September 16 / 13.50 Doncaster

13.50

Soft

Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)

  • Prize money: £71040
  • 0m 7f 6y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
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Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 12

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Newbury (6.5f, good) in June and 1l second in Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to soft) next time, when a neck ahead of Mountain Bear; having come from the rear last time he had to be switched around the entire field to challenge, and he could be capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(11)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Iberian

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Charles Hills

Group 2 winner as 2yo; threw away a golden opportunity in 6f Listed race at Doncaster in March when diving to his left inside the final furlong; well below par in the same grade last time and would be a surprise winner here, even if first-time blinkers give him a boost.

50/1

6th

5

(6)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Newmarket (July)

Iberian

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charles Hills

Group 2 winner as a 2yo; threw away a winning opportunity in a Listed race at Doncaster in March (6f, good to soft) when diving to his left inside the final furlong; this is easier than this summer's earlier turf assignments but he's often slowly away and he isn't one for the faint of heart.

9/2

7th

3

(2)

29th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Goodwood

Iberian

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charles Hills

Lightly raced since winning 2yo Group 2 in September 2023 (7f, soft); went close in Listed race on 2025 reappearance (6f, good to soft) and respectable fifth in the Group 1 Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) last time; however, he again looks vulnerable this afternoon.

25/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 16 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Impressive on debut at Sandown (7f, good) and sent off at just 5-2 for Listed race at Ascot (7f, good) in July but he was a well-beaten sixth behind Rosallion; has something to prove after that but the first-time tongue-tie could help and the prospect of soft ground is interesting as he's a brother to two-time Group 1 winner Sealiway, who relished slow surfaces; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(5)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Newmarket

Sunway

9st 5lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: David Menuisier

Peak efforts were as a 3yo but reappearance at Meydan this January saw his first win since 2023; nearly won another 1m6f Group 3 there next time, before a headstrong display (set up big lead) saw him tail off in 2m Dubai Gold Cup five weeks ago; the latter was in blinkers (first time since September) which are unsurprisingly left off today; thereabouts if bouncing back.

8/1

4

(8)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Sunway

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Menuisier

No win since Group 1 as 2yo; good third, however, in the 14.5f St Leger here one year ago and only half a length behind Sweet William when trying 2m in the Goodwood Cup on penultimate outing; hampered at 1m4f latest; into new territory over this trip but Goodwood Cup suggests he is a serious player.

5/1

4th

5

(4)

29th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Goodwood

Sunway

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Menuisier

Probably okay on any going; runner-up in last season's Irish Derby and third in the St Leger; those are the clear highlights in form terms but his always-prominent fourth of 12 in Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot last month in first-time blinkers was much more like it again; this is a new trip but he's stuck to his task well on those best efforts over 1m4f/14.5f.

12/1

4/9

Form: 11 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won when favourite on debut at Newbury (6.5f, good) in June and followed up in fine style in Listed race at Ascot (7f, good) in July; judged on that latest performance this exciting, unbeaten colt holds the aces today, and his unraced dam is related to some classy soft-ground performers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(15)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Ascot

Rosallion

9st 6lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Won the Irish Guineas (1m, good) and St James's Palace (1m here, good to firm) last season; 0-5 this term but has run some mighty races, going extremely close in the Queen Anne over C&D (good to firm) and doing likewise in the Moulin (1m, good to soft) last time; could be thereabouts once more.

5/1

7

(11)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 York

Rosallion

9st 8lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Went very close in the Group 1 Queen Anne at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) then narrowly failed to overhaul Qirat in the Group 1 Sussex at Goodwood (1m, good), with the shock winner having been gifted a clear lead; today's drop back to 7f isn't an obvious positive but this three-time Group 1 winner is a class act who will be tough to beat if the distance isn't an issue.

6/4

4

(5)

30th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:05 Goodwood

Rosallion

9st 10lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Normally travels and quickens and is suited by good ground or firmer; sparkled in a truncated 2024 campaign that featured wins, looking better than the bare form, in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes (subsequently met with a setback); couple of encouraging efforts since returning to action, beaten only a whisker by Docklands when favourite for slowly run Queen Anne back at Royal Ascot latest; one of the main players.

9/2

12/1

Form: 61734

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Good third in Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood (7f, good to soft; a neck behind Iberian) and another solid effort when fourth in Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh (6f, good) latest; has run five times and isn't really progressing, but might not be far away for top Irish yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

12

(2)

14th Sep 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

14:15 Leopardstown

Mountain Bear

9st 5lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: A P O’Brien

bumped start, squeezed out start, towards rear, midfield after 2f, headway up the centre over 1f out, ran on well final 110yds, went third towards finish

10/1

2nd

8

(8)

8th Aug 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

17:52 Leopardstown

Mountain Bear

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Listed winner at Dundalk last season and second in the Breeders; Cup Juvenile Turf; fine effort when a staying-on fourth in the Jersey Stakes; slowly away and never involved when favourite for Curragh Group 3 race in which Lord Massusus and Mutasarref; stable's second-string now

8/1

6th

7

(2)

21st Jul 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

15:15 Curragh

Mountain Bear

9st 3lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

slowly away, in rear throughout, 10 lengths down halfway, brief headway under 2f out, eased inside final furlong

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 148

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Yarmouth (6f, good to soft) and best form when fourth of six in French Group 3 (6f, soft) next time; however, improvement needed to win this and he was down the field in York Group 2 (6f, good to firm) last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(2)

21st Sep 2024

Good

0m 7f 0y

17:40 Gowran Park

Power Mode

9st 10lb

J: W J Lee

T: Daniel James Murphy

raced in third, lost third when weakened under 2f out

13/2

8th

2

(3)

26th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

18:00 Cork

Power Mode

9st 10lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Daniel James Murphy

Highly tried last season after his successful debut, running particularly well in a Group 3 at Deauville; remains in the same ownership this year despite changing yards and, although behind Kendall Roy two runs back, he showed bright speed and made all for a narrow success at Naas (6f, good; second-time blinkers); up 5lb but reverting to 5f shouldn't be an issue.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.80
Straight Forecast £19.51
Trifecta £33.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Rosallion

LAMBOURN:

Iberian

D Express:

Iberian

Daily Record:

Iberian

RP RATINGS:

Rosallion

TOPSPEED:

Rosallion

POSTDATA:

Rosallion

The Times:

Rosallion

Telegraph:

Rosallion

The Guardian:

Rosallion

Daily Mail:

Rosallion

Daily Mirror:

Rosallion

The Sun:

Rosallion

The Star:

Rosallion