15:00 Doncaster

Saturday 30 March 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

Unibet Doncaster Mile Stakes (Listed) (Str)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 1m 36.65s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Apex King¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: T E Whelan| T: D Loughnane| OR: 86| D

66/1

Won a Listed race at two back in 2016 but otherwise efforts at this level largely seen him struggle as 50/1 sixth two starts back further advertised. Ran well enough since in a handicap but up against it here.

Form: 75-1263

(4)

Circus Couture¹⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 105| D

13/2

Dual Group Three winner in Italy earlier in career but yet to win for this yard. Some excellent efforts early last term but form tailed off as shown when 19th of 20 behind Sharja Bridge in final start. Can do much better now but reversal unlikely.

Form: 378200-

(8)

Gabrial¹⁶¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 107| CD

10/1

Admirable veteran, a nine-time winner but two from 63 record in pattern company tells the tale. Best form not far off and certainly a live place contender if as good as ever now ten.

Form: 361560-

(9)

King's Pavilion¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: C J McGovern| T: J Ward| OR: 91| D

25/1

Five--time winner belatedly having first start in Pattern company here but on all known form and official rating he faces a monumental task.

Form: 714524-

(7)

Remarkable^b⁵⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 110| C

12/1

Listed two-year-old winner for John Gosden and ended time with that yard by winning valuable 7f Ascot handicap. First start for this yard and since 2017 so question marks about but joint top-rated and genuine chance if same horse as before.

Form: 006201/

(2)

Sharja Bridge¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 110| D

8/13

Hugely impressive winner of the £156k Balmoral handicap to end last season despite a greatly troubled passage looking every inch a Group horse in a handicap. Cost 500,000gns as a yearling and remains an entire, very confidently selected.

Form: 2/28471-

(6)

Givinitsum²⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Edward Greatrex| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

20/1

Tough to assess this British newcomer who won both starts in South Africa in 2018 but hasn't been seen since. Could just as well be last as he could go well. Risk versus reward at a big price.

Form: 11-

(3)

Hells Babe¹⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: M Appleby| OR: 90| C

66/1

Three-time winner but never made the frame in eight previous races at Pattern level. That will continue here.

Form: 6/57270-

(1)

Red Starlight¹⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 100| D

9/2

The only horse to beat Lincoln favourite Auxerre, she won twice subsequently before ending 2018 with two placed efforts at this level against her own sex. Little more needed but should at least make the frame.

Form: 341132-

Forecasts

Sharja Bridge (8/13), Red Starlight (9/2), Circus Couture (13/2), Gabrial (10/1), Remarkable (12/1), Givinitsum (20/1), King's Pavilion (25/1), Hells Babe (66/1), Apex King (66/1)

Roger Varian won this race 12 months ago with a horse in the same ownership as SHARJA BRIDGE and it will be a great surprise should he not do so with this hugely impressive Balmoral handicap winner who is fully expected to be competitive in Group company this season. The only horse with comparable form is Remarkable but he has been off 567 days and is now with a new yard. Red Starlight is best of the rest and could very well prove the biggest threat if Remarkable needs the run which has to be likely.