14:25 Doncaster

Saturday 16 September 2023

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

Betfred Portland (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 14:29 | Winning time: 1m 7.53s

(12)

Annaf⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: M Appleby| OR: 106| D

7/1

Smart performer on the AW, completing 6f hat-trick in listed company at Lingfield in February. Ran his best race on turf when third in King's Stand at Royal Ascot and not disgraced in face of a stiff task when seventh in Haydock's Sprint Cup last time. No forlorn hope back in handicap company.

Form: 834767

(5)

King's Lynn⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 104| CD

17/2

Landed Group 2 Temple Stakes in the early stages of last season and has since posted several creditable efforts in defeat. Rare below-par run in Stewards' Cup at Goodwood last time but he's the sort to bounce back.

Form: 0-82960

(1)

Chipstead³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 103| D

16/1

Proved better than ever when scoring at York (5f) in May. Has failed to repeat that effort since though, fourth in 5f Ascot handicap last time, so needs to get back on the up.

Form: 9-01054

(6)

Happy Romance⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 102| D

12/1

Resumed winning ways in 5f Bath listed contest (good to soft) in April but limitations subsequently exposed in the Temple Stakes at Haydock and the King's Stand at Royal Ascot. More needed on her handicap debut.

Form: 7-46160

(20)

Dakota Gold¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 100| CD

22/1

Tough and likeable C&D winner who shaped as if needing the run after 4 months off when eleventh of 13 in handicap at Newcastle (5f) 16 days ago. No surprise to see him get back on track here.

Form: 941-370

(14)

Aberama Gold^v²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| CD

8/1

Dual winner for Keith Dalgleish in June and has taken his form to another level for his new yard with further 6f success at York and in Stewards' Cup at Goodwood. Not best drawn when beating only one at York last time and still can't be taken lightly.

Form: 185110

(7)

Badri¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 100| D

22/1

4-time winner this year for Ruth Carr and he started out for his new yard with a good second of 13 in handicap at Newcastle (5f) 16 days ago. Needs considering off an unchanged mark.

Form: 610202

(8)

Intrinsic Bond²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: A J Farragher⁽³⁾| T: M Wigham| OR: 99| BF| CD

18/1

Won the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon for Tracy Waggott last summer and took his form to a new level when landing 5f Ascot handicap for new yard in July. Only 13th at York (5f) last time but the sort to bounce back.

Form: 280120

(18)

Makanah²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 96| C| D

16/1

Course winner who comes here on the back of a good fourth of 20 in handicap at York (5.4f, good to firm) 24 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 1-85404

(9)

Get It^h⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: George Baker| OR: 96| D

25/1

Got off the mark for his current yard with a career best in 13-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f) 9 days ago. Not dismissed despite taking a 4 lb rise.

Form: 06-0241

(11)

Dream Composer³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: H J Evans| OR: 95| BF| D

33/1

Has shown improved form this year, bagging his third handicap success of the campaign at Sandown in July. Not seen to best effect when third of 10 at Ascot (5f, good) 35 days ago. One to consider.

Form: 301083

(3)

Existent^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 95

22/1

It's now eighteen runs since his last win in 2022 but he posted a respectable fifth of 13 to Call Me Ginger in handicap at Ascot (5f, firm) 7 days ago. Possibilities.

Form: 950265

(13)

Significantly^p⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 94| D

12/1

Resumed winning ways for current yard at Haydock in July and has run well on both starts since, leading long way when sixth of 27 to Aberama Gold in Stewards' Cup at Goodwood 42 days ago. Can go well again back in distance,

Form: 88-4126

(22)

Tees Spirit⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Mia Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 93| C| D

18/1

Much improved last season when scoring 5 times (including here) and he got back on track when second of 12 at Haydock last time. Well in the mix off the same mark.

Form: 0-60902

(15)

Hurricane Ivor¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: R Kingscote| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 92| CD

22/1

2021 winner of this contest but he arrives well below par, last of 7 in handicap at Navan (5f, good to soft) 14 days ago. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: 530087

(21)

The Big Board⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 94| C| D

14/1

Much improved in 2023 and bagged her third win at Ascot in July. Not disgraced when fading seventh of 10 at Salisbury (6f) 9 days ago and one to consider with this shorter trip a plus.

Form: 011047

(2)

Vintage Clarets²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92

25/1

Won at Chester in June and followed up in ready fashion in the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle. Posted another solid effort when sixth of 20 in handicap at York (5.4f) 24 days ago so ought to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 113606

(16)

Dusky Lord^p,t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: S C Williams| OR: 92| D

40/1

Useful 5f/6f scorer in 2022 but he hasn't been firing this season and came in last of 13 at Newcastle 16 days ago. Cheekpieces go back on but others are more persuasive.

Form: 301-090

(4)

Call Me Ginger⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 91| CD

11/2

Won 3 times last year, notably in this, and right back on song of late with fluent successes at Chester and Ascot. Remains on a good mark despite a 4 lb rise and he's a big player in his bid for a repeat victory.

Form: 540711

(19)

Haymaker⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: H Morrison| OR: 87| D

25/1

Scored at Windsor (6f) in May and has largely held his form well since, close sixth of 13 to Call Me Ginger at Ascot (5f, firm) 7 days ago. Can give another good account eased 1 lb here.

Form: 314206

(17)

Kimngrace^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: George Rooke| T: R Hughes| OR: 87| D

22/1

Listed winner at Lingfield in February but mainly below par since until catching the eye when never-nearer eighth of 14 in handicap at York (5f) 24 days ago. Has won on a soft surface and handily weighted if building on that now.

Form: 508558

(10)

Live In The Moment^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 87| D

18/1

Ended a lengthy losing run (in a change of headgear) in 11-runner handicap at Goodwood (6f, good to firm) 11 days ago, always holding on. Not dismissed with blinkers retained despite taking a 3 lb rise.

Form: 236401

Forecasts

Call Me Ginger (11/2), Annaf (7/1), Aberama Gold (8/1), King's Lynn (17/2), Significantly (12/1), Happy Romance (12/1), The Big Board (14/1), Makanah (16/1), Chipstead (16/1), Intrinsic Bond (18/1), Live In The Moment (18/1), Tees Spirit (18/1), Badri (22/1), Hurricane Ivor (22/1), Existent (22/1), Kimngrace (22/1), Dakota Gold (22/1), Vintage Clarets (25/1), Get It (25/1), Haymaker (25/1), Dream Composer (33/1), Dusky Lord (40/1)

Last year's victor CALL ME GINGER looks to have arrived in peak form again and can complete a quick hat-trick after stylish recent successes at Chester and Ascot. The Big Board could find this intermediate trip to his liking and is feared most, although Significantly is another who could shine at this distance and merits serious consideration. Vintage Clarets, Kimngrace and Aberama Gold complete the shortlist in a fiercely competitive renewal of the Portland.