Tomorrow / 15.40 Doncaster

15.40

Good

Betfred Mallard Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £36078
  • 1m 6f 115y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
ITV
View Course
Betfred Mallard Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 1531-7 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Sold for 600,000gns after winning a 1m6f Ascot Listed race (good to soft) for Andrew Balding last autumn; didn't make the expected impact over hurdles and tailed off when he resumed his Flat career back with former yard in a Listed race at Chester (5-1) three weeks ago; questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(5)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 87y

Class 1

14:40 Chester

Fantasy World

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Sold for 600,000gns after winning a 1m6f Ascot Listed race (good to soft) for Andrew Balding last autumn; didn't make the expected impact over hurdles for Nicky Henderson earlier this year (pulled up in Triumph at Cheltenham when last seen) but resumes his Flat career back with a yard which is in tremendous form.

6/1

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

13:20 Cheltenham

Fantasy World

11st 2lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

1m6f Listed winner on Flat who was sold for 600,000gns later in October; flopped at long odds-on for hurdling debut at Musselburgh last month; brought out just six days later for Grade 2 at Kempton (again good to soft) where he did better, but was weakening when hampered two out; should get the hang of this discipline in due course, but probably too late to feature in this finish.

66/1

Form: 261157

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
All turf starts on good/good to firm; cheekpieces and moving up to 1m6f worked a treat initially with wins at Goodwood and Newmarket, but he looked hard work when a fair fifth at the big Goodwood meeting and blinkers over 2m didn't work at York last time; kinks remain and he now tries a visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(4)

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Valedictory

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Stepping up to 1m6f with cheekpieces enlisted resulted in wins at Goodwood (good) and Newmarket (good to firm); that's not ironed out all the kinks, though, as he looked hard work at Glorious Goodwood 18 days ago on his way to a fair fifth of 13, with Small Fry in second; probably needs to resume improvement on this first go at 2m but he's one to be reckoned with if first-time blinkers receive the same response that first-time cheekpieces did.

6/1

Form: -41755

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
It looked as if 1m6f stretched him when seventh of 16 at Royal Ascot (every chance 2f out); however, he again came up short in two 1m4f handicaps since, 7l fifth of 16 at the York Ebor meeting last time; something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(12)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

16:10 York

Ernst Blofeld

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Unraced on softer than good; it looked as if 1m6f stretched him when seventh of 16 at Royal Ascot (every chance 2f out) and that he probably remained in form; however, he again came up short when favourite back over 1m4f at Ascot on latest start; something to prove after that.

25/1

5th

4

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

16:12 Ascot

Ernst Blofeld

9st 12lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Hamad Al Jehani

Fourth at Newmarket (1m4f, good) on seasonal/stable debut gave encouragement again, followed by a decisive win at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in May; 14-1 but it looked as if 1m6f stretched him when seventh of 16 at Royal Ascot (good to firm; every chance 2f out) and he probably remained in form; needs a close look back at 1m4f.

2/1

Form: 115920

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Comes from off the pace; progressed very well initially this season and going down by a nose at Newbury (2m, good to firm) was a reminder of what he's capable of; player if he bounces back from a modest show at York.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

(14)

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Team Player

9st 4lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Comes from off the pace; progressed very well initially this season; then wore cheekpieces on last two starts, never getting seriously involved as second favourite in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle but beaten a nose by Shrimp Shady at Newbury (2m, good to firm); in the mix up 2lb.

10/1

2nd

3

(6)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Team Player

9st 8lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

With tongue-tie enlisted he's hit major new heights for new yard this year, with two wins preceding his excellent fifth of 15 in the 2m2f Chester Cup; comes from off the pace but never got seriously involved wearing first-time cheekpieces when ninth of 20 as second favourite in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m); needs to bounce back from that pretty disappointing show.

11/2

Form: 521123

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
No shortage of success beforehand but cheekpieces seem to have worked very well on last three starts when winning at York (1m2f, good) and running on well to be placed at Southwell (1m4f, AW) and York (1m4f, good to soft); came from an unpromising position on those last two outings (from last of 16 last time, which asked a lot) and he'll be a major threat to all if he stays on this first attempt at this sort of trip; stamina is the question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

(14)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

16:10 York

Say What You See

9st 3lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Liam Bailey

Acts on good to soft but unraced on soft since 2024 (trained was positive about it last September); no shortage of success beforehand but cheekpieces seem to have worked very well on last two starts when winning at York (1m2f, good) and running on well again for second at Southwell (1m4f, AW); raised another 3lb but came from an unpromising position last time and still has more to give.

