14:50 Doncaster

Saturday 17 August 2019

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

Alan Smith Memorial Handicap

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 1m 28.67s

(9)

Remarkable^b⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: R P Downey| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| C| D

20/1

Four-time winner for John Gosden, missed the whole of 2018 before four starts for new yard. Fourth in Listed Doncaster Mile and after being pulled up in the Wokingham, he's matched his season debut in two runs since. More needed back up in class.

Form: 01/4P44

(8)

Motafaawit³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Hannon| OR: 103| D

4/1

Kicked off the year with back-to-back wins (now 6lb higher) before being drawn on the wrong side in the Britannia and then matched his handicap form when fifth of six in Listed company. Lightly raced and likely there's more to come back in trip.

Form: 23-1105

(10)

Rum Runner¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon| OR: 88| D

14/1

Best suited by quick ground over 7f so wouldn't want any rain. Back to winning form and ran right up to his best when scoring at Newmarket at the beginning of the month. Can't be dismissed but this is tougher, up in grade and off 6lb higher.

Form: 6-93001

(2)

Finoah^v⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 93| D

12/1

Mudlark who gained a third career win at Haydock last time, making it two successes on heavy and one on soft. Off 4lb higher and a career high mark, he'd likely need a deluge to be a leading player.

Form: 471051

(3)

That Is The Spirit²²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 86| CD

7/1

Winner at Listed level in his prime and soon off the mark for new stable when exploiting a lenient mark at Chelmsford. Improved again with two placed efforts since and now up in grade off 2lb higher. Will find this tougher but not dismissed.

Form: 9-30132

(7)

Presidential^p1⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 85| CD

11/2

Remains 1lb higher than last win in November 2018 and needs to raise his game following a below par Redcar effort recently. Cheekpieces need to have desired effect all five wins have come in class 4 or lower.

Form: 079529

(4)

Nordic Fire⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90

8/1

Novice winner last year for Andre Fabre and showed a consistent level of performance in six starts, including a career best fourth in handicap company in June. Market well worth a check on stable debut but the bare form would need improving on.

Form: 321-354

(5)

Breanski²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: A Fresu| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 83| CD

9/1

Won this race last year off 2lb higher and back to winning ways at Ascot in July. Tends to be a horse to follow when he hits form so his latest run at Newcastle (AW) was disappointing and this is tougher.

Form: 905316

(1)

Celebrity Dancer³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: A Mullen| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85

20/1

Well held in four starts since going handicapping this season, including when 13L last of nine at York last month. Down 2lb but this looks set to be another tough ask.

Form: 40-3539

(11)

Double Kodiac¹²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: Hayley Turner| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 85

9/4

Won maiden on debut at Maisons-Lafitte and came out best of a trio who raced in the centre when finishing a much improved and strong second at Newmarket in April. Unraced since but based on that run he's on a very attractive mark on handicap debut.

Form: 1632-2

Non-Runners

(6)

Arbalet²¹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: H Palmer J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Double Kodiac (9/4), Motafaawit (4/1), Presidential (11/2), That Is The Spirit (7/1), Nordic Fire (8/1), Breanski (9/1), Arbalet (10/1), Finoah (12/1), Rum Runner (14/1), Remarkable (20/1), Celebrity Dancer (20/1)

Arbalet has been highly tried this year but this would rate one of his best opportunities to get his head back in front off a decent mark. Motafaawit is very interesting coming back to his optimum distance and likewise is dropping in class. He's got plenty more to offer but preference is for DOUBLE KODIAC who, providing he's spot on following a break, is on a very lenient mark following his second to subsequent Group 2 winner and Group 1 third Fox Champion.