October 21 / 16.38 Doncaster

16.38

Good To Soft

Vertem Very Different Stockbrokers Handicap

  • Prize money: £7560
  • 1m 2f 43y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
Vertem Very Different Stockbrokers Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.70
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 615-87

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Made belated reappearance last month and has finished in mid-division on both runs this year (7f/1m, good/heavy); improvement needed but he made some late headway on each occasion and this longer trip could suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(1)

21st Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 3

16:38 Doncaster

Unspoken

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

midfield, pushed along under 3f out, switched left and headway over 1f out, soon ridden, made strong challenge inside final 110yds, stayed on and led post

9/1

7th

13

(10)

14th Oct 2022

Heavy

0m 7f 212y

Class 3

16:00 Haydock

Unspoken

9st 4lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ralph Beckett

midfield, pushed along over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, made no impression

8/1

8th

8

(3)

17th Sep 2022

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:10 Newbury

Unspoken

9st 6lb

J: Louis Steward

T: Ralph Beckett

towards rear of midfield, pushed along 3f out, edged right over 2f out, soon outpaced, kept on from over 1f out, never on terms

12/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 413431 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Solid summer campaign for Roger Varian at up to 2m and found a leap of improvement when dropped back to 1m2f for his recent stable debut at Nottingham (soft), winning by just over 6l on his first encounter with slow ground; had bundles in hand and an 8lb rise may not stop him here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(10)

23rd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

20:45 Salisbury

First Officer

9st 6lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Six-time winner but only one of those came in a double-figure field (October 2022); ran well at Newmarket when last seen eight months ago; has gone well fresh in the past; others appeal more all the same.

10/1

5

(6)

25th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Newmarket

First Officer

9st 8lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Beat three rivals over 1m4f on the July Course here (good to firm) under Alexandra Egan in midsummer; comfortably held in three outings since but has dipped back to that successful mark.

6/1

4th

4

(2)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:45 Newmarket (July)

First Officer

9st 1lb

J: David Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Beat three rivals over 1m4f here in July since when he's been comfortably held; on the plus side, he might appreciate this belated return to 1m6f as he does have form over this far.

5/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 212966 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Needs to produce more than he's managed on his last three runs (1m2f-1m4f, good) but they've still been fair efforts and perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will bring out something extra; has gone close on soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(6)

25th Jun 2023

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 4

16:15 Pontefract

Knight Of Honour

9st 6lb

J: David Nolan

T: Richard Fahey

Successful in Bahrain in January on his first run for Richard Fahey (1m2f, good to soft); more moderate runs than good have followed and hopes appear to rest on the drop back in trip sparking a revival.

20/1

6th

4

(2)

12th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 4f 5y

Class 3

19:00 Pontefract

Knight Of Honour

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Richard Fahey

1m2f winner at Bahrain in January on debut for this yard; inconsistent since, down the field at Chester (behind Zealandia) most recently; not solid on 2023 form.

20/1

9th

2

(8)

27th May 2023

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:45 Chester

Knight Of Honour

10st 1lb

J: Connor Murtagh

T: Richard Fahey

slowly away, in rear

10/1

12/1

Form: -21457 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won at Haydock (1m2f, good) in May on his second handicap start but unplaced on his three runs since, most recently a below-par seventh at Redcar (1m2f, good to soft) on his first encounter with slow ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

(4)

21st Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 2f 43y

Class 3

16:38 Doncaster

Rich King

8st 12lb

J: Andrea Atzeni

T: Edward Bethell

towards rear, steady headway from 3f out, in touch with leaders over 1f out, ridden 1f out, no extra final 110yds

12/1

4th

1

(2)

29th Jul 2022

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 23y

Class 4

19:35 Southwell (AW)

Rich King

9st 9lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Edward Bethell

held up in rear, pushed along and headway over 2f out, ridden and no impression from over 1f out

13/2

Form: 315 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Made all at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in May, then absent until soundly beaten fifth on last month's handicap debut at Lingfield (1m2f, AW); may have needed that run, however, and his attractive pedigree suggests he has potential off his current mark; the hood worn last time is left off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(15)

16th May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

20:30 Leopardstown

Dubai Leader

9st 12lb

J: Ms L Dowdall

T: Donal Kinsella

Won three for the Johnstons in Britain, two on quick turf at 1m2f-1m4f; best run for this yard here over 1m7f (good) for this rider last July; poor since and never in contention on seasonal reappearance at Cork (1m, good); this trip more suitable and 3lb below last win but others look more likely.

