By Tony Calvin - 10 September 2026
I won’t keep you long here, as this 16-runner 5f contest – watch out for an each-way changing NR – has that usual impossible sprint handicap look.
The pace map indicates you’d rather be drawn low than high , and the early 7/2 favourite Hypnotised is in trap four.
He has been pulled out on officially good to soft ground on his last two intended starts, so presumably the slightly drying conditions will be in his favour, and the lightly-raced Juddmonte horse ran a cracker when just touched off at Newbury last month.
But 7/2 looks plenty tight enough to me in this.
Venture Capital in 13 is the sole pace angle drawn high and the handicapper has done him a big favour in dropping him a further 5lb for two recent starts off a break, and that Ripon run last time was not bad at all.
He has now come down 12lb this season.
You can actually make a pretty good case for him. He is 13lb lower than when beaten less than five lengths in the Portland here last season and he actually won this race off a 9lb higher mark in 2024.
Actually, I have kept you much longer than anticipated here as he has far better claims than quotes of 28s (five places if you know a friend who can) and 25s suggest, so I have backed him.
I had to settle for the generally available 25s as I have no hotline to Stoke.
I have played win-only but I obviously wouldn’t put you off each-way if you can access those five places.
Your call.
MORNING BETTING UPDATE (6.35am): No moves that I saw. I imagine very little money has changed hands here. Hypnotised is 7/2 but that has to be drift.
My fancy Venture Capital is into 16s.
And, as at 10.15am, into 12s, top price.
Indian Run is a NR as at 9.19am (bruised foot).
No let-up in the sprint handicap offerings.
Thanks, Donny.
There is pace across the track in this 14-runner 6f11yd contest (eight shy of the maximum), and general 10/1 chance Indian Run could go well from berth 13.
He won York’s Group 3 Acomb Stakes for Eve Johnson Houghton at two and he has posted excellent, consistent efforts on his last four starts for his current handler (who won this race last year with Desert Falcon), and he may have been a little unlucky when a narrow third at Windsor last time, not getting a clear run at things in the final furlong.
With that in mind, a 1lb rise could be generous and the more it dries out for him, the better.
I’ll have a small each-way poke at 10s on him.
Fellow 10s chance, the now-visored Oliver Show, is also very fairly-priced after two good Goodwood runs off a break of late, and a 2lb rise for his length second to subsequent scorer Inspired (disappointing in the 4.15pm at Doncaster on Saturday) last time gives him every chance here.
He is still 8lb below his peak 2025 mark, and a reproduction of any three of his course starts (he finished a nose second in the Lincoln off a 4lb higher mark last season) would see him go very close here, though I am rather worried about his stablemate Asuka.
Indeed, he was only beaten 1/2 length when fourth, off a 5lb higher mark, in this race last year.
George Boughey rarely goes with a visor, but he is 3 from 9 when trying this option, and that is good enough for me to have a saver. I don’t have any problem with the 7f trip with so much pace on here (on paper at least).
You can get four places with most firms and I have backed both horses each-way.
In fact, Oliver Show has just gone 12s with three firms, and 11s in a few places. Take those prices if/while you can; I managed to get a bit of the 12s to go alongside my initial bet at 10s, but it’s modest stakes stuff once again.
MORNING BETTING UPDATE (6.38am): Asuka is 7/2 from 5s, and Blue Brother 10s into 5s. This race hasn’t even done 5k on Betfair.
Killashee Supreme is a NR
The Curragh is the ugly sister of the Irish Champions Weekend – and I didn’t think Leopardstown was that clever this year either myself, from a betting point of view – and I thought this card was underwhelming.
Star Of State is 4/9 in this 2yo sales race, unsurprisingly so given his form and time claims.
An easy race to ignore.
The best contests on the card take place after ITV have gone off air.
MORNING BETTING UPDATE (6.47am): Star Of State is now best at 1/3 and as low as 1/4.
He now ranges from 1/4 to 1/5 as at 10.15am, so the money-buyers are out early.
Another samey race to open the Doncaster card, but at least this 7f handicap is for 3yos only.
I probably won’t be having a bet but I thought the 3s about Wechaad was perfectly acceptable.
He ran away with a 7f nursery at this meeting last year and comes in here after three solid efforts in good-class handicaps, the last two of which came over 1m.
With plenty of pace in here, I like the angle of stepping him back to 7f after that tame finish to his race on the July course last time; he is by far the most likely winner here, as the betting suggests, but not for me.
Langstone is possibly the each-way angle at 7s against him on his early-season form, which included a course and distance success.
MORNING BETTING UPDATE (6.40am): No movement from what I clocked.
As at 7.40am though, Langstone isn’t far off favouritism , into 4s from 7 yesterday.
Ibelieveicanfly is a NR.
