Doncaster Saturday Preview - 23/10/21

The first runner of the day comes in the seven furlong handicap and Deputy for Charlie Fellowes will love these soft conditions.

The son of Lawman needed his seasonal debut at Haydock, but then went to Newbury on soft ground and ran out a nice winner.

Over the same course and distance next time out he was a good third again with the quicker ground not suiting as much, but back on soft ground at Lingfield he won again.

Up to a mark of 72 he was last seen finishing second to rival Coco Bear, who he was giving weight to that day and now receives it of him, and with conditions more in his favour he should reverse the form.

Next up is small fielded Class 3 Nursery Handicap and we have sided with the Marco Botti trained Way To Win, who will love the soft ground.

The son of The Ghurka has been seen four times to date, finishing a nice third on debut at Redcar before not enjoying the surface at Chelmsford.

On his first run on soft ground the colt went on to score for the first time in a Maiden at Lingfield, taking out the 7f affair by 11 lengths.

Making his Nursery Debut last time out at Chester he was a fair fourth with the ground being good and now down 3lb and back on a softer surface he is not ruled out.

A competitive event on the Town Moor card is the Class 3 Handicap over seven furlongs and Ibiza Rocks for Charlie Hills should be frame contender.

The three year old son of Dark Angel was seen twice as a juvenile, winning on his final start at Newbury over seven furlongs.

This term he made his seasonal debut at at Kempton when finishing a close third and then backed that up Sandown when a better second.

Something was a miss at Leicester when running below par on quick ground, but last time out he got back to form with a good second behind the smart Sunray Major at Ascot on good to soft ground.

He is only 1lb higher for this run and he looks a lively contender.

The feature race of the afternoon at Doncaster is the Group One Vertem Futurity Stakes over a mile and the horse we have sided with is the Mark Johnston trained Royal Patronage.

The two year old son of leading sire Wootton Bassett has been seen five times this season, needing his first experience at York on soft ground, with conditions not in his favour.

However, since then he has shown leading form in this division finishing a superb second to the dual Group One winner Native Trail at Sandown.

Royal Patronage has franked the form on three occasions since then, getting off the mark on his third attempt at Epsom in a Novice Stakes and then backing that up at York in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York.

Last time out he stepped up once more to give a career best performance at Newmarket over a mile to land the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes.

What made this win so impressive was the way he stayed on to beat Coroebus on the line, with the Godolphin colt since going on and franking the form in a big way.

Landing the hat-trick last time out he heads into the event in good form and looks one of the form picks.

Another nice event on the card at Doncaster is the Listed Doncaster Stakes over six furlongs and the horse we like the look of is the Ralph Beckett trained Deodar.

The two year old son of Bated Breath has been seen once to date when making a very impressive debut at Newbury on good to soft ground to get off the mark.

The form of that race has worked out well with the second to fifth since going on to run to a high standard and either win or finish in the placings on there next starts.

Stepping up into Listed company will need to see improvement from him but he looks a progressive type.

The final event of the afternoon is the big fielded five furlong handicap and Sunday Sovereign for Tim Easterby enters the event in fine form.

A smart type as a juvenile winning some nice events on soft ground in Ireland which then saw him go off as the favourite for the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Since then he massively lost his way, but this term has bounced back to better form, running well at Glorious Goodwood when a close fourth of 12 in a similar event and he then backed that up at Musselburgh with another close finish.

This saw him then get off the mark for the first time since 2019 at Chester when landing a 5 1/2 furlong handicap off a mark of 95.

He flopped in the Ayr Gold Cup two starts ago over 6f, but back at five furlongs last time out saw him finish a good second at Catterick in a smart event and off the same mark of 98 today he should go close.

Handles deep ground.