September 20 / 13.50 Ayr

13.50

Good To Soft

Ladbrokes “Big Football Bet Builder Boosts” Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £34026
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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Ladbrokes “Big Football Bet Builder Boosts” Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: -53104 D BF

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won the Cambridgeshire last October (1m1f, soft) and landed a Listed race at Goodwood (1m2f, good) this May, for which he carries a 3lb penalty; below par on both runs since but bang there if back to his best today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(3)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Liberty Lane

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Usually races prominently; a mostly solid 2025 included 1m2f Listed wins in May and November; 2026 started in downbeat fashion (similar to last year) in Listed race and his top three ratings have been registered on softer than good; this is also a new trip (unraced beyond an extended 1m2f) but he's bred to get it and has a chance on best form; ground the chief worry.

10/1

1

(4)

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket

Liberty Lane

9st 9lb

J: Shane Gray

T: K R Burke

Won the Cambridgeshire here (1m1f, soft) last autumn; also scored in a Listed race at Goodwood (1m2f, good) this May and respectable 2l fourth of six to Damysus in 1m1f course Group 3 (good to firm) three weeks ago; unlikely to be far away despite his 3lb penalty.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 936-22 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Listed winner for Karl Burke (1m2f, good) last May and he's gone very close in Listed races this summer on his first two runs for William Haggas (1m2f/11.4f, good to firm), making the running each time; has shown promise on good to soft (unraced on softer); might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Caviar Heights

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: William Haggas

Listed winner for Karl Burke (1m2f, good) last May and he's gone very close in Listed races this summer on his first two runs for William Haggas (1m2f/11.4f, good to firm), making the running each time; has shown promise on good to soft (unraced on softer); might not be far away.

11/2

2

(2)

23rd Aug 2025

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 1

18:15 Windsor

Caviar Heights

9st 7lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Won a Newmarket Listed event (1m2f, good) for Karl Burke in May last year; sold for 520,000gns last autumn and having been gelded he made a fine return/stable debut when beaten a nose in a Sandown Listed contest (1m2f, good to firm) in June; much respected if building on that; holds a Qipco Champion Stakes entry.

13/8

2

(6)

4th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Caviar Heights

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Maiden winner in 2023 for Andrew Balding and Listed scorer in 2024 for Karl Burke; sold for 520,000gns and gelded since last run; returns from absence and debuts for William Haggas; heed the market signals.

9/2

Form: 21-367 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
9yo whose form has been mixed across three starts this year; however, they've all been on good ground and his last five wins have come on good to soft and slower ground, the latest a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) last September; could bounce back with a big run if conditions are in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(8)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Certain Lad

9st 3lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Multiple winner down the years but 2025 figures suggest age may be catching up with him to some degree; hasn't won a domestic race since 2023 and it's an even longer time since he made a successful seasonal debut.

14/1

3

(3)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:26 Leopardstown

Certain Lad

9st 7lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Strike rate of 11-49 reads well although hasn't won in over a year and this season has been restricted by quick ground; had his favoured soft ground but still good bit below best at Ayr last month so must be doubtful he can run to current mark and ideally wants a bit further.

8/1

3

(1)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Certain Lad

9st 5lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

9yo whose form has been mixed across three starts this year; however, they've all been on good ground and his last five wins have come on good to soft and slower ground, the latest a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) last September; could bounce back with a big run if conditions are in his favour.

6/1

Form: 7-4635 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Expensive to follow in Group/Listed races on his eight starts since winning a handicap at Newbury in May 2024; however, the drop back to 1m1f was against him at York last time and he has plenty of form that puts him firmly in the picture today; seems versatile in terms of ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(5)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Kings Gambit

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Harry Charlton

No wins since landing two of his first four starts having been highly tried in the meantime, but he has a consistent record in Group/Listed company shy of the top level (22363522); again ran well when chasing home the smart Damysus on his return in the Earl Of Sefton at Newmarket (1m1f, good) last month; shortlisted with the run under his belt.

13/2

2nd

3

(5)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Kings Gambit

9st 2lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Harry Charlton

No wins in nine Group/Listed races since landing the London Gold Cup at Newbury on his seasonal/handicap debut in 2024; frequently ran well, though, albeit with this trip looking a bare minimum when fifth of eight in York Group 3 in August on his penultimate start; can't be confidently ruled out but will need to resume in top order to make his Group-race breakthrough.

9/1

4

(4)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Kings Gambit

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Harry Charlton

Expensive to follow in Group/Listed races on his eight starts since winning a handicap at Newbury in May 2024; however, the drop back to 1m1f was against him at York last time and he has plenty of form that puts him firmly in the picture today; seems versatile in terms of ground.

7/2

Form: 41-1

Last run: 158 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won at York (1m, soft) on second 2yo start and followed up in Listed race at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) in April; absent since, which strikes a cautionary note, but he's a highly likeable prospect who looks set to be suited by this step up to 1m2f; very much respected under 3lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(2)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

19:12 Sandown

Almeric

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Three wins (1m-1m2f, soft/good to soft) from his first four starts, including two Listed races; his progress has stalled on good going on his two starts since but one was the Group 1 Champion Stakes and the other was last month's reappearance (here); it's too soon to label him a slow-ground specialist and he's not written off in view of his abundant earlier promise.

15/2

3rd

1

(1)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

14:25 Sandown

Almeric

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Record is 3-5; has gained all wins, including two Listed races, in his starts on softer than good but may yet show that he's fully effective on faster ground; drops back in class having been comfortably held in the Champion Stakes; top on the figures and he was progressive before that latest start.

6/4

Form: 11-70

Last run: 105 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
2-2 in 2yo campaign, impressive in Pontefract Listed race on the second occasion (1m, soft); didn't run badly when seventh in the Dante on reappearance (1m2f, good to firm), then well beaten in the Derby (1m4f, good; off since); others have stronger form but this 3yo is unexposed and the return to slow ground is an interesting angle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20th

3

(4)

15th Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 0f 0y

16:20 Curragh

Tuscan Hills

9st 10lb

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

Listed 1m winner at two; given an ambitious campaign over longer distances last year; Irish debut and first run since gelded.

20/1

6

(2)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Tuscan Hills

9st 0lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

2-2 in 2yo campaign, impressive in Pontefract Listed race on the second occasion (1m, soft); didn't run badly when seventh in the Dante on reappearance (1m2f, good to firm), then well beaten in the Derby (1m4f, good; off since); others have stronger form but this 3yo is unexposed and the return to slow ground is an interesting angle.

10/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Almeric

RP RATINGS:

King's Gambit

TOPSPEED:

Caviar Heights

LAMBOURN:

Almeric

The Guardian:

Almeric

The Sun:

Almeric

Daily Record:

Almeric

The Times:

King's Gambit

D Express:

King's Gambit

Daily Mirror:

King's Gambit

The Star:

King's Gambit

POSTDATA:

Caviar Heights

NEWMARKET:

Caviar Heights

Telegraph:

Caviar Heights

Daily Mail:

Caviar Heights