14:25 Doncaster

Saturday 12 September 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0517:15

bet365 Portland Handicap

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 1m 6.67s

(4)

Danzeno⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Ray Dawson⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 103| D

11/2

Unlucky not to finish closer when two lengths third to Count d’Orsay at Haydock last time, running on after having to be switched. Holding his form at the age of nine so should give a good account.

Form: 33-9323

(6)

Barbill²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: M R Channon| OR: 100| D

18/1

Won two of his three starts this term, with his only defeat coming when down the field in the Stewards’ Cup. Well on top at the finish when resuming winning ways at Chester and remains fairly treated.

Form: 608-101

(8)

Meraas²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102| D

11/1

Not seen to best effect when racing away from principals and only sixth at York last time, but had been progressive earlier in the season, winning three times. Very much one for the shortlist.

Form: 119166

(22)

Soldier's Minute^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: S A Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 99| D

14/1

Ran right up to his best when one and a quarter lengths second to Acclaim The Nation at York last time. Only 1 lb higher here and his yard are back among the winners so is well worth considering.

Form: 3-42032

(19)

Mountain Peak⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: E Walker| OR: 99| D

14/1

Goes particularly well at Haydock, making it 3/3 at that track when winning by a neck from Makanah last time. Career-high mark to contend with now, but he is clearly thriving at present.

Form: 2-31241

(9)

Justanotherbottle^p1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 98| CD

25/1

Possibly needed the run after eight weeks off when down the field behind Acclaim The Nation at York, weakening in the final furlong. Needs to take a step forward but still early days with this yard.

Form: 100-730

(21)

Jawwaal²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 98| BF| C

7/1

Made perfect start to 2020 when recording back-to-back wins here and at Ascot. Not disgraced when tenth to Acclaim The Nation at York last time, finding test too much. Best form has come over bare 5f.

Form: 009-110

(1)

Konchek^t,v1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 97

18/1

Ended long losing run at Salisbury (by half a length from Encore d’Or) last time. This much tougher, though, and he doesn’t look an obvious candidate to follow up given his poor career strike rate.

Form: 0-03231

(11)

Wentworth Falls^p³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Connor Beasley| T: G A Harker| OR: 94| CD

9/1

Consistent sort who goes well at this track, notably finishing third and fifth in the last two renewals of this race. Regained the winning thread here in June but looks in handicapper's grip now.

Form: 5-42148

(14)

Arecibo^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 93| D

15/2

Yet to win for this yard but has run several good races, including when fourth in this race 12 months ago. 6 lb lower now so has solid place claims if bouncing back from modest Sandown run last time.

Form: 585442

(18)

Stone Of Destiny²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 93| D

16/1

Returned to form when two and a quarter lengths second to Blue de Vega at Sandown last time. In-and-out profile suggests he is far from certain to be in the same form, however, so others appeal more.

Form: 0-46002

(10)

A Momentofmadness^t⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C Hills| OR: 91| CD

10/1

Won this race in 2018 and finished second 12 months ago. Took a step back in right direction when third to Only Spoofing at Goodwood last time so big player now well handicapped again.

Form: 2-78883

(20)

Orvar²³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: P J Dobbs| T: P T Midgley| OR: 90| C| D

40/1

Confirmed previous promise when winning at Chester (by a head from Broken Spear) last time, staying on to lead close home. Only 3 lb higher here and cannot be discounted at track that suits him well.

Form: 5-30051

(17)

Rock On Baileys^b³³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 89| D

33/1

Winless since the restart but more promise than of late when fifth to Judicial in listed race at Chester (6.1f) 33 days ago, though helped by being held up in strongly-run race. Must improve.

Form: 1-22405

(7)

Han Solo Berger^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: George Wood| T: C F Wall| OR: 89| D

28/1

Won at Newmarket in July and has continued in form since, including when half a length third to Live In The Moment at the same venue last time. This is tougher though so others bit more persuasive.

Form: 612383

(13)

Yimou⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: George Downing| T: D K Ivory| OR: 87| D

25/1

Rattled off a quick-fire hat-trick last summer and back to winning ways at Windsor (5f) in July. Solid efforts since so warrants respect once more.

Form: 4-71336

(15)

Deputise²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: M Wigham| OR: 86| D

66/1

Won 4 times for William Haggas over 5f/6f at 2 yrs. Probably better on AW nowadays, and showed nothing back on turf when last of 19 at Ripon 27 days ago. Easily opposed.

Form: 445-340

(12)

Wedding Date⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 86| D

22/1

Twelve runs since her last win in 2019, and only eighth of 12 in handicap at Salisbury (6f) 9 days ago. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 226828

(3)

Saluti²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Harry Bentley| T: P T Midgley| OR: 86| CD

18/1

Ran right up to his best when resuming winning ways at Beverley (by a nose from He’zanarab) last time. This demands more but he is in top form.

Form: 5-73151

(2)

Royal Residence¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: R Ffrench| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 85| D

66/1

Without a win since resumption, and below-form seventh of 15 in handicap (20/1) at Ripon (6f) 11 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 0-07927

(5)

Ginger Jam³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 84| D

28/1

Proved better than ever when successful at Beverley last time, scoring with a bit in hand. That appeals as strong form and a 4 lb higher mark doesn’t look insurmountable.

Form: 1-62671

Non-Runners

(16)

Ornate²²

Weight: 9-6| Age: 7

T: D C Griffiths J: Phil Dennis

Forecasts

Danzeno (11/2), Jawwaal (7/1), Arecibo (15/2), Wentworth Falls (9/1), A Momentofmadness (10/1), Meraas (11/1), Mountain Peak (14/1), Soldier's Minute (14/1), Stone Of Destiny (16/1), Barbill (18/1), Konchek (18/1), Saluti (18/1), Wedding Date (22/1), Yimou (25/1), Justanotherbottle (25/1), Ornate (25/1), Han Solo Berger (28/1), Ginger Jam (28/1), Rock On Baileys (33/1), Orvar (40/1), Royal Residence (66/1), Deputise (66/1)

A cracking renewal of the Portland Handicap and preference is for A MOMENTOFMADNESS who won this race in 2018 and found only the subsequent July Cup winner Oxted too good 12 months ago. He has come down in the weights since and will take the beating if building on his encouraging third at Goodwood last time. Meraas, Soldier's Minute and Justanotherbottle are also well worth considering.