August 04 / 20.40 Doncaster

20.40

Good

William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Racing League R7 (Handicap) (For horses registered to Racing League)

  • Prize money: £27000
  • 1m 2f 43y
  • Class 3
  • 12 runners
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William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Racing League R7 (Handicap) (For horses registered to Racing League)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 611321 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 8st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Reliable sort who has won three times over this trip this year; 2lb rise is less of an issue than this jump up in grade; should give it his best shot but may find one or two too good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(11)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

15:32 Kempton (AW)

Pledge Of Honour

9st 13lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Dean Ivory

dwelt start, held up in last, outpaced 3f out, never on terms

20/1

8th

3

(11)

4th Nov 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

15:32 Kempton (AW)

Pledge Of Honour

9st 13lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Dean Ivory

dwelt start, held up in last, outpaced 3f out, never on terms

20/1

7th

6

(9)

24th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Pledge Of Honour

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Dean Ivory

Ended losing run when successful in 1m2f handicap at Windsor in July; well held since and 0-13 on AW as opposed to 6-28 on turf.

16/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: -42257

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
In fine form a year ago (four consecutive turf/AW wins last August/September); largely creditable efforts this year but it remains to be seen whether the step up to this trip will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(7)

21st May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 16y

Class 5

19:10 Chepstow

Spirit Of The Bay

9st 6lb

J: William Cox

T: John & Rhys Flint

Took her Chepstow record to 2-4 when seeing off five rivals over 1m2f last July but her form dipped at the end of the year; races over short of 1m for the first time in five years on her reappearance and a watching brief is the call despite her good record here.

14/1

9th

11

(1)

9th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 37y

Class 5

16:12 Bath

Spirit Of The Bay

9st 4lb

J: William Carson

T: John & Rhys Flint

Career win number six at Chepstow in July (1m2f, good) but levels have dipped the last twice; on a handy mark if she can get herself back on track.

12/1

1

(4)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 14y

Class 2

15:03 Chepstow

Spirit Of The Bay

9st 12lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: John & Rhys Flint

Boasts a good record here (1m2f winner last month off 4lb lower) and will be happier back down in class having hung right at Windsor last time; this trip's a bare minimum now, unless the ground eases (seems unlikely), but the big field will help.

16/1

OUR TIP

11/2

  • Place: £2.60

Form: -02411 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Broke losing run of over a year at Chester in June on fourth start for yard and followed up at Hamilton (made all); raised another 5lb but a 5lb claimer is recruited and they have claims back up in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(1)

7th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:40 Pontefract

Jean Baptiste

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

Runner-up on his first two starts this season (1m2f, good/AW) but down the field on his three runs since and needs to get back on track.

15/2

7th

4

(1)

7th Jul 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Ayr

Jean Baptiste

10st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Roger Fell & Sean Murray

led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

16/1

Form: -63340 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Interesting runner given he's 2-2 over C&D and better than bare form suggests from wide draw in John Smith's Cup (race working out well) last time; of interest here from low draw.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(3)

14th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 1f 21y

Class 3

15:55 Yarmouth

Good Birthday

9st 10lb

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: Andrew Balding

took keen hold, in rear, headway and midfield 6f out, going easily when waiting for room from 3f out, cruising when switched right from over 1f out, pushed along and kept on well inside final furlong, led inside final 110yds, won going away, readily

12/1

14th

9

(10)

20th Aug 2022

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 2

15:50 Sandown

Good Birthday

9st 0lb

J: Joshua Bryan

T: Andrew Balding

held up in rear, some headway over 3f out, ridden and no extra from 2f out, soon beaten

14/1

4th

1

(4)

4th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 43y

Class 3

20:40 Doncaster

Good Birthday

9st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Andrew Balding

took keen hold, prominent, ridden and briefly led over 1f out, edged right inside final furlong, kept on but held final 110yds

9/2

20/1

Form: 440400 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Won four times from 1m-1m5f for Mark Johnston but form uneven for current yard this year and he was well beaten on three of last four starts (didn't seem to stay 2m last time); opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(1)

17th Feb 2026

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Annandale

9st 9lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Conditions shouldn't be an excuse and this trip is more suitable than the 1m he tackled at Newcastle last month; however, he finished down the field when back up to 1m4f here last night.

15/2

6th

8

(8)

16th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Annandale

9st 1lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

Drop back to 1m provides an excuse for latest effort; not disgraced in last three attempts at about 1m4f; possibilities off 7lb below last winning mark.

7/1

14/1

Form: 916

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Bumper, hurdle (twice) and 1m4f Flat maiden winner but he wasn't at his very best over 1m4f in novice at this venue last time; back in trip for handicap debut and yard in good form but enough to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

1st Sep 2022

Good To Firm

2m 0f 178y

Class 3

14:00 Sedgefield

Gordons Jet

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Brian Ellison

chased leader, lost position 3 out, soon pushed along, beaten 2 out, weakened approaching last

9/4

6th

4

(6)

11th Aug 2022

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 3

20:10 Lingfield (AW)

Gordons Jet

9st 5lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

slowly into stride, in rear, ridden over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, ran on final 110yds, never on terms (jockey said gelding was slowly away)

14/1

6th

10

(6)

4th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 43y

Class 3

20:40 Doncaster

Gordons Jet

9st 0lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

midfield, steady headway and prominent 3f out, ridden and outpaced over 1f out, beaten final 110yds

14/1

16/1

Form: -31160 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
French Listed winner as 3yo but slipped in weights prior to notching first success for this yard last autumn; better efforts to win twice this year but below best on last two starts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(3)

27th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

16:15 Newcastle (AW)

Sagauteur

9st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Rebecca Menzies

slowly away, took keen hold, towards rear, ridden and some headway over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

9/1

3

(11)

9th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 5

17:30 Southwell (AW)

Sagauteur

9st 9lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Rebecca Menzies

Came good for Rebecca Menzies at eighth attempt, keeping on well for clearcut success in slowly run contest at Newcastle (1m4f) last month; 4lb rise might be enough to leave this 8yo vulnerable, though.

