Doncaster stages the final Group 1 race of the British Flat season on Saturday afternoon.
The Vertem Futurity Trophy (2.55) has been won in the last three renewals by the following year’s Newmarket 2,000 Guineas winner. Will we see a future Classic winner again?
The action on Town Moor is from 1.10pm-5.10pm with eight races. Watch it all unfold via live streaming when logged into MansionBet. Our tipster has selections all eight Doncaster races.
1.10 – Think Smart At Vertem Handicap (1m4f)
Laafy found a Listed Newmarket race beyond him last time out but is only 3lb higher than when scoring at Ascot the time before. He’s got to be on any shortlist. ICONIC CHOICE was a winner herself at Newmarket early in the month and ran well again since at York. From an unchanged mark of 91, the Sixties Icon filly is certainly worth taking a chance on with this new trip likely to suit.
Selection: Iconic Choice
1.45 – vertem.co.uk Doncaster Stakes (Listed, 6f)
This is a drop in class for Lipizzaner and it would be no shock if Aidan O’Brien’s colt mounted a big challenge. Zamaani too can enter the picture having just missed in a Redcar Listed contest at the start of the month but JUST FRANK led his rivals a merry dance at Newmarket (6f, heavy) in a valuable sales race three weeks ago and can go well upped into this grade.
Selection: Just Frank @ 3/1
2.20 – Vertem Very Different Stockbrokers Handicap (5f)
Nottingham winner Wrenthorpe and Leicester second Ishvara have their claims alongside York second Mighty Spirit but preference at the prices is for VENTUROUS. David Barron’s charge is starting to look well-handicapped on his best turf efforts this season and returns to this surface with Ray Dawson taking a very useful 5lb off.
Selection: Venturous @ 17/2
2.55 – Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes (Group 1, 1m)
Britain’s Group 1 swansong for 2020 and a race full of potential Classic hopefuls for next year. Aidan O’Brien’s Wembley has been bridesmaid twice in the National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes recently and holds obvious claims, despite the worry of that busy schedule.
One Ruler scored a Newmarket Group 3 win last time and is sold but Champagne Stakes third STATE OF REST might give St Leger-winning trainer/jockey combo Joseph O’Brien and Tom Marquand another big-race success here. He looked a bit unlucky at a crucial stage in that race but was running strongly through the line behind Chindit and Albasheer and he might thrive upped to a mile.
Selection: State Of Rest @ 8/1
3.30 – Scott Dobson Memorial Nursery (7f)
Sir Maxi won well on his nursery debut at Lingfield recently but he is 9lb higher in the ratings and will have to take another jump forward. CONSERVATOIRE made a very pleasing nursery introduction herself at Goodwood on testing ground 13 days ago despite still having the appearance of learning on the job. She’s up 7lb and is preferred to double-up. Handicap debutant Macmerry Jim is worth paying close attention to.
Selection: Conservatoire @ 5/2
4.05 – Vertem A Fresh Approach Handicap (7f)
Having won at Newmarket (6f, soft) in August, MUSICALITY was held here last month over a half-furlong extra from this mark at the St Leger Festival. That was probably a stronger race than this one and Roger Varian’s Kyllachy gelding might be worth another chance with easing conditions in his favour. Recent Leicester winner Tomfre and Breanski are other on the shortlist in a very open event.
Selection: Musicality
4.40 – Breeders’ Cup On Sky Sports Handicap Division 1 (7f)
The well-bred It Had To Be You went agonisingly close on stable/handicap bow at Musselburgh (1m, good) last month and is entitled to due consideration with the benefit of that run behind him. It’s two years since ICE LORD won but his turn may be coming again. He went close at Newmarket in June after a layoff and while he was posted missing in three runs after that, his recent Salisbury third (6f, soft) was much more like it. He’s yet to win over 7f but does get the trip and is now 13lb below his previous win-mark.
Selection: Ice Lord
5.10 – Breeders’ Cup On Sky Sports Handicap Division 2 (7f)
Lots of chances in the finale. Archaeology is a course winner and could go well under the champion jockey while Ugo Gregory arrives here at the top of his game having been denied the hat-trick at Musselburgh. Chris Fairhurst’s filly VELMA gained a first career success at Newcastle (1m, AW) this month after a break and might be on a workable mark back on the grass with this drop in distance no major concern.
Selection: Velma @ 9/1
*All odds correct at time of writing