October 21 / 16.05 Doncaster

16.05

Good To Soft

vertem.co.uk Handicap

  • Prize money: £10468
  • 1m 6f 115y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
vertem.co.uk Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 724569

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Trip, track and ground should hold no terrors and is only 1lb higher than for a cosy 1m5f win at Ayr in June; likely to give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(6)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 5f 192y

Class 5

13:30 Catterick

Dark Jedi

10st 2lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Tim Easterby

slowly away, held up in rear

9/1

5th

4

(9)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 5f 218y

Class 4

17:05 Redcar

Dark Jedi

9st 9lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

slowly into stride, held up in rear, no impression from over 2f out

12/1

3rd

4

(4)

28th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 6f 1y

Class 4

17:00 Haydock

Dark Jedi

9st 6lb

J: Duran Fentiman

T: Tim Easterby

Disappointing favourite in this race last year but he does stay the trip and acts on heavy going; Thirsk in May saw his first win since 2022 but he's underperformed on last four outings; the last two were admittedly on AW and he's back to that last winning mark.

6/1

14/1

  • Place: £5.20

Form: 0-6008

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Won two soft-ground Class 2 handicaps in 2021 and he is 2lb lower than for his Goodwood success 12 months ago; ran well in the Chester Cup on his return in May but it has been a struggle since, most recently at Goodwood 12 days ago; the forecast rain will help but there are risks attached now fitted with blinkers for the first time (mixed record in other headgear).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(4)

21st May 2026

Soft

2m 0f 45y

Class 5

14:00 Haydock

Torcello

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Shaun Lycett

His mark continues to tumble and he's one to watch in the betting in reapplied cheekpieces with the slow ground in his favour; however, this 12yo has very much struggled on his four starts since last June.

9/1

8th

9

(8)

18th Feb 2026

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Torcello

9st 1lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Shaun Lycett

Veteran who struggled in two runs last year and fared no better when last of six over 2m here six weeks ago; down in the weights but has too much to prove for now.

50/1

10

(1)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 7f 196y

Class 2

14:40 Chester

Torcello

8st 5lb

J: Nicola Currie

T: Shaun Lycett

Sixth in 2022 Chester Cup (sole visit); well handicapped on best 2024 form; now an 11yo, well beaten on final outing last season and his only start this term (June); the latter was on good ground, whereas it's softer (preferably soft or heavy) which has suited him best for a long time now.

50/1

Form: 4812 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Improved on third start when readily landing a Haydock novice (extended 1m3f, good) in May; gelded and off for four months prior to a good second on his handicap debut at Kempton last month (1m3f), forced wide and leaving the impression he was capable of better; new trip today could help and a 4lb rise may not prove beyond this brother to the top-class Taghrooda.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(8)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Almuhit

9st 7lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Faye Bramley

Rediscovered the knack for new stable last year, including two front-running wins over 2m in four-runner Flat races and two places when the action got more competitive; returned to some hurdles form on last two outings in that sphere; a lesser show on Musselburgh Flat in between was over 1m6f but this race may also prove too tough.

16/1

4th

15

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 81y

15:05 Punchestown

Almuhit

10st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Faye Bramley

Four-time Flat winner is 2-19 over hurdles; 8l behind Laughing John when runner up in qualifier for this at Wincanton on penultimate; modest run on the level at Musselburgh on latest; others make more appeal.

12/1

4th
3 (2)

13/8

Form: 51-352

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
AW novice winner for Sir Michael Stoute; improved run on second start for yard when second of seven at Yarmouth (1m6f, good) five weeks ago, looking set to score but finding a fast-improving 3yo just too strong; that form boosted since and he remains capable of better; untested on slower than good (dam best on fast ground) but he still looks well treated and will be a danger to all if handling conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

14/1

Form: /6212/

Last run: 748 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Smart performer for Andre Fabre, winning a 1m4f handicap at Longchamp in September 2020 and runner-up in a 1m7f Group 2 the following month (heavy); sold for £18,000 13 months later; gelded since last seen; mammoth absence to overcome but he's not fully exposed and conditions should suit; one to note for market confidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Seemed to run well in a dramatic Fighting Fifth but was only fourth of five, admittedly not entirely disgraced, last week when favourite for a Windsor contest he'd won 12 months earlier; triple Grade 2 scorer but faces a difficult task against two exciting types in this field.

33/1

4th

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Nemean Lion

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Middle leg of a hat-trick when winning this last year (soft); finished close-up when last of the three finishers on reappearance in Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in November, which was a positive performance; leading claims despite a 8lb penalty.

7/4

12

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a hat-trick (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft/soft) when getting up close home in Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell last month; goes up in trip and back up in grade today, with something to find, but he stayed well on the Flat early in his career and has shaped this season as though today's extra distance could prompt further improvement; clearly thriving; interesting.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £48.80
Straight Forecast £79.04
Trifecta £128.30

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Almuhit

SPOTLIGHT:

Traila

TOPSPEED:

Dark Jedi

The Times:

Almuhit

Telegraph:

Almuhit

D Express:

Almuhit

The Sun:

Almuhit

The Star:

Almuhit

Daily Record:

Almuhit

RP Ratings:

Traila

Daily Mail:

Traila

Daily Mirror:

Traila

POSTDATA:

Dark Jedi

The Guardian:

Dark Jedi