15:35 Doncaster

Friday 25 October 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Vertem Leading The Field Handicap

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 1m 17.73s

(10)

Gunmetal¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: P J McDonald| T: T D Barron| OR: 97| D

20/1

Bounced right back to form when good second at Ripon (6f) two starts ago but all chances cost by the draw when down the field at York (6f) on his latest start. Still not in greatest form and others appeal more.

Form: 000920

(3)

Lahore¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 97| C| D

7/1

Last win came at Ripon in August but running to his current mark recently, including staying-on fifth in 6f York handicap earlier this month. Claims if running up to scratch once again.

Form: 516205

(8)

Bernardo O'Reilly¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: M Dwyer| T: R Spencer| OR: 94| D

25/1

Made it five career wins with game success at Ffos Las two starts ago but found this company too hot to handle at York (6f) last time out. Excuses for that but will need to bounce back.

Form: 91-6210

(5)

Cold Stare^t¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

8/1

Haydock winner on heavy (6f) in June but not the same horse since. Arguably drawn on the wrong side of the track at York (6f) last time but a bit to find with rivals at this stage.

Form: 010470

(2)

Alaadel^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: G Mosse| T: S C Williams| OR: 93| CD

15/2

Won well at Haydock three starts ago but subsequently well held since, including sixth in 6f York handicap earlier this month. Place claims at best but looks to be held by the handicapper at the moment.

Form: 8-20106

(1)

Bielsa⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 93| BF| CD

5/1

Came into latest race unbeaten but folded tamely when 15th in the hot handicap (5f) here in September. Break since and claims if bouncing back to previous C&D winning form.

Form: 1-110

(11)

Gabrial The Saint^h1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92| D

7/1

Slowly starting to find his best form again after some poor efforts, including second in Ayr Silver Cup followed up by close third at Wolverhampton (6f) last time out. Could be a dark horse and better handicapped than some rivals.

Form: 208223

(9)

Diamond Dougal^v²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: M R Channon| OR: 90| D

16/1

Looked a bit wayward after promising start to the season but first-time visorsparked life back into him with Ripon victory (6f) last month. Visor retained and set to go well once again.

Form: 477551

(6)

Pendleton^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 89| D

6/1

Consistent sort who gained much deserved victory at Ascot (5f) at the start of the month. Not penalised too harshly by the handicapper for that so has excellent claims.

Form: 223251

(14)

Call Me Ginger²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Robinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 87| D

11/1

Started to get the hang of things now given recent Redcar victory two starts ago before respectable sixth at Ascot (5f) last time out. This looks tougher so place claims at best.

Form: 5216

(12)

Triggered⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: E Walker| OR: 87| D

8/1

Has tumbled down to a likeable mark and showed some signs of coming back to form with good third in 5f Thirsk handicap last time out. Not to be discounted off current mark.

Form: 43-7403

(7)

Dalton^p⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Rachel Richardson| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 84| D

14/1

Revelled in soft conditions at Nottingham in June but not the same horse since, including never-nearer eighth in Ripon handicap (6f) in August. Not seen since and others are preferred.

Form: 310038

Non-Runners

(13)

Golden Apollo³⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: T D Easterby J: D Allan

(4)

Fantasy Keeper⁹

Weight: 8-9| Age: 5

T: M Appleby J: S De Sousa

Forecasts

Bielsa (5/1), Pendleton (6/1), Gabrial The Saint (7/1), Lahore (7/1), Alaadel (15/2), Cold Stare (8/1), Triggered (8/1), Golden Apollo (8/1), Call Me Ginger (11/1), Dalton (14/1), Fantasy Keeper (14/1), Diamond Dougal (16/1), Gunmetal (20/1), Bernardo O'Reilly (25/1)

A competitive sprint with plenty of winning form brought to the table, preference is for GOLDEN APOLLO, who revelled off a lower handicap mark to win the Ayr Silver Cup last time out and any replication of that form should see him right in the mix. Bielsa possessed a fine profile before bombing out in the Portland Handicap but this looks a mildly easier race this time out. He can be considered for the places alongside the likes of Pendleton and Gabrial The Saint, who are both starting to be rewarded for their consistency now.