14:55 Doncaster

Saturday 26 October 2019

All13:4514:1514:5515:2516:0016:3517:10

Vertem Very Different Stockbrokers Handicap

3YO plus | Class 2 | 1m 3f 197y | 13 Runners | Turf

(6)

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 100| C

Eased when his chance had gone in the Cesarewitch, but had won twice over 1¾m in the mud prior to that, at Clairefontaine and Haydock. This trip sharp enough, but extreme conditions will compensate.

Form: 300110

(4)

Indianapolis^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: J G Given| OR: 100| D

Has done most of his racing on a sound surface, winning at Ascot in August, but showed he could handle the mud when beating Spanish Archer over this trip at Leicester last time. That form hard to weigh up, but he's only gone up 3lb, so respected.

Form: 684181

(8)

Spanish Archer^h¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 98| C

Better than ever when winning narrowly over 1¼m here in August, and matched that when second to Indianapolis at Leicester. Now 3lb better off, and the pair are weighted to finish together.

Form: 22-0132

(11)

To Be Wild^h1²³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: J F Egan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 95| CD

Lightly raced since winning this race on quick ground in 2016 for Hugo Palmer. Well held in November Handicap over C&D last year, and has moved yards after a poor run when blinkered on his return. Hood reached for now.

Form: 184/09-6

(7)

Big Challenge²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 88

Very lightly raced since winning his maiden at Nottingham three years ago. No impact at Meydan early in the year, and ran poorly at Chelmsford after a break last month, so has a bit to prove.

Form: 2/3-8800

(9)

Archi's Affaire²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 87| D

Disappointing on heavy ground two starts back, but is a winner on such a surface, and back to form when 1¼L third of 10 to Tammooz at Ripon (1½m) last time. On a fair mark if building on that.

Form: 13-9493

(3)

Frontispiece⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: K Shoemark| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 87| D

Has two wins from his last three runs, his latest being a dead-heat at Newbury (1m5½f). Has gone up just 2lb in the weights for his most recent success. Dangerous if able to establish an uncontested lead.

Form: 5-54181

(12)

Jabbaar^p1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Jamie Gormley| T: I Jardine| OR: 85| D

Placed twice in August on heavy ground under this rider, at Musselburgh (1¾m) and Hamilton over this trip. Not an easy ride, but possible that the fitting of cheekpieces will help him travel more sweetly.

Form: 262736

(2)

Where's Jeff⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Nathan Evans| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 84| D

Progressing sharply this year, winning the Cumberland Plate in June, and bouncing back from a rare poor run to pick up the winning threat at Thirsk last month. Slight question about the ground, but folly to ignore given his positive profile.

Form: 413181

(5)

Tammooz²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 90| D

Progressive since returned to this sort of trip in August, winning handicaps at Windsor and Ripon (Archi's Affair third). Idled after getting to the front easily last time, and a 5lb rise may well underestimate him.

Form: 523311

(13)

Future Investment¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R Kingscote| T: R M Beckett| OR: 89

Dual winner on turf in May/June at up to 1m3f. Given a break after flopping at Goodwood, and right back to his best when fourth of 17 to Hamish at York (1¾m, soft) last time. Entitled to come on from that, and yard in fine form.

Form: 311304

(1)

Rowland Ward⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: S A Gray| T: R M Beckett| OR: 83| BF| CD

C&D winner in April, and raced too freely when tried in blinkers at Thirsk last time. Can do better with headgear off, but ability to handle ground softer than good is unproven.

Form: 4-21427

(10)

Ritchie Valens²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Hannon| OR: 81

Gained reward for some consistent efforts in handicaps when benefiting from a patient ride in a strongly-run 1¼m Newbury handicap in August. Similar form on next two starts, but well beaten behind Tammooz at Ripon last time. Must bounce back.

Form: 431247

Forecasts

Tammooz (9/2), Future Investment (5/1), Frontispiece (7/1), Where's Jeff (7/1), Time To Study (8/1), Spanish Archer (10/1), Indianapolis (10/1), Archi's Affaire (10/1), Big Challenge (14/1), Rowland Ward (14/1), Jabbaar (16/1), Ritchie Valens (20/1), To Be Wild (20/1)

FUTURE INVESTMENT was either stretched by the 1¾m trip at York, or was short of peak fitness, but either way, he makes appeal back in trip on ground he should handle, so gets a narrow verdict over Tammooz, who won with a bit to spare at Ripon last time, and could have gone up more than 5lb. Time To Study has plenty of weight in relation to those three-year-olds, but he will relish the conditions, and will be dangerous if this becomes a severe test at the trip.