Rory Delargy

DONCASTER SATURDAY

2.00 AT THE RACES CHAMPAGNE STAKES (7F)

This is a meeting at which Godolphin traditionally excel with their juveniles, and while Emotionless lacks the experience of one or two of his main rivals, he appeals as the best prospect in this race given the manner of his victory in a Newmarket maiden last month. He put some daylight between himself and a field of promising juveniles that day, and it’s notable that one of the vanquished was stablemate Venturous, who has won both starts since, including when impressing here on Wednesday. That shows the preferred route of development used by Charlie Appleby and Emotionless can give that approach another boost by beating Ibn Malik here.

2.35 LADBROKES PORTLAND HANDICAP (5F 140Y)

The trip of the Portland is an unusual one, falling between the main sprint distances, which often complicates analysis of the race, but it’s similar to the trip over which Caspian Prince beat Highland Acclaim at York’s Ebor meeting, and while the former might prove vulnerable on this stiffer track, David O’Meara’s gelding appears tailor-made for this contest. He’s been beaten again since but had no chance the way the race was run at Ascot last time, and a strongly run race here should play to his strengths, assuming he can find a path through. The four-year-old usually wears a hood, and can race too keenly for his own good, but that’s unlikely to be an issue in a typical Portland, where no prisoners are taken, and he’s undeniably dropped to a handy mark after a losing run. That York effort suggested that his handler had got him back to a peak at a time when the calendar is thick with valuable sprint handicaps and he’s sure to take advantage sooner rather than later.

3.10 SAINT GOBAIN WEBER PARK STAKES (7F)

Ansgar faces a much tougher task than when winning this 12 months ago, and looks opposable as a result, but that doesn’t make it much less tricky. Limato stands out on his form over six furlongs, but has never raced beyond that trip, and while he’s not without stamina influences on the damside of his pedigree, it’s still risky backing him, irrespective of class. The prospect of rain is another factor which militates against his chances and the amount which falls will have a major impact on the shape of this contest.

Several of these would want heavy rain to increase their chances, but the forecast suggests that while the weather may prove spectacular in terms of its arrival (the forecast is for thunderstorms during the day), the actual amount of precipitation will be unlikely to alter the going significantly. As such, it may pay to side against those in need of extremes of going, and the suggestion is Home Of The Brave, who made all on dead ground at the Curragh in July, and should have no issues whatever the weather does. He’s drawn lower than ideal but his early speed will enable him to get a good track position and this seven-furlong trip looks his optimum distance.

3.45 LADBROKES ST LEGER STAKES (1M 6F 132Y)

To say the Leger has failed to catch fire as an ante-post contest is to state the blindingly obvious and there have been calls in certain quarters to rebrand the Triple Crown in similar style to the US version. That will horrify traditionalists but it’s abundantly clear that only Coolmore are interested in maintaining the classics as a narrative.

Such machinations have their place, but we’re more interested now in finding the winner of the race, and Aidan O’Brien seems to hold the key, with Bondi Beach fancied to gain recompense for his controversial defeat at the hands of Storm The Stars in the Voltigeur. The latter just shades favouritism, but has had a pretty demanding campaign, and while he’s likely to run his race, it is stretching things to imagine he can improve again. That can’t be said of the horse he beat narrowly at York and another certain improver from O’Brien’s yard is Ebor fifth Fields Of Athenry.

It might go against the grain to tip one beaten in a handicap for a Group 1, but the son of Galileo has much more going for him than that run on the Knavesmire suggests. Racing off a very lofty handicap mark, he was unlucky enough to draw the widest stalls position and was forced to race very wide as a result. To compound that misfortune, he made a big move just as the pace was at its strongest and was unsurprisingly left with little to give in the finish. It’s easy to mark him up significantly for that effort, and as long as that attritional race hasn’t knocked him back, he looks a major player. The booking of Silvestre de Sousa is a first for the yard, but he’s a most able substitute, and he is taken to land a first classic success on his way to becoming champion jockey.

MUSSELBURGH

SATURDAY

4.15 WILLIAM YULE 150th ANNIVERSARY HANDICAP (5F)

Fancy prices are unlikely to be on offer but it’s almost impossible to oppose Fine ‘N Dandy after his recent course and distance romp. John Jenkins’ gelding had fallen from grace to a remarkable extent, but stopped the rot with a good second over course and distance last month, and built on that when making all the running here a week ago. He’s up in the weights as a result, but is still racing in the same lowly class, and remains very well treated on the pick of his form (rated over two stone higher at the start of last season). He was highly regarded as a juvenile, but like plenty before him struggled the following year, but has finally dropped to a mark which has enabled him to thrive again. He really ought to be an odds-on shot in this field and holds entries early next week in his bid to make the most of the handicapper’s generosity.

RECOMMENDED

HIGHLAND ACCLAIM 2.35 Doncaster – 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (William Hill)

HOME OF THE BRAVE 3.10 Doncaster – 1pt win @ 6/1 (general)

FIELDS OF ATHENRY 3.45 Doncaster – 1pt win @ 7/1 (Ladbrokes, William Hill)