DONCASTER SATURDAY

3:25 SUNRACING.CO.UK HANDICAP 5F 3Y

Foolaad beat several of today’s rivals at Catterick a week ago and the handicapper has not been harsh in raising him 3lbs for that success, so he is expected to go close at a track he runs well.

Three runs on Town Moor have resulted in a win and two placed efforts for the son of Exceed And Excel and he has proven better than ever since dropped to five furlongs by Roy Bowring last December, winning five races on the trot until finding only George Bowen too strong at York in May.

That form has worked out well and although Foolaad has been back in his shell for a while, the majority of his runs have come over farther and he seems best in handicaps at this trip. Catterick was just his second run in a five-furlong handicap since winning at Pontefract in the spring, so while his form looks a little patchy, he’s actually got a tremendous record when conditions suit, and his record in handicaps over the minimum trip away from fast ground is six runs and six wins since his all-weather debut almost three years ago.

4:05 VERTEM FUTURITY TROPHY STAKES (GROUP 1) 1M

The very fact that Magna Grecia was supplemented for this contest speaks volumes, as Aidan O’Brien appeared to hold a fair hand with his original entries, but this race (formerly the Racing Post Trophy, but now luxuriating in the name it held between 1976 and 1989) has suddenly become a most coveted two-year-old prize for the trainer who has sent out Camelot and Saxon Warrior to do the Futurity/2000 Guineas double in recent years, a feat which has eluded other trainers despite the winner of the Doncaster event frequently topping the Free Handicap in days of yore.

The selection gave the highly-regarded Persian King a mighty fright in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket. The son of Invincible Spirit had just a maiden win in terms of experience against the dual Deauville scorer, which suggests the Frenchman will have an even bigger task should the pair meet in the Guineas next May.

In the meantime, Magna Grecia is expected to improve enough to take care of a high-quality field which includes John Gosden’s two-time scorer Turgenev and the horse who has got closest to Gosden’s Too Darn Hot in recent times, the Champagne Stakes runner-up Phoenix of Spain.

Circus Maximus was over three lengths behind Magna Grecia in the Autumn Stakes, but is improving and should give another good account.

NEWBURY SATURDAY

2:20 TEDDINGTON ROYAL BRITISH LEGION STAKES (ST SIMON) (GROUP 3) 1M 4F

Young Rascal did extremely well to land the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup over a mile and three furlongs here last time, not only as it represented his first start since enduring a hard race in the Derby, but because the manner in which the race was run did not play to his strengths.

He deserves extra credit for quickening past the well-ridden runner-up, with subsequent Canadian International winner Desert Encounter in third.

A reproduction of that effort will see him go close here, but the experience of getting involved in such a tactical contest will not be lost on him. He’s taken to improve again with the benefit of that outing and back at a trip he clearly relishes.

2:50 MOLSON COORS STAKES (HORRIS HILL) (GROUP 3) 7F

Almufti has a bit to prove on paper having disappointed twice before winning an ordinary novice at Kempton last time. However, he has had excuses for his defeats and the form of his all-weather win has worked out very well.

Reported to have suffered sore shins after being heavily backed on his debut at Newbury and again after running at Newcastle in June, he was given a lengthy break by Hugo Palmer before a visually impressive win at the Sunbury venue last month.

With three of those who chased him home all winning similar races next time, the form of that Kempton success can be upgraded to some degree. His trainer has always held the son of Toronado in high esteem. This does not seem an especially strong race by Group 3 standards, and soft ground ought to hold no fears, so he should give a bold show for his in-form yard.

CHELTENHAM SATURDAY

2:00 ‘MATCHBOOK BETTING EXCHANGE’ HANDICAP CHASE 3M 1F

Plenty can be given a chance here but the one which appeals at a big price is Stuart Edmunds’s Domesday Book, winner of the Kim Muir on similar ground at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival and seen only once since, when facing a very stiff task on softer ground for the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April.

His well-being needs to be taken on trust, but Edmunds is a hugely underrated handler having spent most of his career as assistant to the late Renee Robeson (née de Rothschild) before getting his name on the licence proper.

He’s certainly not wet behind the ears and is more than capable given the ammunition as he showed with that first Festival winner last year.

Domesday Book is still only an eight-year-old and can race off the same mark as when beating the likes of Pendra and Mall Dini over the longer trip of the Kim Muir. He’s suited by quickish ground, and shouldn’t really be as big as 28/1 given the balance of his form, although his lightly-raced profile will clearly put a few off.

Minella Rocco and Doing Fine are others who will be at home on the ground, although both would prefer a stiffer test of stamina, which isn’t the case for the flat-bred Domesday Book, and for all he stays well, it was pace as much as stamina which saw him victorious here on his previous visit.

3:45 PERTEMPS NETWORK HANDICAP HURDLE (QUALIFIER) 2M 7F 208Y

Max Forte belatedly showed what he could do on fast ground at Exeter in May and the key to him seems to be a sound surface. It’s also very possible that he prefers a right-handed track having gained his only previous win at Wincanton on his debut over hurdles. However, he did finish second off today’s mark at the April Meeting here in 2016/17, so I’m hoping he will prove fully effective here now that he has a better foundation.

I’ve little doubt that a mark of 122 is workable, and he will, of course, need to go very close if the intention is to run him in the final of this series in March. Veteran handler Chris Down has only had four runners this month, but a win and two places from that handful of representatives suggest the yard is in fine health.

RECOMMENDED:

FOOLAAD 3:25 Doncaster – 1p win @ 12/1 (Hills, BetVictor, Coral)

DOMESDAY BOOK 2:00 Cheltenham – 1pt win @ 28/1 (Hills, SkyBet, BetVictor)

MAX FORTE 3:45 Cheltenham – 1pt win @ 22/1 (Hills - 20/1 general)

ALMUFTI 2:50 Newbury – 1pt win @ 14/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair, BetVictor)