Doncaster Saturday

1:45 Portland Handicap 5f 143y

The Portland is a tremendous handicap in which to get involved, with the intermediate trip throwing up questions, and the deceptively stiff finish seeing results change rapidly close home. There has also been a bias towards those drawn middle, with low numbers faring worst in that regard of late.

Hurricane Ivor deserves to win a big pot, but only Steps has carried as much weight since Portland legend Halmahera took the last of his three consecutive wins back in 2004. Those to lump big weights to victory in the past decade have all gone on to win in group company, and I’d question whether he’s another Muthmir, let alone an Oxted. Stall five is also lower than ideal, and the favourite is passed over.

My two against the field here would be old favourite Jawwaal and the well-treated Embour. The former has an excellent record here, winning three of his last four runs at Doncaster on quick ground. That alone makes him interesting, even if noting that the only time he’s been out of the placings on Town Moor was in this race last year, and while he won over seven furlongs for John Gosden, his record since sent handicapping is 15 runs beyond five furlongs, and no wins, as opposed to four from 10 at the minimum trip. That’s a concern, but he’s very much taken the eye on his last couple of starts, and looks ready to collect a major handicap granted some luck, so he’s worth chancing over the extra 143 yards, albeit with my money going in the win-only market.

Embour has not won here, but he has run well on all three starts, including a close sixth in the 2019 running of this race when rated 96. He didn’t have the race run to suit last time, but has been in largely good form this season, winning at Redcar in April, and just caught at Catterick last month.

There are several other creditable runs in handicaps in there, and yet he lines up here 3lb lower than for his latest win, and he is significantly better off with rivals he’s already beaten this season, such as Intrinsic Bond, who was third at Redcar, but is now 10lb worse off, while Embour was just ahead of Copper Knight when the pair were fourth and fifth at level weights in the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle, and the latter must now concede 11lb.

Ruth Carr’s gelding has a good draw in the middle, and while the loss of cheekpieces is a slight concern, I feel that he can go close with one of his better efforts.

2:20 Champagne Stakes (Group 2) 7f6y

Reach For The Moon has looked a potential star in his last two wins, but there is an element of style over substance given he’s been much the best, and it was a weak Solario he won last time. He did so with great ease, but has unarguably not achieved as much as the doughty Lusail, who defied a penalty without being asked for everything in the Gimcrack, and will give the odds-on favourite much more to think about. He’s already a winner at this trip, so the step back up shouldn’t be an issue, and he might have a little too much pace for Reach For The Moon if this turns tactical.

3:00 Cazoo Park Stakes (Group 2) 7f6y

Danyah was galvanised by the switch to forcing tactics in the International Stakes at Ascot, defying a mark of 106 in the style of a high-class performer. He is open to further progress now the key has been found, and it will be a lot easier to dominate in this smaller field, especially with no confirmed front-runner in opposition. If Dane O’Neill can judge his fractions to a nicety, the others will struggle to lay a glove on this improving son of Invincible Spirit, and he looks a solid bet given those considerations.

3:35 Cazoo St Leger Stakes (Group 1) 1m6f115y

There is a bit of intrigue in the St Leger with High Definition being supplemented for the race, and he was, of course, a warm Derby favourite in the spring. His supporters will point to the cost of adding him to the race and his trainer’s excellent race record as reasons to be confident, but I would point to the fact that he’s utterly paceless as a significant negative.

The longer trip may well help, of course, but his presence simply suggests that Aidan O’Brien’s other hopefuls are not considered good enough to get close to the outstanding Hurricane Lane, who beat High Definition in the Dante, and has since progressed to land the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris.

He was especially impressive in the latter contest, and the bottom line is that he is in a different class to his Leger rivals if he stays the significantly longer trip. That looks all but assured, as his dam was a stayer, and a half-sister to Seal Of Approval, who was unlucky not to make the frame in consecutive runnings of the Park Hill Stakes over this course and distance.

Chester Saturday:

2:00 - Tote+ Stand Cup Stakes (Listed) 1m4f63y

There are fun and games to be had with Alignak and Alounak in opposition, but for a bet, I’m inclined to take a chance on Wells Farrh Go, who was rusty off a long absence when a respectable fourth of five to Spanish Mission in Yorkshire Cup in May.

Another four-month break since that encouraging return does throw up questions about his well-being, but the rain which has hit Chester recently will aid his cause, and this inveterate front-runner should love the Roodee. Stall one is the icing on the cake for me, and the former Acomb Stakes and Bahrain Trophy hero can turn the clock back with those factors in his favour.

2:35 - Homeserve Handicap 1m6f 87y

Hochfeld is not firing on all cylinders of late, but he’s not been disgraced in competitive handicaps at the big meetings, and the combination of a drop in class and the return to a track where he excels can see him back in the winners’ enclosure.

The seven-year-old has a Chester record which reads 11223, and a handicap record below Class 2 on turf of 112312. With the talented Johnny Peate taking 7lb off, he has plenty of catalysts for a return to form.

Recommended:

Embour 1:45 Doncaster – 1pt e/w @ 33/1 (Hills, BetFred – 6 places)

Jawwaal 1:45 Doncaster – 1pt win @ Betfair SP

Wells Farrh Go 2:00 Chester – 2pts win @ 10/1 (general)

Hochfeld 2:35 Chester – 1pt e/w @ 5/1 (general)

Danyah – 3:00 Doncaster – 2pts win @ 11/4 (Bet365, Hills, BetVictor)