9/2

1st

2

(2)

8th Dec 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

15:10 Newcastle (AW)

Sagauteur

10st 0lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Rebecca Menzies

Mixed record for new yard this year but he went close off a reduced mark over 1m2f here on penultimate outing; not so good over that same C&D 17 days later but overdid it up front that day and remains well treated on old form; ran creditably in one of his four attempts at 1m4f.

14/1

10/1

Form: 554735 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Has won 13 of 56 starts on turf and is 2-5 at this venue; solid efforts on last two outings but will have to raise her game to get back to winning ways in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

(10)

4th Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 43y

Class 3

20:40 Doncaster

Bollin Joan

9st 9lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and edged left over 1f out, not reach leaders

10/1

Form: 7-4143 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Decent strike-rate on turf and ran creditably with hood refitted at Windsor last time; that form has taken a few knocks though and he'll likely have to raise game to win this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(6)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:12 Windsor

Silver Gunn

11st 2lb

J: Mr Henry Callan

T: Marco Botti

Two of his six wins have come over C&D; can go well fresh so his low-key return to action at Yarmouth last month was disappointing; down in class and has the assistance of Henry Callan in the saddle so he could leave that well behind.

11/2

10th

10

(3)

11th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

15:42 Yarmouth

Silver Gunn

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Marco Botti

Course winner who had irregular form in 2025 but he only just failed on his reappearance at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) last spring and he's 4lb lower now; on the cards that he'll return with a good effort.

14/1

7th

8

(6)

23rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 4

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Silver Gunn

9st 4lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Marco Botti

Started this season with a near-miss at Windsor (1m2f) in April but comfortably held since; bit to prove, including on the AW.

20/1

11/2

Form: 411433 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
2-2 over C&D and ran respectably at Ripon over similar trip last time; return to this venue should suit and he is not without a chance back at this venue if allowed to dominate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:57 Carlisle

Matchless

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Three consecutive wins over hurdles in May/June (2m-2m7f, good/good to soft) and he was running okay in that sphere last month; however, he has something to find in today's company and he didn't improve for the switch to fences when soundly beaten in January on his sole previous chase start.

12/1

4th

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:52 Worcester

Matchless

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Came up rather short in higher grade last time; solid record (1112) in Class 4 otherwise this term, albeit has shot up the weights as a result; may be in the assessor's grip now.

13/2

3

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Matchless

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

It took a return to selling level to regain the winning thread in May but has since gone 112 in 2m4f/2m7f handicaps; getting high in the weights (nudged up another 1lb) but he's pretty solid.

7/2

12/1

Form: -22119

Last run: 111 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Overall form has an uneven look to it but he knows how to win, as he showed when scoring twice on AW in March; ordinary form over hurdles in June and work to do back on the Flat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

13

(13)

27th Jul 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

15:50 Newcastle (AW)

Fountain Cross

8st 12lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Tim Easterby

slowly away

33/1

10th

12

(3)

20th Jul 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Ripon

Fountain Cross

8st 8lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: Tim Easterby

Ex-Alan King; has won twice on 9.5f on AW and once over 6f on turf (good); hasn't recaptured his form since a 611-day break before this season; others have stronger claims.

33/1

7th

2

(6)

6th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 5

16:00 Beverley

Fountain Cross

9st 8lb

J: Alex Fielding

T: Tim Easterby

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

33/1

Form: 211-77 D

Last run: 91 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
1m and 1m2f winner last autumn (both on soft) but soundly beaten both starts this season and absent since early May; gelded since and easy enough to oppose.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

16:05 Carlisle

Wind Your Neck In

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Runner-up twice in February (including C&D on soft) before making it 14th time lucky over hurdles in 2m4f Sedgefield handicap (good) last month; he and the runner-up came well clear of the third so he should competitive off 6lb higher.

7/1

1st

5

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

14:18 Sedgefield

Wind Your Neck In

11st 8lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

0-13 over hurdles and becoming rather frustrating but came second twice over 2m3f last month (soft/good to soft) and seems very likely to be in the shake-up again here.

3/1

2nd

4

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Wind Your Neck In

11st 3lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Sam England

Last Flat win came in November 2023 and he's 0-12 over hurdles; however, he ran well when second off this reduced mark at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) last Monday and can be in the mix if backing that up.

5/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £55.20
Straight Forecast £45.86
Tricast £315.22
Trifecta £462.40

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Pledge Of Honour

RP Ratings:

Annandale

SPOTLIGHT:

Good Birthday

Daily Mail:

Bollin Joan

NEWMARKET:

Silver Gunn

Daily Record:

Matchless

POSTDATA:

Annandale

Telegraph:

Pledge Of Honour

The Guardian:

Pledge Of Honour

Daily Express:

Pledge Of Honour

Daily Mirror:

Pledge Of Honour

The Star:

Pledge Of Honour

The Times:

Good Birthday

The Sun:

Bollin Joan