September 13 / 13.50 Doncaster

13.50

Good

Betfred Mallard Handicap

  • Prize money: £36078
  • 1m 6f 115y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
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Betfred Mallard Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

1st
5 (4)
Faylaq

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £19.00
  • Place: £2.70

Form: 536212

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Ayr (1m2f) last month was the end of a monumental losing run but he's seldom far away and is versatile regarding distance, so has each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(8)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 4f 15y

Class 2

18:35 Hamilton

Faylaq

9st 8lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

9yo who was well beaten in the John Smith's Cup at York last month but won two in a row here (1m5f/1m4f, good to firm) in May and continued in good form until his blip last time; not ruled out now back here.

12/1

9

(12)

12th Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

15:10 York

Faylaq

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Two wins at Hamilton (1m5f/1m4f, good to firm) in May and creditable fifth in the Northumberland Plate a fortnight ago (2m, AW); he's a 9yo who has never won off a mark this high but is versatile in terms of trip and ran well over C&D last month; not ruled out each-way.

22/1

5th

7

(2)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Faylaq

9st 3lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

Third and sixth in last two runnings of the C&D Vase on this card; in the groove with successive wins at Hamilton (1m5f/1m4f) this May; however, he's been held off this mark when back up to Class 2 in his three starts since, still in form but suggesting that others will have the edge today.

18/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 921151

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Won twice in June before failing to land a blow at Glorious Goodwood, all over about 1m4f on good to firm; looked a strong candidate for 1m6f and proved it when asserting late on in a five-runner race at Newmarket (soft) three weeks ago; up 4lb but this 3yo surely retains potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(12)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 Newmarket

Subsequent

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Excellent 3yo season culminated in his Listed win at Ascot (1m6f, soft) and, after a delayed reappearance last year, he found career-best form to win a good handicap at Doncaster (14.5f, good to soft; tongue tied second time) in September on final outing; the Yorkshire Cup and Ascot Gold Cup entries are striking but ideally he would be on ground softer than good.

5/1

1st

1

(11)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Subsequent

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Sometimes slowly away; 4-8 last year, culminating in his Listed win at Ascot (1m6f, soft) in October; not seen this term until July and back to form when a creditable, staying-on ninth of 22 at 40-1 in the Ebor at York (1m6f, good to firm; tongue tied first time) three weeks ago; down 2lb and a return to more testing ground may well suit.

11/2

9th

9

(12)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Subsequent

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Sometimes slowly away; 4-8 last year, culminating in his Listed win at Ascot (1m6f, soft) in October; he's not shown nearly enough on either start this season (not seen until July) and now has tongue tied first time.

40/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 12-021

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Flopped at Royal Ascot on reappearance (his only run on good to firm ground) but has a cracking record in his other four handicaps; stuck to his task most determinedly to get on top close home at York (1m4f, good) three weeks ago; up 5lb but he's progressive and this trip now looks viable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

13

(9)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

16:10 York

Shadow Dance

9st 1lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

No ground worries but his career highlights (1m4f/1m6f) were in 2024, including a win in this race; 6lb lower today but that's after a rather muted 2025 when still with Roger Varian and his form went badly the wrong way in three runs this January-April for new connections; tongue-tie and/or cheekpieces, both fitted for the first time, need to work the oracle.

20/1

13th

3

(4)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 3

15:05 Musselburgh

Shadow Dance

9st 6lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Career highlights (1m4f/1m6f) for Roger Varian were in 2024 and he managed only mid-division in his three handicaps (at top meetings) last July-September; rather worse in both runs (his first races on AW) for new connections early this year but he returns to turf 8lb below his career-high mark.

28/1

Form: 120431

Last run: 10 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Below form at Royal Ascot in his only handicap on good to firm; cheekpieces enlisted on last three outings and resumed improvement when stepped up to 2m at Goodwood for last two, unlucky on first occasion but hugely on top under a 5lb claimer ten days ago; respected as a progressive 3yo but he has a 6lb penalty and the step back in trip may not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(6)

25th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Newmarket

East India Dock

9st 5lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: James Owen

One of the top juvenile hurdlers last season and he justified warm favouritism when returned to the Flat for the Chester Cup (2m2f) in May; respectable efforts off 8lb higher when sixth of 20 in the Ascot Stakes and Northumberland Plate in June; freshened up since; needs improvement to win at this level.

5/1

6th

4

(14)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

East India Dock

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: James Owen

One of the top juvenile hurdlers last season and he justified warm favouritism when returned to the Flat for the Chester Cup (2m2f) in May; sixth off this 8lb higher mark at Royal Ascot (2m4f) was right up with that form and he's a player if this AW surface (sole race on one was as 2yo, finished last) proves suitable.

6/1

6th

7

(18)

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

East India Dock

9st 8lb

J: James Doyle

T: James Owen

One of the top juvenile hurdlers last season and he justified warm favouritism when returned to the Flat in 15-runner Chester Cup (2m2f, good) over five weeks ago, never far away before strength of stamina took him to the front inside the final 1f; below-form outsider last April/June on his only two starts on good to firm (one at this meeting); up 8lb since Chester but may well be capable of another advance if the ground is okay.

