Doncaster selections Saturday 13th September
We have the final Classic of the season to look forward to at Doncaster this afternoon with a fascinating Leger in prospect. However the entire card on Town Moor looks interesting, especially the Portland where trainer Jim Goldie has a strong hand. I have selections from four races in total. We had each-way places yesterday for Maxi King (advised 13/2) and Hipop de Loire (SP 9/1)
Doncaster 1.15: Hawksbill
A horse who nearly did us a good turn at Chester last time, HAWKSBILL is retained today as I think this more conventional straight track will suit the gelding far better than the tight turns of the Roodee.
Well positioned turning for home at Chester, he could never quite get organised quickly enough and get into full stride to catch the all the way leader Yanifer, but was really getting going in the final hundred yards. That effort though confirmed the horse was back to form after a couple of quiet runs in midsummer at Ascot, albeit in exalted company.
Prior to that he had failed by a nose to win at Haydock, another track where a tight turn at halfway might have compromised his chances somewhat. On this straight track he will have plenty of time to get organised and in Tom Marquand has the perfect jockey to deliver him for a telling run.
Doncaster 2.25: Jordan Electrics, Air Force One & Eternal Sunshine
A typically wide open Portland that looks worthy of three attempts.
JORDAN ELECTRICS is the senior of Jim Goldie’s runners at the age of nine, but has already shaped more than well enough after a belated start to his campaign to suggest there is still a big prize in him. A fair ninth in the Stewards Cup on only his second run of 2025, he improved dramatically from a modest first effort at the Ebor meeting on Wednesday to finish a fine fifth over 6f on the Saturday of that fixture.
No doubt he has been brought along with an autumn campaign in mind – he will surely go for the Ayr Gold Cup next week as well, but there is no reason why he cannot get involved today. Second over this unusual 5 1/2f distance at last year’s Ebor meeting off 2lbs higher, he should be peaking at the right time.
AIR FORCE ONE has improved with each run since joining Geoff Oldroyd in the summer and a switch of headgear to full blown blinkers can work the oracle.
He has already tasted success this year in the Jump jockeys race at York in July. Since then he ran a cracker to be third there at the Ebor meeting, despite a slow start, and then was just touched off by Alzahir, also over this 51/2f trip last Sunday. In truth he did not look the easiest of rides under pressure, slightly hanging when asked for full effort, but he did keep trying and perhaps this more potent head wear will concentrate his mind more fully.
ETERNAL SUNSHINE has just crept in at the bottom of the weights, but has been in such good form this summer that she gives Goldie a second big crack at this race.
She is on a hat-trick after back to back wins at Thirsk recently, both with 7lb claimer Lauren Young on board, who takes the mount again today. This horse has a high cruising speed, demonstrated when narrowly beaten in a photo over the minimum 5f at the York Ebor meeting, but she definitely has the stamina for 6f, so this intermediate trip should suit ideally.
Doncaster 3.40: Scandinavia
A very interesting Leger, full of stamina laden horses, but this looks best left to the most progressive horse in the field in SCANDINAVIA.
This horse has been revitalised by cheekpieces since being well beaten by Carmers in the Queens Vase. The headgear worked wonders when he stormed home 8l clear in a Group 3 at Newmarket in July and they worked just as well when he won the Goodwood Cup beating some top senior stayers in the process.
It is rare for a Leger horse to have already won over 2m so this long straight and therefore potential war of attrition won’t be an issue for this colt. To me, Lambourn would look to be a candidate for headgear, but has not been given them today and the other Ballydoyle contender Stay True is one for whom this added distance could be a problem.
Doncaster 4.50: Botanical
The final race for thoroughbreds today can see BOTANICAL gain a class edge in a race that seems to lack strength in depth for the grade.
He was a bit below par in a spring campaign that ended with a modest eighth place over this trip at Epsom, but he has been given a break since, which seems sensible given he prefers cut in the ground and this warm summer won’t have suited.
However he has also proven to be adept at carrying big weights in handicaps, none more so than when second in the John Smiths Cup at York last season off 1lb higher than today. He had already been a wide margin winner of a handicap there at the Dante meeting and this horse is tactically versatile, who will enjoy the ground being on the soft side today.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Hawksbill – 1.15 Doncaster – 8/1 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 4)
0.5pts each-way – Jordan Electrics– 2.25 Doncaster – 16/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Air Force One – 2.25 Doncaster – 5/1 William Hill (¼ odds 1st 5)
0.5pts each-way – Eternal Sunshine – 2.25 Doncaster – 12/1 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt win – Scandinavia – 3.40 Doncaster – 5/2 William Hill
1pt win – Botanical – 3.40 Doncaster – 3/1 general