I have said before that World Pool want a bare minimum of seven entries (any NRs after the final fields are known are fine for the purposes of their markets – witness Ibelieveicanfly coming out here perhaps) to maximise their moolah, and that’s what we have here.
In fact, I’d be pretty sure Coolmore, major supporters of the World Pool, try to ensure a minimum of seven with their multiple entries; indeed, Queenstown was pulled out of the Doncaster Cup on Friday, due to not having eaten up the night before, but he has turned up among the final field for the seven-runner Irish St Leger later in the card.
Anyway, Sun Goddess is the even-money favourite after that visually stunning success in that lowly (if not in prize money terms) sales race last time, having previously won the Phoenix Stakes here.
She has two verdicts over the 11/4 second favourite Green Empress already, but the runner-up clearly stepped up when winning a Group 2 here last time by a snug (in the end…) neck from Dancing Destiny, Alpha and IbelieveIcanfly , and they all re-oppose here.
Well, the latter finished fourth in the opener at Leopardstown on Saturday and will presumably be a NR – she is – but the crucial seven has been secured.
It looks a “shrug your shoulders” Group 1 to my eyes.
MORNING BETTING UPDATE (6.48am): Star Goddess is now 4/5 best (one place) and a general 8/11.
Sukanya is a NR
This 19-runner fillies’ 7f Group 3 can be narrowed down to two if you believe the betting; the hugely progressive Forty Years On at 11/4 and the somewhat regressive Touleen at 5/2, with 7s bar and the next one in at 14s.
I am not so sure.
I think this has more depth than that and Touleen, tried in first-time cheekpieces here by Owen Burrows (his headgear record below is not great), has become disappointing and Forty Years One would probably prefer more dig, so I may well try to lay both and have the field running for me at odds-against.
Which of the other 17 win, I haven’t got a clue, but luckily I don’t have to name them with the above approach.
Touleen is clearly the most talented filly in here at her best but a few of these are on her and Forty Years On’s coat-tails. In fact, The Prettiest Star is officially rated 1lb higher than George Scott’s improver.
And hopefully the front two in the market can find plenty of trouble in running in this huge field…
I have dutched them from a laying perspective, so here is hoping for a result.
MORNING BETTING UPDATE (6.43am): Forty Years On is available at 5/2 and 9/4 on the Oddschecker grid; that is unlikely to see 7am.
Charles Darwin is a NR.
I often say Trackers are the bookmakers’ friend, as it makes punters lazy.
For example, how many stuck Time For Sandals in theirs after that luckless run in the Nunthorpe last time and will simply back her blind here without looking at the price, opposition, ground, pace and draw etc?
More than a fair few, I reckon.
That said, I did expect her to be put in shorter at 5s, second in the market to July Cup winner Comanche Brave at 5/2, for this after that York hard-luck story.
I won’t be wasting your time here in this 18-runner Flying Five; this has all the look of another Group 1 Sprint crap-shoot.
And I am crap at shooting in them.
MORNING BETTING UPDATE (6.49am): Comanche Brave has been clipped into 2s from 5/2.
The sole pace in the race, Fantasy World is a NR.
Another race that I don’t have a betting opinion in, and a modest enough turn-out of nine for a 70k 1m6f115d handicap that could have taken a field of 20.
The numbers can often tail off towards the end of the week in these multi-day Festivals.
If pushed for a token selection, maybe All In You.
He ran very well, on ground plenty quick enough, on his return to the Flat, in the Ascot Stakes last time and he got eased 1lb for it.
Every little helps, as Tesco told us.
I’ll know my betting fate early on Sunday, then.
MORNING BETTING UPDATE (6.45am): I imagine another very lightly-traded market but All In You is 7s to 5s is the move of note here – at the moment anyway.
Venture Capital at 28/1 and 25/1 win-only in 1.25m at Doncaster (the 16 runners scares me, so win-only)
Indian Run each way , four places, at a general 10/1 in 1.55pm at Doncaster – available at 12s as of Sunday morning – NON-RUNNER
Oliver Show each way, four places, at a general 10/1 in 1.55pm at Doncaster (12s with three firms; and 11s with others)
GOING – Straight course: Good: Round course: Good, good to soft
GOING STICK : 6.1, Sunday 7.45am
Watering: We have not watered the track since the 18th August – this was to aid recovery from our last meeting on the 15th August
Weather (8.11am Sunday): dry and sunny spells
13 September 8.02am – Following 5mm of rain Friday night & a warm, dry, breezy day yesterday, The Curragh is now yielding, good in places (Straight) & good, yielding in places (Round).
