16:45 Doncaster

Saturday 22 October 2022

All13:2013:5514:3015:0015:3516:1016:45

Think Smart At Vertem Handicap

Off time: 16:47 | Winning time: 1m 30.87s

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(15)

Muntadab⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: C Lee| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 80| CD

28/1

Returned to form in no uncertain terms when landing a 12-runner Musselburgh handicap (7.2f, soft) earlier this month. Well held under a penalty at Catterick 5 days later, though, and he looks vulnerable under top-weight here.

Form: 862019

(7)

Broken Spear^v¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Jonny Peate⁽⁵⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 79| CD

11/2

Signed off last season with a soft-ground C&D success and fine fifth off 22 back here in the Lincoln in March. Largely below par since but he's dangerous to discount having slipped to a very attractive mark.

Form: 579450

(10)

Zip^v⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: O McSweeney⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78| CD

11/2

Now 11 lb lower than when landing a Musselburgh handicap last October and has shaped well on several occasions this year, not least when fifth of 14 at Catterick (7f, soft) last weekend. Very much one to consider with conditions in his favour.

Form: 056735

(14)

Global Spirit¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: S H James| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 78| D

50/1

Dual winner over a mile at Pontefract this season, latterly off a 2 lb lower mark in August. Versatile ground-wise but he hasn't fired on all cylinders the last twice and this trip is probably a shade on the sharp side for him nowadays.

Form: 210307

(8)

Cold Stare^p,t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 77| D

9/2

Losing run mounting up but now 10 lb below the mark off which he hit the target at Ayr 12 months ago, and he left the strong impression that his turn is near when runner-up at Haydock (6f, heavy) recently. Return to this trip looks a good move and he's a major player.

Form: 880892

(21)

Trais Fluors²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-13| J: Rob Hornby| T: M R Channon| OR: 77| D

40/1

Down to a potentially handy mark and step back in the right direction when a close fifth in a Goodwood claiming handicap (1m, good) last month. However, failed to build on that next time and he's on an 18-race losing run.

Form: 886050

(9)

Sip And Smile¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Saffie Osborne⁽³⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 77| CD

22/1

Successful twice at 2 yrs and added to his tally when scoring over C&D (good to firm) in May. Form has gradually tailed off since, though, and conditions are likely to be significantly slower than anything he has previously encountered.

Form: 133600

(2)

Emperor Caradoc¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Harrison Shaw| T: B Smart| OR: 77| D

12/1

Best effort yet when striking on return from a break at Carlisle (7f, good to soft) last month. By no means disgraced off this 5 lb higher mark upped to a mile at Pontefract next time and place possibilities back down in trip here.

Form: 41-3714

(4)

Tickets²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: I Furtado| OR: 77| D

12/1

Has done little wrong in his 4 starts on the AW, off the mark in 7f Kempton novice in May prior to hitting the crossbar on handicap bow at Newcastle. Safely held back from a break on turf debut at Epsom (8.5f, good) and it remains to be seen if he'll cope with conditions here.

Form: 3-2126

(16)

Al Baahy²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: J Mitchell| T: K Frost| OR: 77

25/1

Fairly useful maiden who put in a good shift when third off 2 lb higher at York in May. Hasn't quite matched that form in 4 subsequent starts and while his latest third of 10 in a Chester novice (7.6f, good to soft) was a creditable effort, others look stronger.

Form: 234353

(13)

Surprise Picture^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Jason Watson| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 74

28/1

Bagged a Hamilton handicap in July and while that's his sole success from what has been an intensive 2022 campaign, he has also posted several creditable efforts in defeat. On the downside, his best efforts have come on faster ground.

Form: 557538

(11)

Rich Waters^v1⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: David Probert| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 74| D

17/2

Yet to add to 2-y-o Kempton success but has put together a string of decent efforts since fitted with cheekpieces, and had no problem with the soft ground when a close third at Brighton (1m) recently. Drop back to 7f no bad thing and one to consider with more severe headgear enlisted here.

Form: 5-66433

(17)

Star Zinc^h¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Fellowes| OR: 75

14/1

Gelded after finishing fourth to Sip And Smile over C&D in May and has performed with credit on each of his 3 subsequent starts. Still seeking first taste of success but clearly not short of ability and he's not discounted.

Form: 4-54345

(19)

Deputy^h⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 73| D

13/2

Did little wrong for Charlie Fellowes last season, signing that campaign off with a good second in this race. Opened account for present connections at Thirsk (7f, soft) last month and 3 lb nudge looks fair, so he has to enter calculations.

Form: 2-73551

(18)

The Cookstown Cafu¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Rowan Scott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 75

16/1

Gained breakthrough success on first appearance following a wind op at Pontefract (1m, good) where he looked more straightforward than in the past. Up just 2 lb and went close on soft ground as a 2-y-o, so there's certainly cause for optimism.

Form: 2-35751

(6)

Floral Splendour¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 74| D

28/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut in 11-runner maiden at Haydock in July. Fair to say that she hasn't gone on from that in the way one may have anticipated but certainly wasn't disgraced when fourth of 10 on recent handicap debut for new yard at Musselburgh (7.2f, soft).

Form: 1034

(3)

Absolute Dream⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 71| C| D

28/1

Notched third win of the campaign when landing a big-field handicap over a mile here (good) last month. However, he was out with the washing on soft ground at Catterick last weekend.

Form: 013160

(5)

Leopold Bloom¹⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: P Cosgrave| T: D Loughnane| OR: 72| D

50/1

Narrow winner of 7f Thirsk novice on 2-y-o debut but hasn't made much of an impact since, trailing in last of 15 when tried in a hood at Haydock on latest start in May. Gelded since and headgear dispensed with here.

Form: 19-640

(22)

Papa Cocktail⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 71| D

80/1

Caught the eye when fifth in a 10-runner Wolverhampton handicap at the beginning of the month but misfired at Catterick (7f, soft) last weekend, and it's a concern that similar conditions are forecast here.

Form: 326050

(12)

Libra Tiger^h¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: D Menuisier| OR: 70

16/1

Promise both starts as a juvenile but progress has not been forthcoming in a couple of appearances this season.

Form: 44-60

Non-Runners

(1)

Trumble⁶³

Weight: 9-11| Age: 4

T: D Loughnane J: A Kirby

(20)

Hot Chesnut²³

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: D K Ivory J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Cold Stare (9/2), Broken Spear (11/2), Zip (11/2), Deputy (13/2), Rich Waters (17/2), Emperor Caradoc (12/1), Tickets (12/1), Star Zinc (14/1), The Cookstown Cafu (16/1), Libra Tiger (16/1), Hot Chesnut (20/1), Trumble (20/1), Sip And Smile (22/1), Al Baahy (25/1), Floral Splendour (28/1), Absolute Dream (28/1), Surprise Picture (28/1), Muntadab (28/1), Trais Fluors (40/1), Global Spirit (50/1), Leopold Bloom (50/1), Papa Cocktail (80/1)

COLD STARE came good this time last year and looks set to do so again judged on his latest effort over 6f at Haydock. Moving back up to this trip will be in his favour and he's likely to have his conditions, too, so he has plenty going for him. Similar remaks apply to Zip and he heads a long list of dangers, a list which also includes Godolphin's Rich Waters, Deputy and Star Zinc. It's also worth keeping an eye on Broken Spear, who boasts some solid course form and has dipped to a handy mark.