September 13 / 15.35 Doncaster

15.35

Good

Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series)

  • Prize money: £79394
  • 2m 1f 197y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 3-3132 C

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Has had headgear and Rab Havlin for all starts; second to Trueshan in this race last year marked his emergence as a Cup horse; produced late with the first-time visor (kept since) over 2m at Sandown in May to win his first Group race and he's shown even better form since in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (2m4f) and Goodwood Cup (head in front of Gregory); good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won this in 2024 and has added three more Group-race wins, the latest on reappearance in this month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) where he was clear with subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar; leading claims despite 5lb penalty.

Evs

1st

2

(9)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

14:35 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running, including at this track; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last September when winning his second Doncaster Cup and the same seems to apply today, so he's a leading player.

2/1

2

(4)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running and was third and second in the last two runnings of this race; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last month when winning his second Doncaster Cup and while he had the edge over third-placed Trawlerman in this 12 months ago, he's found that rival too tough to crack in their two clashes this season.

5/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 4-4314 CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Tricky to settle; beaten a neck by Coltrane in this race in 2022 but he went one better against Sweet William in it in 2023; as in those races, he's usually been kept to ground softer than good, but he was allowed to take his chance on good going on last two starts, hammering his rivals in a Listed race at Sandown but finishing just over 4l adrift of Sweet William and Gregory in the Goodwood Cup last time; a staying star of previous campaigns but on this season's evidence he needs a bit extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(7)

29th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Goodwood

Trueshan

9st 12lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Needs good ground or softer; grand stayer who has been first, third and fourth on his three appearances in the Goodwood Cup; not disgraced on return in France this May and he got seriously involved every time last season after his first run, but he's a 9yo now and it would be rolling back the years to see him top of the pile today.

40/1

2nd

5

(2)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Trueshan

9st 7lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Tricky to settle; beaten a neck by Coltrane in this race in 2022 but he went one better against Sweet William in it in 2023; as in those races, he's usually been kept to ground softer than good, but he was allowed to take his chance on good going on last two starts, hammering his rivals in a Listed race at Sandown but finishing just over 4l adrift of Sweet William and Gregory in the Goodwood Cup last time; a staying star of previous campaigns but on this season's evidence he needs a bit extra.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: -06135 BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Ran respectably sole start on good to firm; 0-8 in Group 1 races but has won five lesser Group contests and he's a leading contender on form; impressive over the extended 1m5f at Chester in May, galloping on relentlessly; first venture beyond that when disappointing favourite at York (2m) three weeks ago but he's nevertheless back for more in the Cup races and over an even longer trip this time; interesting to see whether his backers return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(6)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Point Lonsdale

9st 7lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Ran respectably sole start on good to firm; 0-8 in Group 1 races but has won five lesser Group contests and he's a leading contender on form; impressive over the extended 1m5f at Chester in May, galloping on relentlessly; first venture beyond that when disappointing favourite at York (2m) three weeks ago but he's nevertheless back for more in the Cup races and over an even longer trip this time; interesting to see whether his backers return.

9/2

5th

4

(5)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Point Lonsdale

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Ran respectably sole start on good to firm; 0-8 in Group 1 races but has won five lesser Group contests and he's a leading contender on form; brother to the very smart Broome, who won at up to 2m, but he's not himself been beyond the extended 1m5f of his impressive Chester win in May; galloped on relentlessly that day, so has to be of major interest.

2/1

1st

6

(4)

9th May 2024

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:40 Chester

Point Lonsdale

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

prominent, went second over 2f out

2/1

10/1

Form: 5-0156 CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Stalwart of the staying scene who won this race in 2022; however, disappointing performances have been in the ascendancy for a while now; perhaps excused his run in this contest last year, as that was on soft ground, but easily the best of his last six starts came when winning at Ascot this May in first-cheekpieces (kept since); big chance if he's back to that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(3)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Coltrane

9st 7lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Stalwart of the staying scene, including with a win in this race in 2022 and a creditable fourth in 2024; both were on good to soft (beaten nearly 4l by Sweet William last year) and there was a lesser show on soft ground in the 2023 renewal; not quite as good as he was and he was dropped to a Listed race when winning ten weeks ago when last seen; major place contender if the ground isn't soft.

12/1

3

(5)

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

16:45 Sandown

Coltrane

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

Four-time Group winner; well held in the Gold Cup most recently; two attempts over C&D comprise a success in this contest in 2022 and respectable second in Group 3 on penultimate start; solid chance back down in class.

9/2

5th

1

(6)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Coltrane

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Stalwart of the top staying races who was at his best in 2023 but not far off it on two occasions in 2024, in a very mixed campaign; runner-up in two four-runner races this season, with latest start better than the first but he was still no match for Trawlerman; second and fifth in the last two Gold Cups and others will have to underperform if he's to win it.

33/1

Form: 5-3733

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his six races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only flop; career-best form in the Goodwood Cup next time, beaten a head by Sweet William for second; third at York (again 2m on good) last time was not at that level but some of the stars of the division are missing today and he has to be considered seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(3)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Gregory

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his six races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only flop; career-best form in the Goodwood Cup next time, beaten a head by Sweet William for second; third at York (again 2m on good) last time was not at that level but some of the stars of the division are missing today and he has to be considered seriously.

11/4

3rd

3

(1)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Gregory

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; supporting roles in his five races since but the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot was his only disappointing show and he followed that with career-best form when third in the 2m Goodwood Cup late last month; effective here and he's one of the several leading candidates on form.

9/2

3rd

3

(2)

30th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Gregory

9st 12lb

J: James Doyle

T: John & Thady Gosden

Took the 1m6f Queen's Vase from the front at Royal Ascot 2023; ran creditably while put in his place on next three starts, including when third in the Yorkshire Cup at York in May when shaping as if further would suit; failed to prove that with a tame show in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (15-2), which was disappointing notwithstanding the 2m4f; this is his first go at 2m.

9/1

40/1

Form: 0-8730 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Peak turf efforts on good to soft; tailed off in the Ascot Gold Cup last June on final 6yo start; surged back to his best when third in 1m6f Group 3 at York this July, having made smooth headway over 2f out, but always behind at 50-1 in the Ebor Handicap there three weeks ago; stays 2m2f but even his best form gives him a stiff task.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:03 Kelso

Wise Eagle

11st 1lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Looked better than ever when third in the Morebattle Hurdle here in February and posted a good third on the Flat at Musselburgh last month; must enter calculations in refitted cheekpieces.

3/1

3rd

1

(11)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 3

15:05 Musselburgh

Wise Eagle

9st 9lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Adam Nicol

Won this prize in 2023 and had a fruitful Flat/hurdles campaign last winter before his close fourth in this; while he did not make an impact in either of his Flat runs this winter, latest hurdles form was his best in that sphere; 8lb lower than the 2025 renewal and a case can certainly be made.

13/2

3rd

10

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Wise Eagle

11st 3lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Adam Nicol

Runner-up here (2m, soft) last February and back on song when third at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) four weeks ago; he's lightly raced over hurdles and is on an attractive mark judged on his very useful Flat form, but he needs to raise his game if he's to take this.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.20
Straight Forecast £7.32
Trifecta £27.20

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Gregory

SPOTLIGHT:

Sweet William

POSTDATA:

Trueshan

Telegraph:

Gregory

Daily Mail:

Gregory

D Express:

Gregory

The Sun:

Gregory

Daily Record:

Gregory

RP RATINGS:

Sweet William

TOPSPEED:

Sweet William

Daily Mirror:

Sweet William

The Times:

Trueshan

The Guardian:

Trueshan

The Star:

Trueshan