16:10 Doncaster

Thursday 14 September 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Hippo Bamboo Wipes Handicap

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 2m 12.55s

(1)

If Not Now⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 102| D

6/1

Successful sole start at 2 yrs and stepped up on reappearance effort when landing a 3-runner Salisbury handicap (1¼m, good to soft) with minimum fuss. Creditable fifth in the German Derby upped to 1½m at Hamburg last time and he's respected back down in trip here.

Form: 1-315

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(5)

Kingfisher King²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100| BF| D

3/1

Confirmed debut promise when winning 11-runner minor event at Salisbury (9.9f, good to firm, 11/8) in May and having been gelded, took a big step forward when runner-up to a useful rival at Hamilton last month. Enters handicaps from fair-looking mark and should have more to offer.

Form: 212

(3)

Sisyphus Strength²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 97| D

6/1

Proved to have far too many gears for her rivals when scoring in comfortable fashion at Newmarket in July and progressed again when beaten only a neck at York's Ebor Festival last month. Looks sure to go well again.

Form: 4-P5012

(2)

Obelix^b1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 95

12/1

Winner at Newcastle on final start at 2 yrs and produced his best effort when runner-up in a 3-y-o heritage handicap at Newmarket (1¼m, good) in July. Ran respectably when fifth at York last time and holds place claims with blinkers now applied.

Form: 21-8025

(7)

Westerton⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A King| OR: 93| D

9/2

Cemented positive start in handicaps when off the mark in a Sandown maiden (10f) in June and shaped as if still in good heart when fifth of 11 in handicap at Goodwood (12f, heavy, 7/2) 43 days ago, just finding the test too much in stamina-sapping conditions. Not ruled out.

Form: 2-22135

(8)

Maximilian Caesar²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: M Botti| OR: 89| C

9/1

Wide-margin winner over 1m here on return and has produced creditable second-placed efforts on his last 2 outings, very much bumping into one tackling this trip for the first time at Newbury (10f, good) 26 days ago. Place claims again.

Form: 22-1022

(4)

Iron Lion⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: J Fanning| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84| CD

4/1

Off the mark at the fifth attempt when winning 9-runner novice at this C&D (heavy) 40 days ago, doing better ridden with more restraint. Change of tactics unlocked some improvement then and it's not out of the question that he has more to offer.

Form: 32331

(6)

Wildfell⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: J F Egan| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 84| C

14/1

Highly progressive since joining this stable from Kevin Ryan, completing the 4-timer over 1m here in June. Improved further when a close second in 17-runner event at Goodwood (8f, soft, 28/1) 42 days ago and he's not discounted if coping with the longer trip.

Form: 111162

Non-Runners

(9)

Burglar²⁰

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Kingfisher King (3/1), Iron Lion (4/1), Westerton (9/2), Sisyphus Strength (6/1), If Not Now (6/1), Burglar (8/1), Maximilian Caesar (9/1), Obelix (12/1), Wildfell (14/1)

Handicap newcomer KINGFISHER KING travelled like the best horse in the contest when a close second at Hamilton last time, pulling well clear with a useful rival, and he's fancied to confirm that potential in a particularly interesting contest. Sisyphus Strength came close to supplementing her Newmarket win at York and the filly perhaps rates as the main danger, with Burglar also a leading player having seemingly reacted positively to the fitting of a hood last time.