September 15 / 15.35 Doncaster

15.35

Soft

Betfred Mallard Handicap

  • Prize money: £30924
  • 1m 6f 115y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
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Betfred Mallard Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/2 (Won)

Form: 756483

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Three wins at 1m4f/2m this January-April; also fourth in the Northumberland Vase at Newcastle (2m, AW) three starts back and third at the York Ebor meeting (1m4f; just behind Bague D'Or) on latest; not far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

16th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

19:55 Uttoxeter

Legendary Day

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Barry Brennan

Chase/hurdle winner who won on the AW at Lingfield in February 2025; hasn't been in top form on his last couple of runs over hurdles; on a fair mark now.

20/1

14

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:18 Stratford

Legendary Day

11st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Barry Brennan

Useful on the Flat in his prime but suffered heavy defeat in that sphere last month, after a layoff, and also struggled in a handicap hurdle three weeks ago; sports refitted cheekpieces; others have much less to prove.

25/1

6th

2

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

13:30 Uttoxeter

Legendary Day

11st 13lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Barry Brennan

Seven-time Flat winner who has also scored over hurdles (2m1f, soft) and fences (2m, good); on dangerous mark back over jumps but he's not seen much action in the last 12 months and has been tailed off in his last two Flat runs; risks attached.

7/1

Form: -88166

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Ended a two-year losing run at Ascot (1m4f) three starts back; ran badly in first-time cheekpieces there later in July and still below form in them at Hamilton three weeks ago; they are discarded today and this first Flat run beyond 1m4f could be worth exploring.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(2)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Oneforthegutter

8st 12lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ian Williams

Scored at the Newmarket July meeting (1m6f) last year but didn't do a lot afterwards; he's back 1lb below that last winning mark, so will pop up in front again at some stage, but he was well held on last year's reappearance at this fixture.

20/1

4

(12)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Oneforthegutter

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Ian Williams

Won a good pot at the Newmarket July meeting (1m6f, good to firm) but has struggled in the Ebor and Old Borough Cup since.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-1310 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Given wind and gelding operations after final 3yo start; first and a close third over 1m4f this May but it was his next start, when upped to 1m6f on good to soft at Ascot in July, that he really came into his own and scored with the minimum of fuss; perhaps racing so prominently was against him when well-beaten third favourite in the Ebor at York (good to firm) and a return to more testing ground today might also help; not at all dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(4)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 2

13:30 Carlisle

Real Dream

9st 12lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Ian Williams

Fourth in handicap in Saudi Arabia on second start this year but has not beaten a rival in two runs back in Britain; difficult to recommend.

25/1

7th

8

(5)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Real Dream

9st 2lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Ian Williams

Best effort this year, but still below peak form, when close fourth to Sons And Lovers in Group 2 handicap at Riyadh; failed to beat a rival on AW last time, hasn't won since 2023 and faces a much stiffer assignment on these terms.

66/1

13th

2

(12)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton (AW)

Real Dream

9st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: Ian Williams

No win since July 2023 and 0-8 since joining this stable but most of those runs were creditable, including his third in this race last year and close fourth in Saudi Arabia six weeks ago; place chance.

16/1

Form: 2112-2 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Upped to 1m6f last summer, winning on first two attempts and second at Glorious Goodwood; absent 391 days before another good second last month at the big York meeting (1m4f); has a very solid record in handicaps and goes well on good to firm, with a creditable second on good to soft earlier in career; shaped at York as if this step back up in trip will suit; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(8)

12th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Bague DOr

9st 5lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

Won on this track in 2021 and 2022; had a very solid record in handicaps, particularly on good or good to firm, prior to never figuring at Royal Ascot (1m4f) latest; that followed a 2024 reappearance win over 1m6f on the other Newmarket course (4lb higher today) but he may well need a career best if he's to add to that today.