14/1

2nd

10

(8)

6th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 2

20:26 Southwell (AW)

Say What You See

8st 10lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Liam Bailey

Five wins since July last year including one over 1m4f here; cheekpieces seemed to work well at York (1m2f, good) last time and a player in his hat-trick bid despite a 6lb rise.

7/1

Form: 0-9051 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Worked his way back to some form and won a Shergar Cup race at Ascot (2m, good to firm) five weeks ago; 3lb higher today but his peak 2025 efforts were better still; declared Chester 2.05 Saturday; player if coming here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: -03718

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
0-9 on turf; that's despite some good form last year but his best two runs this season were on AW, latterly when winning at Southwell in July on his step up to 2m; that came by 13l in a five-runner race but he failed to fire in anything like that manner when back on turf at York (2m, good).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(11)

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Boatswain

9st 2lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

0-8 on turf; that's despite some good form last year but his best two runs this season were on AW, latterly when winning at Southwell early last month on his step up to 2m; that came by 13l in a five-runner race; has a 6lb higher mark in this very different contest but he's unexposed at the trip.

20/1

1st

4

(1)

5th Jul 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

17:55 Southwell (AW)

Boatswain

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Has some good form on turf but latest defeat took his record in that sphere to 0-8; two attempts on AW comprise a win at Lingfield (1m2f) on debut and keeping-on third at Kempton (1m4f) in May; unexposed on artificial surfaces and looks interesting assuming he stays the new trip.

11/4

Form: -56311

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Looked back in prime form at Newmarket on his last two outings when coming from the rear to win over 1m4f and 1m6f; the latter was by a short head but against a respected opponent and perhaps good to soft ground was not ideal when he took sixth at 40-1 in this race last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(3)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:29 Newmarket (July)

Arqoob

9st 8lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Lucy Wadham

Won this race comfortably in first-time blinkers a year ago and looked back in prime form when keeping on well to beat Sixpack here (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago; only 2lb higher today; has another big role to play.

100/30

1st

4

(8)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:58 Newmarket (July)

Arqoob

9st 7lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Lucy Wadham

Gained his most recent win here (1m6f) last August off 2lb lower in first-time blinkers; with creditable shows in two of his three starts this season, he is firmly in calculations.

8/1

Form: 1/17/9 D

Last run: 89 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Ran three times on the Flat in France, winning over 1m7f on testing ground on first two occasions; that was back in 2023 and spring 2024, but he was a progressive and fairly useful hurdler in the hood for this yard last season and not disgraced when ninth of 20 from the rear on Flat handicap debut at Royal Ascot (2m4f; 16-1) three months ago; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

17

(9)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

All In You

9st 3lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Warren Greatrex

Ran three times on the Flat in France, winning over 1m7f on testing ground on first two occasions; that was back in 2023 and spring 2024, but he was a progressive and fairly useful hurdler in the hood for this yard last season (last seen in April) and is unexposed for this Flat handicap debut.

25/1

4th

8

18th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Ayr

All In You

10st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Went close on stable debut in big field at Ascot (1m7f, soft) in December then won at Sandown (2m, good) in January, turning the tables on Dance And Glance who won a nice prize at Haydock this month; 5lb out of the handicap today and pulled up in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury in February, but very few ran to form in that attritional contest; retains potential; chance.

15/2

Betting Forcast

11/1 Fantasy World, 3/1 Valedictory, 6/1 Ernst Blofeld, 8/1 Team Player, 4/1 Say What You See, 12/1 Dancing In Paris, 9/1 Boatswain, 11/1 Arqoob, 7/1 All In You

Verdict

There are important questions hanging over a number of these runners, not least whether Dancing In Paris runs here instead of at Chester on Saturday and whether Say What You See (second choice) will stay this new trip. They should run very well if those questions are answered in the affirmative. Valedictory isn't straightforward but would have solid prospects on one of his good days. Arqoob has been back on song at Newmarket but a chance is taken on ALL IN YOU, who is unexposed on the Flat and did as well as could be expected when trying to coming from the back at Royal Ascot.[Richard Austen]

Selections

POSTDATA:

Valedictory

RP RATINGS:

Say What You See

SPOTLIGHT:

All In You

Daily Record:

Dancing In Paris

TOPSPEED:

Arqoob

The Sun:

Valedictory

Daily Mirror:

Say What You See

The Star:

All In You