Friday 23rd October 2026
2.45 Doncaster – (Class 2 Handicap) (7f)
The unbeaten PALLADAS makes plenty of appeal on his handicap debut here for the team of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. The form of his debut win at Kempton all the way back in January looks particularly strong, given that he beat Al Azd that day by two and three-quarters of a length, and that rival has since proven to be very smart and is now rated 109. Shafdar was also third on that occasion and is now rated 92 himself.
The Appleby colt made his return to the track at Southwell in August, where he breezed to a comfortable success when going off a very short price; however, given the strength of the form of his debut victory, his opening handicap mark could prove to be very lenient, and he could be a fair bit better than this level. A bold show would be no shock. He’s by Lope De Vega, who handled soft ground, and the drop back down to seven furlongs shouldn’t prove an issue.
Invictus Gold should go well off his current mark for Tom Clover, and he also acts on soft ground, and the in-form Murashah is well worth his place up in grade; he’s won back-to-back handicaps in comfortable style, both coming at Class 4 level.
Selection: Palladas – (2/1) (Win)
4.30 Doncaster – (Class 4 Handicap) (6f)
The William Stone-trained Big Harry will be very popular here, and rightfully takes his place at the top of the betting. He’s unexposed, a course-and-distance winner on heavy ground, and won last time out at Ayr. There’s plenty to like about his chances, and it would be no surprise to see him win again with Oisin Orr in the saddle on this occasion.
Ralph Beckett’s TOPWARRIOR has found his form again as of late, going down by just a head on his penultimate start at Hamilton, before running well again at Ayr last time out when finishing fourth of twelve and just a length and a quarter behind eventual winner Alpha Magic. He also enjoys testing ground, and remains on a mark in which he should continue to be competitive, just a pound higher than when he won an eighteen-runner affair at Newbury exactly twelve months ago. He should post a bold bid again here, with Rossa Ryan taking over.
First Time was only beaten by three-quarters of a length when second in a twenty-runner affair at York last time out, with that excellent run also coming on soft ground. Warren Fentiman offsets a two-pound rise in the weights here with his three-pound claim, and he merits respect if he turns up in the same form for the Fahey team.
Selection: Topwarrior – (5/1) (Each-Way)