11/2

11th

11

(22)

21st Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

16:25 Ascot

Bague DOr

9st 3lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

switched sharply right soon after start, took keen hold, held up in rear, switched right and headway from 2f out, not pace to challenge

12/1

17

(9)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

19:15 Ascot

Bague DOr

9st 3lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Ferguson

Reserve; fast-ground C&D winner who ran just twice last year but fared well and he reappeared with a win at Newmarket (1m6f, good) last month; it was a career best last time and he could continue to improve; contender.

14/1

Form: 464335 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
His career peak was winning this race in 2021 (good to firm) and he has a 6lb lower mark today; performing well enough this summer (stretched by 2m last time) to be taken seriously again each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(8)

5th Jun 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:57 Nottingham

Rhythmic Intent

9st 9lb

J: Richard Kingscote

T: Stuart Williams

The lack of any win since 2021 sees him down to his lowest mark since handicap debut in 2019; stacks of form from 2023 gives him a big chance in theory and he wasn't far away in February three starts ago; while hard to dismiss, it's also hard to make him the percentage call.

7/1

5th

11

(1)

11th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

13:30 Ascot

Rhythmic Intent

9st 0lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Stuart Williams

Now a stone below last winning mark; however, he's far from solid on 2024 AW form and losing spell goes back to 2021; by no means certain to take advantage of the drop in weights.

25/1

Form: 1-717

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Markedly slow starts on all four appearances but won two, latterly in a 1m6f handicap on good to soft at Haydock in July; never quite got competitive at Nottingham (2m, good) on latest outing but being short of room over 2f out did not help; back to about 1m6f and has more to give but those slow starts are a nagging worry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 190y

13:52 Down Royal

Quantum Leap

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Decent performer on the Flat, winning twice and rated 87 at his peak; hooded (retained) and tailed off on his Irish and hurdles debut on heavy at Punchestown last month; ground more suitable now but can only be watched after that last effort.

80/1

9th

3

24th Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 157y

13:30 Punchestown

Quantum Leap

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Miss Tara Lee Cogan

Useful form on the Flat for Ed Bethell including a 1m6f win off 82; hood goes on for his stable/hurdles debut; stays at least 2m on the level so this may not be a sufficient stamina test; probably best watched, especially on this ground.

8/1

9/4

Form: 2-6316

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Dramatic improvement when storming 12l clear on soft ground for handicap debut at Glorious Goodwood (1m4f), whereas his other three turf runs were on good to firm; sixth in the Melrose at York (1m6f) three weeks ago was a fair effort but it's the prospect of soft ground, perhaps also good to soft, which would make him a mouthwatering proposition for supporters.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

5th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 3

18:15 Southwell (AW)

The Goat

10st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Clearcut winner at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in July and placed in valuable Lanark Silver Bell at Hamilton (1m4f, heavy) since but this season's record is very mixed and he was never dangerous in first-time cheekpieces (retained) last month; not an easy one to predict.

8/1

9th

6

(15)

7th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 6f 1y

Class 2

14:25 Haydock

The Goat

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Has an inconsistent profile but with easily his two best turf efforts having been delivered in the mud, including when third at Hamilton (1m4f) 15 days ago; stayed on late that day but underperformed in all four appearances at about 1m6f; connections reach for headgear.

11/1

6

(14)

23rd Aug 2024

Soft

1m 4f 15y

Class 2

19:05 Hamilton

The Goat

9st 5lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

In-and-out profile and well beaten at Ascot last time, but the good ground may not have suited (sole turf win was on soft going); in good form on AW earlier this summer and he's not ruled out.

7/1

Non-runners

Island Brave

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £280.99
Tricast £1707.63

Selections

Telegraph:

Bague D'Or

RP RATINGS:

Real Dream

SPOTLIGHT:

The Goat

POSTDATA:

Rhythmic Intent

The Star:

Quantum Leap

The Times:

The Goat

TOPSPEED:

Real Dream

NEWMARKET:

Real Dream

The Guardian:

Bague D'Or

Daily Mail:

Bague D'Or

Daily Mirror:

Bague D'Or

The Sun:

Bague D'Or

Daily Record:

Bague D'Or

D Express:

Rhythmic Intent