14:05 Doncaster

Saturday 26 October 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:30

Join Century Racing Club Today Handicap

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 1m 1.16s

(17)

Blue Storm²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: James Doyle| T: G Tutty| OR: 104| D

14/1

Useful colt who landed 3-y-o "Dash" at Epsom prior to a fine second in big-field Royal Ascot handicap. Firmly back on track when arriving late on the scene to strike at Haydock (5f, heavy) last time and while more will be needed off this 5 lb higher mark, he has to enter calculations.

Form: 1-41261

(14)

Pilgrim³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: T D Barron| OR: 98| D

11/1

His rivals didn't see which way he went at Musselburgh in June and duly followed up when proving ½-length too strong for Blue Storm in a big-field Royal Ascot handicap (5f, good to firm) 20 days later. Poorly drawn at York next time but no real excuses at Ayr latest and he needs to bounce back.

Form: 031100

(13)

Vintage Clarets⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| D

9/1

Right back to form of late, hitting the target in deep-ground 5f handicaps at Chester and Catterick either side of a a good second at Ascot. Third to Aberama Gold in this race 12 months ago and bold show likely off the same mark this time round.

Form: 880121

(8)

The Bell Conductor¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: William Pyle⁽³⁾| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 97| D

22/1

Winner of 5f handicaps at Southwell and Pontefract earlier this year, and added another to his CV when narrowly scoring at Chester (6f, good to firm) at the end of August. Failed to land a blow in a valuable York handicap recently, though, and likely to come up short once again.

Form: 145910

(7)

Cover Up⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 96| D

10/1

Won 3 on the bounce on the AW during the winter and fifth in big 5f handicaps at Glorious at Goodwood and York in August. However, looked held even before he was hampered in the Portland here (5.6f, good) last time and the forecast slow ground is a worry where this 4-y-o is concerned.

Form: 100550

(5)

Woolhampton¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Morgan Cole⁽⁵⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 96| D

22/1

Notched fourth success of 2024 when coming from off the pace to land a heavy-ground 5f Nottingham handicap in decisive fashion 10 days ago. That represented a career-best and while more will be needed up 5 lb in this stronger race, she's not discounted.

Form: 301061

(1)

Walbank^t⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey| OR: 95| D

22/1

Successful at Meydan at the turn of the year and creditable fourth back on these shores at Goodwood in July. However, he hasn't shone in 3 subsequent starts and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 104007

(12)

Venture Capital²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Shane Gray| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92| BF| CD

5/1

Dual winner at 2 yrs and in good heart in recent months, winning at Ayr and over this C&D, plus placed twice at Ascot. Shade more will be needed if he's to take this but couldn't rule out all the same.

Form: 681213

(10)

Designer^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: J P Spencer| T: J Butler| OR: 91| D

16/1

Latest win was gained off 1 lb higher at York in August 2023 and stepped up on below par belated reappearance display on the Knavesmire when fifth of 10 in the Haydock handicap won by Blue Storm last month. Still, she looks vulnerable here.

Form: 4148-05

(11)

Jer Batt¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: T D Barron| OR: 91| D

5/1

Done little wrong this year save for a below-par effort at Southwell in August, shaping much better than the bare result in a big York handicap (6f, soft) a fortnight ago (travelling as well as any but endured a torrid run through). Major player back at the minimum trip.

Form: 310240

(9)

Tinto^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: Sean Kirrane| T: M Dods| OR: 90| D

66/1

Has again paid his way this season with victories in a couple of 6f Thirsk handicaps. However, he has failed to make an impact on his last 2 starts and he's likely to find a few too good here, too.

Form: 703100

(4)

Solar Aclaim¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: S D Bowen⁽³⁾| T: H Al Jehani| OR: 85| BF| D

9/1

Relished the testing conditions when regaining the winning thread at Goodwood in September. Followed that effort with another good one at Salisbury but he proved a let-down when only sixth behind Woolhampton at Nottingham recently.

Form: 805136

(3)

Good Earth¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Joanna Mason| T: M Herrington| OR: 85| C| D

33/1

Bagged handicaps at Newmarket/Sandown in August and wasn't far off registering another success at Hamilton (5f, good to soft) late last month. Best to overlook recent York run (poorly drawn) but others make more appeal all the same.

Form: 311520

(6)

Aberama Gold^b⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| CD

4/1

Winless since landing this race 12 months ago but, on the upside, he has slipped to a very appealing mark and again wasn't to best effect when 2¼ lengths fourth to Vintage Clarets at Catterick last weekend. Conditions won't be a problem and it's not hard to envisage a bold show from this 7-y-o.

Form: 480374

(2)

Je Ne Sais Quoi⁸²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Shay Farmer⁽⁷⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 82| D

50/1

Opened her account for current yard in 8-runner handicap at Ripon (5f, firm) on latest start in August but she's effectively 10 lb higher in the weights here, in what is a much stronger race.

Form: 210-961

Non-Runners

(15)

Vespasian²³²

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: S & E Crisford J: K Shoemark

(16)

King Of Stars³²

Weight: 8-11| Age: 7

T: M Appleby J: Alistair Rawlinson

Forecasts

Aberama Gold (4/1), Jer Batt (5/1), Venture Capital (5/1), Solar Aclaim (9/1), Vintage Clarets (9/1), Cover Up (10/1), Pilgrim (11/1), Blue Storm (14/1), Designer (16/1), Vespasian (16/1), King Of Stars (20/1), Walbank (22/1), The Bell Conductor (22/1), Woolhampton (22/1), Good Earth (33/1), Je Ne Sais Quoi (50/1), Tinto (66/1)

ABERAMA GOLD faces a bigger field than he did when accounting for nine rivals in the 2023 renewal of this handicap, but he's significantly lower in the weights this time round and is appealing having again shaped well behind Vintage Clarets at Catterick last time. He may have most to fear from Jer Batt, who is of strong interest back at 5f, while top-weight Blue Storm should have a part to play, along with the aforementioned Vintage Clarets.