William Hill Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed) (Str)

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 1m 41.61s

(2)

Docklands^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 118| D

8/11

Smart miler who recorded first success at the highest level when emerging on top following a thrilling finish to the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot last summer. Ended 2025 with a creditable fourth of 14 in the valuable Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin and he sets the standard here.

Form: 315444-

(1)

Excellent Believe¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon| T: J Channon| OR: 108| BF| D

9/2

Back-to-back novice winner last season and made a successful handicap debut at Haydock in August. Subsequently proved that he can mix it in pattern company with a good second in the Superior Mile back at Haydock before also finishing runner-up in France when last seen in September.

Form: 116122-

(4)

Qirat¹⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Colin Keane| T: R M Beckett| OR: 114| D

7/1

Smart performer who caused a huge upset when, used as a pacemaker for Field of Gold, he got home in front in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last summer having slipped the main contenders. Somewhat predictably found things tougher thereafter but he has to be respected down in grade here.

Form: 201570-

(5)

Treble Tee^t¹⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Harry Davies| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 105| CD

11/1

Quickly made up into a smart handicapper last term, building on a couple of solid efforts in defeat when bagging a good pot over C&D in September and then finishing sixth of 23 in the Cambridgeshire. Too free upped to this level at Nottingham on final run of 2025 and he's much better than that.

Form: 622167-

(3)

Volterra¹⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 108| BF| D

7/1

Signed off 2024 by getting the better of Qirat and 16 others in the valuable Challenge Cup at Ascot. Failed to add to his tally during a relatively light 4-y-o campaign but 2 of his 4 performances were very solid, including when going close in this grade at Newbury in September. Couldn't rule out.

Form: 21/3823-

Forecasts

Docklands (8/11), Excellent Believe (9/2), Volterra (7/1), Qirat (7/1), Treble Tee (11/1)

Though typically accustomed to bigger-field scenarios, DOCKLANDS should get a strong pace to aim at here with both Qirat and Volterra likely to go forward. The 6-y-o has a class edge on these, goes well fresh and is versatile ground-wise, so he has much in his favour. Qirat shades preference ahead of Volterra for forecast purposes but Excellent Believe and Treble Tee do not look out of place either.