50/1

9

(15)

16th May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

20:30 Leopardstown

Dubai Leader

9st 12lb

J: Ms L Dowdall

T: Donal Kinsella

Won three for the Johnstons in Britain, two on quick turf at 1m2f-1m4f; best run for this yard here over 1m7f (good) for this rider last July; poor since and never in contention on seasonal reappearance at Cork (1m, good); this trip more suitable and 3lb below last win but others look more likely.

50/1

11th

4

(9)

6th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

19:08 Cork

Dubai Leader

9st 13lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Donal Kinsella

Won three races at up to 1m4f in Britain for the Johnstons; one of four runs for this yard was encouraging and there have been excuses the last twice on account of the draw and ground; off since August but not without hope.

33/1

Form: 52210 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at the fourth attempt in Ffos Las maiden (1m2f, good) in August; down the field on handicap/AW debut at Kempton (1m3f) last month and hard to be confident on the back of that, but he should be capable of better than he showed there and he's in good hands to progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

12:10 Exeter

Tuxedo Junction

11st 4lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

in touch with leaders

7/2

2nd

6

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

12:10 Exeter

Tuxedo Junction

11st 4lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

in touch with leaders

7/2

3rd

11

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:35 Taunton

Tuxedo Junction

11st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Fairly useful on Flat for previous yard; respectable second in big field at Wincanton (1m7f, good) on the latest of two attempts over hurdles; now goes in tongue-tie; should be capable of better still under this code and is one for the shortlist.

8/1

12/1

Form: 313 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Won at Beverley (1m2f, soft) last month and again ran well when third under a penalty at Ripon (1m4f, good) ten days later, fading late having failed to settle (first-time hood, which is retained); gelded since and the drop back in trip is a possible plus; could be in the mix on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

1st Jun 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

14:57 Listowel

Frankendael

11st 7lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: E McNamara

Lightly raced since winning a Listed handicap here in September 2024; back from an absence, he was a much bigger price than Putapoundinthejar at Punchestown in April and duly finished well behind the Martin horse.

5/1

17th

18

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Frankendael

10st 0lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: E McNamara

No joy since winning a listed handicap hurdle at Listowel in September 2024 off 6lb lower; 1lb wrong here and lacks a recent run; rider's claim a plus but others make more appeal.

22/1

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 371419

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Bolted up off 10lb lower at Southwell (1m3f, AW) in July in her second handicap; faced a very tough task on turf debut in the St Leger subsequently, when a well-beaten last; needs to prove she's fully effective on grass but could still be ahead of the handicapper judged on her Southwell dominance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(11)

31st Aug 2023

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 4

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Lizzie Jean

10st 0lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Ivan Furtado

took keen hold, towards rear

7/1

2nd

1

(10)

29th Jul 2023

Soft

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:10 York

Lizzie Jean

10st 3lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ivan Furtado

ducked right start, towards rear

5/1

2nd

1

(4)

27th May 2023

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:45 Chester

Lizzie Jean

10st 2lb

J: David Nolan

T: Ivan Furtado

midfield

10/1

Form: 364120

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Improved for being gelded, winning by 8l at Carlisle (1m3f, good) before being short-headed at Haydock (11.6f, good to firm); weakened over 1m5f at Ayr most recently and could bounce back with a good run now back down in distance; seems versatile ground-wise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

2nd Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:11 Bangor-on-Dee

Polyphonic

11st 6lb

J: Mr Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won Fontwell maiden (2m1f, good to soft) for Milton Harris last December but he has a mixed record since; wasn't beaten far when third of five at Uttoxeter two weeks ago but he's now 1-11 over hurdles and others are more convincing.

14/1

Non-runners

Polyphonic

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.60
Straight Forecast £11.69
Tricast £42.72
Trifecta £88.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

First Officer

TOPSPEED:

Polyphonic

NEWMARKET:

Tuxedo Junction

The Guardian:

Lizzie Jean

RP Ratings:

Knight Of Honour

POSTDATA:

Polyphonic

The Times:

First Officer

Telegraph:

First Officer

Daily Mail:

First Officer

D Express:

First Officer

Daily Mirror:

First Officer

The Sun:

First Officer

The Star:

First Officer

Daily Record:

First Officer