16:55 Doncaster

Thursday 12 September 2019

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5517:30

Magners Rose Handicap

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 2m 15.67s

(6)

Desert Wind⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: S Donohoe| T: E F Vaughan| OR: 98| D

15/2

Yet to win on turf (was fourth in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot) earning a lofty rating courtesy of a 33% AW strike-rate (4-12); 5lb higher than when beating Big Kitten by 1¾L at Kempton (1m4f, standard to slow) in June.

Form: 44-3010

(4)

Nicholas T³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Ben Robinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 96| C| D

14/1

Thriving, winning three times at Ayr (1m-1m2f) since early July, rising a combined total of 15lb in the weights; is ground versatile and a past Doncaster winner (1m); arrived with a late challenge (fourth) in the Shergar Cup Mile at Ascot latest.

Form: 212114

(7)

First Sitting⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: James Doyle| T: C F Wall| OR: 95| D

9/1

Listed and Group 3 winner for his current trainer; on the whole has been quiet since taking the Festival Stakes at Goodwood (1m2f) for the second year in succession in May 2018; easing in the weights.

Form: 44-9040

(2)

Waarif²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

11/1

Held on gamely when winning at Windsor (1m, good to firm) in June, but hasn't really convinced since (0-4); finished eighth of 18 to What's The Story in the Class 2 Clipper Logistics Handicap at York (1m, good) three-weeks ago; trip?

Form: 210908

(1)

Davydenko³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 98

11/10

Beaten just once in four starts in 2019 and that was when encountering good to soft ground at Royal Ascot (Britannia Stakes); comfortably beat a couple of Godolphin-owned 3yo's at Newmarket (1m, good to firm) latest; 8lb higher over a new trip.

Form: 7-1101

(8)

Certain Lad¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: M R Channon| OR: 98

7/1

Likes Haydock; 2lb higher than when winning for the second time at that Lancashire track (1m, good to firm) in July; certainly isn't copper-bottomed over this 1m2f trip and for that reason alone is best overlooked.

Form: 640104

(5)

Leroy Leroy^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 90| C

6/1

Head runner-up to the heavily supported Al Muffrih in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar (1m2f, good to firm) in May; modest since, but the handicapper has cut him some considerable slack; won here (1m) as a juvenile last September.

Form: 525044

Non-Runners

(3)

Good Birthday¹²

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Oisin Murphy

Forecasts

Davydenko (11/10), Good Birthday (7/2), Leroy Leroy (6/1), Certain Lad (7/1), Desert Wind (15/2), First Sitting (9/1), Waarif (11/1), Nicholas T (14/1)

Davydenko will be a popular selection among punters and with a progressive overall profile it isn't difficult to ascertain why. However, untested over this trip (far from guaranteed to stay on pedigree) and with an 8lb rise for his latest Newmarket victory he is opposed at projected cramped odds. The preferred option is the Andrew Balding-trained C&D winner GOOD BIRTHDAY. His three-year-old colt has more than held his own in competitive Class 2 handicaps all summer, displaying tenacity when bursting through a narrow gap to score under Ben Curtis at Beverley just under a fortnight ago. He's much respected off a 3lb higher mark.