR: 99| BF

7/1

Been on an upward curve on softer ground of late. Won an Ayr Listed race two starts ago and respectable effort under a penalty at York last time. More needed if he is to win again, but not ruled out.

Form: 354112

(1)

Barbill¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: J F Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 100| D

13/2

Won a valuable race over 6½f at the Curragh last month and beaten 3½L in a 5f Group 3 at Newmarket last time. Acts on good to soft. Should be thereabouts.

Form: 462513

(9)

Breath Of Air³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: C Hills| D

5/1

Made all to win very well last month in a Newbury maiden (6f, good to soft). That race is working out well and it would be no surprise if he could make a successful step up to this level. Claims.

Form: 81

(10)

Garrus³⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: J Noseda| OR: 96| D

13/2

Won two of his first three starts, including under a penalty at Newcastle. Not disgraced when 8½L fourth in a Newbury Group 2 last month. Likely to be better here for less testing ground and is entitled to respect.

Form: 3114

(6)

Its The Only Way⁷⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: R Hannon| OR: 88

33/1

3-8 and showed further improvement when scoring on AW at Wolverhampton last time. Even so, needs a sizeable further step up again to win at this level.

Form: 456201

(5)

San Donato³⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 96| D

2/1

Has improved with each start, winning his last two at Haydock (6f, good to soft) and then Kempton (6f, AW). Looks capable of making a big impact now stepped up in grade.

Form: 2811

(4)

Canton Queen²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-10| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 94

10/1

Improving filly who won on her second start at Leicester (7f, good to firm) and bettered that when 6L fifth in a Newmarket Group 2 last month. Drops in trip, but should be fine with that and probably has each-way claims.

Form: 815

(3)

Heartwarming¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: C G Cox| OR: 94

10/1

Won a Sandown maiden (5f, good to firm) on her second start, before a 3L second at this level at Newbury. Raced freely when well held in a Newmarket Group 3 last time. Up in trip, and each-way claims if she can bounce back.

Form: 2120

(2)

Kodyanna²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-10| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93

16/1

Runner-up in a French Group 3 (6f, good to soft) in July and 2½L third in a Listed Redcar event last time. More needed, but can't rule her out of the frame.

Form: 012503

Non-Runners

(8)

Emerald Approach¹⁵

Weight: 8-10| Age: 2

T: C G Cox J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

San Donato (2/1), Breath Of Air (5/1), Barbill (13/2), Garrus (13/2), Dave Dexter (7/1), Canton Queen (10/1), Heartwarming (10/1), Kodyanna (16/1), Its The Only Way (33/1), Emerald Approach (33/1)

There was plenty to like about how San Donato won at Kempton last time and Roger Varian's colt could go very close now upped in grade. The same applies to BREATH OF AIR, whose Newbury win last time is working out well and can probably also be marked up a bit, and he is just preferred. Barbill and Garrus are others with claims in a good opener.