14:40 Doncaster

Friday 10 September 2021

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:20

Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 3m 53.02s

(5)

Stradivarius²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 121| CD

4/11

Dominant stayer of recent years. Hasn’t been at high-class best this season, meeting with defeat in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, but pulled it out of the fire in the Lonsdale Cup. Won this in 2019.

Form: 270-141

(6)

Eagles By Day^t1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 108

40/1

Made winning start for this yard in 1¾m Group 3 last summer and not disgraced in Goodwood/Lonsdale/Doncaster Cup after. Hard to get excited by what he's achieved both starts this term. Tongue tie on.

Form: 1455-70

(1)

Nayef Road⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 110

10/1

Filled the forecast spot behind Stradivarius at Ascot and Goodwood last summer. Unable to maintain those levels in 2021 so hard to make a case for him landing this.

Form: 3-35565

(7)

Rodrigo Diaz²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 96| C

11/2

Much improved when winning a 1½m handicap here before posting fine efforts in good contests at Kempton and Newbury. Even better when second in the Geoffrey Freer and this trip promises to suit.

Form: 1-21322

(2)

The Grand Visir^t,v²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 102| C

22/1

Added to his fine Royal Ascot record when third in Queen Alexandra (21.6f) in June, and has remained in form since, faring as well as could be expected when third of 4 in the Lonsdale Cup.

Form: 233203

(3)

Alerta Roja³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 96

16/1

Yet another from the yard to click when sent into handicaps over longer trips, completing hat-trick at Ascot (2m) in July. Better still when caufght close home in listed company at Hoppegarten.

Form: 0-41112

Non-Runners

(4)

Trueshan⁴⁵

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: A King J: Hollie Doyle

Forecasts

Stradivarius (4/11), Trueshan (3/1), Rodrigo Diaz (11/2), Nayef Road (10/1), Alerta Roja (16/1), The Grand Visir (22/1), Eagles By Day (40/1)

He’s not the banker of years gone by but it’s hard to get away from STRADIVARIUS, who showed he’s still well up for a fight when coming out on top in a memorable battle with Spanish Mission at York 3 weeks ago. Connections of Trueshan are presumably monitoring the forecast but he is a huge threat if rain does arrive.