16:00 Doncaster

Saturday 26 October 2019

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

Vertem Very Different Stockbrokers Handicap

3YO plus | Class 2 | 5f 3y | 19 Runners | Turf

(5)

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 107| C| D

Career best when landing a Curragh Group 2 at the start of the season. Has gone backwards since though and well beaten in the Ayr Gold Cup last time out. Very best form is on quicker ground, though does act on soft.

Form: 166090

(8)

Danzeno¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Appleby| OR: 106| D

Has found his old form this year, winning twice and running some huge races in defeat in decent handicaps. Wasn't seen to good effect when travelling best at York last time and he's effective over a testing 5f.

Form: 134233

(9)

Tarboosh¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 105| CD

Won this race last year and has an excellent 33% strike-rate on turf (10-30). Arrives bidding for his third win in four starts and only 1lb higher than last year's winning mark; obvious player.

Form: 588121

(17)

Copper Knight^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 102| D

2½L behind re-opposing Tarboosh at Musselburgh last time out. Handicapper has given him a chance, dropping him 3lb but best efforts are on quicker ground and usually at York.

Form: 757032

(4)

A Momentofmadness^h⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: C Hills| OR: 97| C| D

Saves his best for this venue, his latest win coming here and an excellent front-running effort when runner-up here last time out. Not at his best in rain softened conditions though and that's enough to temper enthusiasm.

Form: 300962

(3)

Good Effort^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: I Mohammed| OR: 97

Gained his second career win when landing a six-runner Newmarket handicap in August but has struggled from his revised mark since and soft ground probably not ideal. Down in trip.

Form: 901805

(11)

Makanah⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 96| CD

Four wins from 13 turf starts and ran with credit in a pair of handicaps at York and Doncaster before disappointing at Catterick last time out. Soft ground a probable excuse that day but likely to face similar conditions here.

Form: 210477

(19)

Princes Des Sables⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95

Recorded a four-timer in 2018 and gained an impressive 12L success at Haydock in August. Hasn't made her presence felt in Listed class subsequently but seemingly progressive, goes in this ground and can't be ruled out if she handles the drop to 5f.

Form: 2-76148

(13)

Came From The Dark²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: G Mosse| T: E Walker| OR: 93| BF| D

At his best in testing conditions, as seen when winning at Haydock last month and only narrowly denied in a competitive heat at Ascot last time out. 3lb higher but clearly going the right way at present.

Form: 267812

(6)

Orvar¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: P Hanagan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 91| CD

C&D winner in August and posted a respectable run in defeat when third of 22 at York last time out. Capable of hitting the frame from this sort of mark and yard won this last year.

Form: 561703

(15)

Saaheq^b,e/s¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 91| CD

C&D winner who did well to win from off the pace at Southwell last time out. Has run okay in soft ground without getting his head in front but this is a tough assignment and others are probably better handicapped.

Form: 024451

(18)

Four Wheel Drive^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: D H Brown| OR: 90| D

Has won four of his eight starts this year and only narrowly denied in soft ground over this trip at Catterick last time out. 3lb higher but useful apprentice booked claiming 5lb and he's not fully exposed.

Form: 131162

(16)

Holmeswood^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Rachel Richardson| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 90| D

Inconsistent performer who won from a 7lb lower mark at Musselburgh in August. Disappointing in soft ground at York last time and yet to show his best form in conditions this testing.

Form: 044120

(10)

Foolaad^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-5| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: S R Bowring| OR: 88| CD

Surprise winner of a handicap here at the start of the campaign at 6f. Very dangerous when allowed to dominate from the front and while he disappointed last time, he's down to a very workable handicap mark.

Form: 278050

(7)

Savalas^v¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: J Quinn| T: K A Ryan| OR: 86| D

On a losing run since recording a hat-trick at the start of the 2018 season. Starting to become well-handicapped as a result but all previous runs on soft or heavy haven't seen him at his best.

Form: 020505

(14)

Thegreatestshowman⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 84| D

Has been in fine form throughout most of the campaign, winning back to back races in the summer and in fair form since; this is competitive though and vulnerable to better-handicapped sorts.

Form: 114432

(1)

Tawny Port²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-0| J: Raul Da Silva| T: S C Williams| OR: 83| D

Soft ground winner at Windsor in June and all his best efforts have come with cut in the ground but he's been in poor form of late; hard to recommend at present.

Form: 616070

(2)

Fairy Stories²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| D

Arrives here bidding for a four-timer having won in heavy ground at Redcar last time out. Still showed signs there could be more improvement left in her that day, failing to settle early in the race but holding on gamely in the finish; 5lb higher.

Form: 443111

(12)

Dark Shot^v⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: S Dixon| OR: 82| D

Just two wins from 45 starts but dangerously well-handicapped on some of his form and did well to finish fourth from out of the handicap in soft ground at Catterick last time; likely a race will fall his way again soon but not the most reliable.

Form: 362054

Forecasts

Tarboosh (6/1), A Momentofmadness (13/2), Came From The Dark (7/1), Danzeno (8/1), Orvar (8/1), Copper Knight (10/1), Fairy Stories (10/1), Saaheq (12/1), Four Wheel Drive (14/1), Good Effort (16/1), Princes Des Sables (16/1), Mr Lupton (20/1), Dark Shot (20/1), Thegreatestshowman (20/1), Savalas (25/1), Makanah (25/1), Holmeswood (25/1), Foolaad (33/1), Tawny Port (33/1)

A typically wide-open renewal of this contest and there are host of runners in with chances but DANZENO shaped like the winner in a competitive heat at York last time out and he ought to make his presence felt against these rivals with Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy taking over in the saddle. Last year's winner Tarboosh warrants plenty of respect from just 1lb higher while stablemate Orvar could go well at a likely bigger price. Foolaad is back on a nice mark and a threat to all if allowed to dominate.