Misty at present, clearing for a dry day with temperatures up to 19 degrees
Simon and Ed Crisford cheekpieces; Adrestia 1.25pm Doncaster; 5-59 (8%) -36.63 pts at SP
Andrew Balding cheekpieces; Berkshire Whisper, 1.55pm Doncaster; 31-227 (14%) +21.32 pts at SP
George Boughey visor; Oliver Show, 1.55pm Doncaster; 3-9 (33%) +10.60 pts at SP
Owen Burrows cheekpieces; Touleen, 3.05pm Doncaster; 2-28 (7%) -7.50 pts at SP
John and Thady Gosden visor; Valedictory, 3.40pm Doncaster; 2-10 (20%) -4.70 pts at SP
Charlie Fellowes cheekpieces; Treasurer, 2.15pm Curragh; 11-92 (12%) -5.63 pts at SP
Donal Commins hood; Knockcurra Dream, 2.15pm Curragh; 0-4 (0%) -4.00 pts at SP
Tim Easterby blinkers; Argentine Tango, 3.23pm Curragh; 50-624 (8%) -101.50 pts at SP
1.25pm Doncaster: Paddy’s Day (drawn 3), Canon’s House (8), Equity Law (6), Henrythenate (7), Venture Capital (13)
1.55pm Doncaster: Crestofdistinction (2), Blue Brother (11), Berkshire Whisper (6), Asuka (3), Indian Run (prom – 13), The Liffey (prom – 1)
2.15pm Curragh (limited evidence): Alpe d’Huez (4), Ten Clarets (3), Star Of State (15), Lord Ragnar (16)
2.30pm Doncaster: Samra Green (4), Raging Raj (14), Aspiral (10), Inishbeg (13)
2.50pm Curragh: Alpha (2), Ballinea Star (3) – Ibelieveicanfly is a NR
3.05pm Doncaster: Pina Sonata (7), Magic Basma (3), Wannabe Royal (12), Isle Of Fernandez (5), Silenciosa (18) – Sukanya is a NR
3.25pm Curragh: American Affair (prom – 18), Jakajaro (7), Jm Jungle (prom – 12), Night Raider (1), Partisan Hero (3), Mission Central (prom – 4), Argentine Tango (prom – 8) – Charles Darwin is a NR
3.40pm Doncaster: No obvious pace now Fantasy World is a NR
Good: Stuart Williams, Andrew Balding (treble on Friday, all at prices; and Group 1 success on Saturday when he had another slew of winners), James Fanshawe, Kevin Philippart De Foy, Charlie Appleby (great form), William Haggas (double on Friday and again on Saturday), Karl Burke (treble on Saturday), John and Thady Gosden, Hamad Al Jehani, Andrew Slattery, Archie Watson (very good), Jack Davison (small sample), Ralph Beckett, Robert Cowell (small sample), Richard Spencer, Tim Easterby (loads of runners but a fair few winners), Tom Clover (very good), William Knight, Declan Carroll, Owen Burrows, Henry De Bromhead (9-2 and 6-1 winners on Friday), George Boughey
Fair: Paul Midgley, Adam Kirby (5-1 winner on Friday), Michael and David Easterby, Patrick Morris (fair/moderate), Clive Cox, Roger Varian, Stan Moore (winner on Saturday), Kevin and Lauren Frost, Grant Tuer, George Scott, Richard and Peter Fahey, Ed Walker, Warren Greatrex (winner on Saturday), Joseph O’Brien (1-2 in St Leger), Johnny Murtagh (fair-moderate), Charlie Fellowes (7-2 winner on Friday), Ed Dunlop (fair-moderate), Eddie and Patrick Harty, Sheila Lavery, Simon and Ed Crisford (Group 2 success in Leopardstown on Saturday), Jim Goldie (winners on Friday and Saturday), John and Sean Quinn, M C Grassick (small sample), Robson de Aguiar (not great of late), Jonathan Portman (fair-moderate), Richard Hannon (fair-moderate), David and Nicola Barron, Michael Herrington, Jack Channon, Julie Camacho, Tony Carroll, Kevin Ryan, Harry Charlton, Ewan Whillans, Richard Hughes (welcome winner on Friday), Ian Williams (horses hitting a bit of form now), Jessie Harrington (goes from moderate to fair after a 50-1 Irish Champions win…)
Moderate: Aidan O’Brien (moderate for him), Brian Ellison (won Leger Legends), Gavin Cromwell (pretty awful, winnerless form), Hugo Palmer (10-1 winner on Friday arrested the slide but strike rate has been poor, in single figures, for 2/3 months), Liam Bailey, Denis Hogan, Harry Eustace, Michael Bell, David Loughnane (long losing run), Nigel Tinkler
Don’t know: Oli Rix, Louis Blanchet (though a winner on Thursday), Lucy Wadham, Donal Commins, Hayley Burton, Charlies O’Brien
MONDAY MORNING As of early on Monday morning, there were 30 in the Dewhurst (Aidan…
As at 11.42am on Sunday morning, AKBets are top price about the first 12 in…
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