9/2

25/1

Form: -59120

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Got up close home at Wolverhampton (2m, AW) in April on second start for new yard and backed that up with second of 20 in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m, AW; 40-1) in June; he's close to his career-high mark now, however, and was never dangerous at York (2m) last time; unraced over shorter than 2m since August 2022; first-time cheekpieces need to spark something.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

11

(9)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 15y

Class 2

18:15 Hamilton

Evaluation

9st 0lb

J: David Allan

T: Adam Nicol

Won four on the trot at 1m6f/2m for Charlie Johnston in 2022; has since won on AW and over hurdles; best watched on first run for Adam Nicol.

25/1

4th

1

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:20 Wetherby

Evaluation

11st 12lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Useful Flat racer who is still unexposed over hurdles and was close second in Perth handicap (2m, good) on latest outing two months ago; only 2lb higher here and ought to be right in the thick of things again.

7/2

5

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 2

18:07 Perth

Evaluation

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Smart handicapper on the Flat; a tad disappointing so far over hurdles given his ability but was close up in a C&D handicap three months ago when a stronger pace would have suited; could yet raise his profile in this discipline; 2lb out of the weights.

5/1

Form: 528626

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Losing run up to 13; beaten a head at the Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot last month and not disgraced when front-running on AW last time; upped in trip and the cheekpieces (of last five starts) are removed, but others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(3)

4th Sep 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

13:30 Haydock

Dream Harder

10st 2lb

J: Hope Regan

T: Mark Loughnane

A tongue-tie was added to cheekpieces when off the mark for this yard, getting up late at Epsom (1m4f, good to firm) in July; weak in the market under a penalty when beaten 5l in amateur riders' event over C&D (good) the following week; combination of this trip and slow ground will be new to him.

8/1

4th

1

(5)

7th Aug 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:18 Haydock

Dream Harder

11st 3lb

J: Mr Jack Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Ex-Ian Williams; first win for current yard with first-time tongue-tie at Epsom last week (1m4f, good to firm), quickening up well after not getting best of runs; could go well with a 4lb penalty although below par two previous runs at 1m6f.

13/2

1st

2

(3)

30th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 5

18:40 Epsom

Dream Harder

9st 7lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Mark Loughnane

Signed off for Ian Williams with below-par AW run in the autumn and finished last on both turf starts for new stable this year; on good mark now but needs first-time tongue-tie to aid a return to form.

12/1

Form: 5-2434

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Tends to be slowly away; below form in this race last year, perhaps because of soft ground; creditable minor honours off this mark on all four starts this term (1m4f, 1m6f, 1m5f and 2m) and should be on the premises.
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

OUR TIP

40/1

Form: 4-2100

Last run: 126 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Seen almost twice as often on the AW but had an impressive win on good to firm last August; did well over 2m on AW last winter, notably for an easy Kempton win, but he failed to fire in an AW Championships race next time and finished last in the Chester Cup in May latest; very mixed messages.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(7)

13th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 115y

Class 2

13:50 Doncaster

Citizen General

9st 10lb

J: David Egan

T: Ed Dunlop

Seen almost twice as often on the AW but had an impressive win on good to firm last August; did well over 2m on AW last winter, notably for an easy Kempton win, but he failed to fire in an AW Championships race next time and finished last in the Chester Cup in May latest; very mixed messages.

40/1

16th

4

(9)

10th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:40 Chester

Citizen General

8st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Ed Dunlop

Seen twice as often on the AW but had an impressive win on good to firm last August; does not always fire, for instance in AW Championships race at Newcastle on latest outing, but he looks good on his day and the ease of his 2m win on Kempton AW in February can't be forgotten (6lb higher today); this unusual test might just take his fancy.

33/1

16th

4

(9)

10th May 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:40 Chester

Citizen General

8st 12lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Ed Dunlop

Seen twice as often on the AW but had an impressive win on good to firm last August; does not always fire, for instance in AW Championships race at Newcastle on latest outing, but he looks good on his day and the ease of his 2m win on Kempton AW in February can't be forgotten (6lb higher today); this unusual test might just take his fancy.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £62.80
Straight Forecast £49.25
Tricast £126.12
Trifecta £197.30

Selections

LAMBOURN:

Subsequent

RP RATINGS:

East India Dock

SPOTLIGHT:

Shadow Dance

TOPSPEED:

Dream Harder

Telegraph:

Subsequent

The Guardian:

Subsequent

Daily Mail:

Subsequent

The Sun:

Subsequent

The Star:

Subsequent

Daily Record:

Subsequent

POSTDATA:

East India Dock

NEWMARKET:

East India Dock

D Express:

East India Dock

The Times:

Shadow Dance

Daily Mirror:

Shadow Dance