14:35 Doncaster

Sunday 14 June 2020

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:50

Betway Achilles Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 58.64s

(6)

Dakota Gold²⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 110| D

7/4

Multiple sprint winner who enjoyed a fruitful 2019 campaign on good or softer ground, twice winning at this level. Now has to concede weight as a result of that, but while that won't be easy, he is the one to beat if he can return in the same form.

Form: 111121-

(3)

Copper Knight^t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 106| D

9/2

Multiple 5f winner who handles slow ground and won the Listed City Walls Stakes at York last season. Returned with a fine handicap run at Newmarket recently and is entitled to plenty of respect back in pattern company.

Form: 57032-2

(2)

El Astronaute²⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 110| D

9/2

Listed winner in both France and Ireland over 5½f/5f respectively. Soft ground no problem. Third in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye when last seen last October and should therefore again be a major contender back at this level under his penalty.

Form: 125853-

(5)

Final Venture²⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 101| D

18/1

Multiple sprint winner (including on soft) who has not scored since landing the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock in 2017. Went close several times last season, but needs to pull out more if he is to make the podium at this level again.

Form: 3/22220-

(1)

Tarboosh²⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: P T Midgley| OR: 105| CD

8/1

Has an excellent strike-rate for a sprinter, albeit at slightly lower levels than this. Can go well when fresh, but even if at his best he will do well to lead home this field without suddenly finding some improvement.

Form: 588121-

(7)

Lady In France²²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: K R Burke| OR: 100| D

4/1

Debut winner at Newcastle (5f, AW) last year and came back freshened up to score again in an Ascot fillies' Listed event (5½f, good) in September. Acts on heavy ground. Still open to improvement, but might find one or two too good here.

Form: 12418-

Non-Runners

(4)

Rocket Action²⁰¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: R M H Cowell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dakota Gold (7/4), Lady In France (4/1), El Astronaute (9/2), Copper Knight (9/2), Rocket Action (7/1), Tarboosh (8/1), Final Venture (18/1)

A cracking contest in prospect. El Astronaute looks a major player after his l'Abbaye third last autumn, but DAKOTA GOLD may still be able to successfully concede 3lb to him, with conditions to suit and a very consistent record. Copper Knight is much respected, and if there is to be an upset, Lady In France might be the one to produce it.