Doncaster Saturday
1.45 Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) 7f 6yd
It’s hard to rule any of the sextet out of the Champagne Stakes, but I was taken by Breacher in the Solario Stakes at Sandown despite the fact that he was only third to Alfred Wallace.
I thought it was only inexperience and soft ground that combined to beat him, but he kept on well to be beaten just a length having floundered initially when switched out to challenge in the straight.
He will have learnt plenty from that and is sure to progress further. William Muir considers the son of Cracksman to be the best he’s ever trained; that is high praise assuming he’s not forgotten Pyledriver won him a King George and Queen Elizabeth and a Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot just a few years ago!
Muir shared after his debut win that he had been beating smart handicapper EBT’s Guard on the home gallops and he is taken to justify his co-trainer’s confidence here.
2.20 Betfred Portland Handicap 5f 143yd
Based on recent results and the projected pace map, middle draws ought to fare better than extremes and the race is expected to develop up the centre of the track. Eight of the last 13 winners have been drawn between stalls 10-15, with four of the other winners drawn higher.
That could be a problem for the well-handicapped Apollo One, although Peter Charalambous and James Clutterbuck’s stalwart has run well from unfavourable draws on multiple occasions in the past and deserves consideration after bouncing back to form at York last time.
He has a fine record in this race, beaten on the nod by American Affair in 2024 and by half a length behind Eternal Sunshine when trying to concede that progressive mare 25lb when Lauren Young’s claim is taken into consideration.
Eternal Sunshine looks to be running herself back into form and can be fancied to run well, but this time Apollo One is giving her just 7lb and that indicates just how well treated he’s become.
In truth, his record of one win from 26 starts at this level means he makes more appeal as a place-only option, but he’s also a must for exotics, with Twilight Calls and Toca Madera suggested as obvious candidates to include with him.
2.55 Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) 7f 6yd
More Thunder ought to win this on the ratings, but he’s typically been doing his best work late over a mile this season and looks vulnerable dropped in trip.
It’s true that he was a good fourth in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret last autumn, but he again ran on late to be closest at the finish in the Longchamp contest and may find the race is over here before he hits top gear.
It’s not that easy finding a solid alternative, but I’d also want to field against Never So Brave, who is looking less and less well named and was clearly outfought by Qirat at York earlier in the summer. The latter has obvious claims, but I don’t think there is much between the seven-furlong specialists here and I can see Myal outrunning his big odds.
I was toying with the idea of putting Volterra up when re-watching the Guisborough Stakes at Redcar from last autumn and, while he ran well to be third that day, I saw no obvious reason why he should turn the tables on the selection, who was a length and a half in front of him at Redcar.
Myal has a seven-furlong record away from fast ground and, ignoring his racecourse debut, that reads 111112127 - with the only blight on his record a strangely flat effort at Chester in July, although it’s notable that Timeform reckoned the ground was quicker than the official description of good that day.
Given how reliable he has been, I can see him finishing close here with underfoot conditions more suitable, making odds of 25/1 look very tempting.
3.35 Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) 1m 6f 115yd
Christmas Day shaped really well under a penalty in the Great Voltigeur last time, a race he likely just needed after a break since the Irish Derby and the key to him is simply that he needs some juice in the ground.
He probably didn’t get the praise he deserved for winning the Derby, given the controversy over favourite and stablemate Benvenuto Cellini, but he did it well and the race has worked out well, with Item winning the International Stakes back at York where he had beaten Christmas Day in the Dante, and Maltese Cross also scoring at the highest level before beating the selection and Pierre Bonnard in the Voltigeur.
Christmas Day split Benvenuto Cellini and Pierre Bonnard in the Irish Derby to underpin the strength of the Classic form and he can get back to winning ways now tackling a trip that should suit him well.
The Gordon Stakes is the other traditional trial for this contest and was won this year by the progressive Enceladus, who had been so impressive in handicap company at Royal Ascot. He goes down as a danger, but with the ground expected to ride on the soft side of good, he has a little more to prove. Unlike Christmas Day, Enceladus has looked better suited by a fast surface to date, and was beaten twice on soft as a juvenile. The likely yielding surface should afford no excuses, but Christmas Day’s form is the more solid and he earns the vote.
4.15 Pertemps Network Handicap 1m
Inspired is a straightforward choice. He won well at York over this trip last Sunday when ridden by Toby Moore in an apprentice contest and is able to run off the same mark as a result.
Trip ground and course orientation are similar here and he looks sure to go well if over his exertions. His win was no flash in the pan, either, given he was first or second on his previous four starts and he pretty much picks himself here.
Chester Saturday
1.30 Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes (Listed) 1m 4f 63yd
Dubai Honour really ought to win, but I’m slightly disconcerted that William Haggas chooses a listed race for him having confirmed him for the Irish St Leger earlier in the week.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, I suppose, but I thought that Haggas might have borrowed John Gosden’s trademarked “big dice”.
2.05 Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Watergate Cup 1m 7f 196yd
Alfie Redman is a young apprentice who seems to be growing in confidence of late, and he has been given the responsibility of steering course specialist Spirit Mixer to a third consecutive win in this race.
The old boy has become well handicapped, having won off a 1lb higher mark 12 months ago, and his apprentice rider will have the confidence that his mount could probably make his way around Chester blindfolded.
Recommended
Breacher 1.45 Doncaster - 1pt win @ 7/1 (general)
Myal 2.55 Doncaster - 0.5pts e/w @ 28/1 (Bet365; 25/1 general)
Christmas Day 3.35 Doncaster - 2pts win @ 5/2 (general)
Inspired 4.10 Doncaster - 1pt win @ 8/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral, Bet365)
Spirit Mixer 2.05 Chester - 1pt win @ 5/1 (general)