13:15 Doncaster

Friday 12 September 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:4016:1016:4517:20

Betfred Mallard Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 3m 6.99s

(11)

Subsequent^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

12/1

Progressive sort last term, finishing runner-up in this before landing an Ascot listed win on soft ground. Easily best effort this year when ninth of 22 in Ebor at York last month. A first-time tongue tie worn there is retained. Could go well in this race again, particularly if the ground is soft.

Form: 121-609

(3)

Maxi King⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Rowan Scott| T: K P De Foy| OR: 101| C

9/2

Began last season with a bang, winning handicaps at Ripon/Newmarket. Drawn a blank since but his Epsom reappearance for Raphael Freire in June was creditable. Returns from a 3-month break under the care of a new trainer.

Form: 40568-3

(4)

Roaring Legend^t,p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: H Palmer| OR: 101

16/1

Has thrived returned to Flat for new yard, bringing up a hat-trick on AW at the start of the year. Creditable efforts in some top-end staying handicaps recently but latest tenth of 22 in Ebor underlines he has work on from his mark. Cheekpieces are refitted.

Form: 166940

(8)

Shadow Dance²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Ray Dawson| T: R Varian| OR: 99

9/2

Close third in this race last year off 1 lb higher. Better than the result on both outings this year, doing too much too soon in Ebor at York latterly. Leading contender.

Form: 0213-90

(6)

Duraji⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: D K Weld| OR: 98

17/2

Low-mileage sort who found it tough at listed/Group level in the spring but lot more competitive dropped to a handicap when fourth of 14 over this 1¾m at Glorious Goodwood last month. Considered under Buick.

Form: 21-6584

(10)

Align The Stars^b⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 94

8/1

Progressive at 3. Has found life harder this year but reacted well to blinkers (retained) when fourth of 15 in last weekend's Old Borough Cup at Haydock (1¾m, good to firm). Each-way claims again.

Form: 475784

(9)

Nachtgeist¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: O Murphy| OR: 92

125/1

Useful Flat winner in Germany. Campaigned mainly over hurdles since coming to Britain, achieving no better than modest form, including only eighth of 15 in Hexham handicap 16 days ago. A return to the Flat needs to spark a big upturn in his fortunes.

Form: 031/350-

(12)

Beylerbeyi^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee| T: Ian Williams| OR: 91| C

10/1

Thrived in the second half of the summer, racking up a 1½m hat-trick. Winning run ended but still performed with credit when fourth of 8 in Lanark Silver Bell at Hamilton (1½m) 3 weeks ago. Up in trip.

Form: 031114

(1)

Arqoob^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: L Wadham| OR: 89

40/1

Rejuvenated by the fitting of blinkers when winning easily in a small field at Newmarket (1¾m, good to firm) 3 weeks ago. 5 lb higher in a much deeper race now.

Form: 604841

(2)

Good Show⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 86

20/1

Off nearly 2 years but shaped as though retaining ability on first run since leaving Keith Dalgleish when sixth of 9 in handicap at Goodwood (2m) in June. Wisely given time to recover from that and he's an unexposed 6-y-o.

Form: 03180/6

(7)

Promethean²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁵⁾| T: D Menuisier| OR: 80

13/2

Finally off the mark in 1½m maiden at Clairefontaine 3 weeks ago but had plenty of chances in handicaps prior to that and doesn't strike as an obvious one to follow up here.

Form: 0-76541

(13)

Midnight Lion²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Amie Waugh⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 79

80/1

Has done really well on Newcastle's AW since joining present yard, winning 5 times over 1¼m between December and March. His good in Northumberland Vase there in June underlines his effectiveness over much longer trips but he's been operating below his best since. Others preferred back on turf.

Form: 104000

(5)

Synergism²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 87| BF

5/1

Gained his third and fourth handicap successes of a very productive campaign over 2m at Kempton last month. Couldn't complete a hat-trick but improved again when second of 14 in Racing League event at Newcastle 3 weeks ago. Another 4 lb higher back on turf but still much respected.

Form: 214112

Forecasts

Maxi King (9/2), Shadow Dance (9/2), Synergism (5/1), Promethean (13/2), Align The Stars (8/1), Duraji (17/2), Beylerbeyi (10/1), Subsequent (12/1), Roaring Legend (16/1), Good Show (20/1), Arqoob (40/1), Midnight Lion (80/1), Nachtgeist (125/1)

SHADOW DANCE was a lot better than his mid-field finishing position suggests in the Ebor and is taken to go 2 places better than in this race last year. Sole 3-y-o Synergism is progressive and is second choice ahead of Dermot Weld's Duraji, a good fourth in a similarly competitive handicap at Glorious Goodwood. Last year's runner-up Subsequent completes the shortlist.