September 12 / 15.00 Doncaster

15.00

Good To Soft

Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £85065
  • 2m 1f 197y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
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Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 3-2251 CD

Last run: 70 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Stalwart of the staying scene, including with a win in this race in 2022 and a creditable fourth in 2024; both were on good to soft (beaten nearly 4l by Sweet William last year) and there was a lesser show on soft ground in the 2023 renewal; not quite as good as he was and he was dropped to a Listed race when winning ten weeks ago when last seen; major place contender if the ground isn't soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(3)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Coltrane

9st 7lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Stalwart of the staying scene, including with a win in this race in 2022 and a creditable fourth in 2024; both were on good to soft (beaten nearly 4l by Sweet William last year) and there was a lesser show on soft ground in the 2023 renewal; not quite as good as he was and he was dropped to a Listed race when winning ten weeks ago when last seen; major place contender if the ground isn't soft.

12/1

3

(5)

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

16:45 Sandown

Coltrane

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

Four-time Group winner; well held in the Gold Cup most recently; two attempts over C&D comprise a success in this contest in 2022 and respectable second in Group 3 on penultimate start; solid chance back down in class.

9/2

5th

1

(6)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Coltrane

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Stalwart of the top staying races who was at his best in 2023 but not far off it on two occasions in 2024, in a very mixed campaign; runner-up in two four-runner races this season, with latest start better than the first but he was still no match for Trawlerman; second and fifth in the last two Gold Cups and others will have to underperform if he's to win it.

33/1

Form: 7/5-46

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Repeated traffic problems when fifth in last year's Ebor Handicap at York; no such excuse in it this time round, finishing sixth of 22, but that was his best piece of Flat form and he looked due for a return to 2m+; won 2m6f maiden hurdle the time before; rarely seen on softer than good but he was second in a maiden hurdle on yielding; place chance if the ground is okay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(3)

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Goodwood

Hipop De Loire

9st 12lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: Nick Scholfield

Sixth off 1lb higher in last year's 1m6f Ebor at York and third in the 2m2f Doncaster Cup; however, ended last season on a low note and pulled up in hot races for all three starts over hurdles this spring; left Willie Mullins for 15,000gns 16 days ago and blinkers (last worn in Germany in 2023) replace recent cheekpieces; which side he shows today remains to be seen.

66/1

7

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 190y

16:15 Punchestown

Hipop De Loire

11st 10lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Classy sort on the Flat, third in last year's Doncaster Cup; 9yo has had just four runs over hurdles, winning Galway maiden last summer, but pulled up on both starts since last month's return, never featuring in Albert Bartlett and again in Grade 2 Fairyhouse novice (Generous Risk second); cheekpieces tried last time persisted with.

33/1

5

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Hipop De Loire

11st 3lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Classy sort on the Flat, third in last year's Doncaster Cup; 9yo has had just three runs over hurdles, winning Galway maiden last summer, most recently returned from five months' absence when pulled up after never featuring in Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham; cheekpieces now tried.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 433-61

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Reliable staying handicapper who hit new heights when winning in grand style at Glorious Goodwood (2m4f) last time; more is required in his first Group race but he needs some respect following such a career best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(7)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Kyle Of Lochalsh

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Hughie Morrison

Reliable staying handicapper who hit new heights when winning in grand style at Glorious Goodwood (2m4f) last time; more is required in his first Group race but he needs some respect following such a career best.

9/1

1st

4

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 97y

Class 2

13:20 Goodwood

Kyle Of Lochalsh

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Hughie Morrison

Solid 2024 campaign included fourth of 18 in this race (good to firm; fine on soft) off same mark as today; made a satisfactory reappearance this April and, likely to build on that, looks a strong each-way candidate.

4/1

Form: -35445

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
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.
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

Form: 2-3432 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running and won this race last year (good to soft; acts on any) with significantly greater authority than the 1l margin suggests, having been second in it the year before; not quite at his best when half a length in front of Sunway at Goodwood; he does not have the top stayers to worry about today and looks set for a big run in his Doncaster Cup defence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won this in 2024 and has added three more Group-race wins, the latest on reappearance in this month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) where he was clear with subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar; leading claims despite 5lb penalty.

Evs

1st

2

(9)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

14:35 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running, including at this track; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last September when winning his second Doncaster Cup and the same seems to apply today, so he's a leading player.

2/1

2

(4)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Sweet William

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running and was third and second in the last two runnings of this race; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last month when winning his second Doncaster Cup and while he had the edge over third-placed Trawlerman in this 12 months ago, he's found that rival too tough to crack in their two clashes this season.

5/1

Form: 5930-6

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
All wins on soft or heavy; he'd be a player in this judged on his best efforts but there's been no trace of those since his third in the Cesarewitch Handicap (2m2f, soft) in October 2023; way behind Kyle Of Lochalsh at Goodwood on his solitary run this season, with the ground not nearly as soft as the official but he still has plenty to prove these days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:32 Ayr

Tashkhan

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Brian Ellison

A very useful four-time winner on the Flat, he got off to a winning start over hurdles at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) in December; stayed on well to snatch third up in trip in a Grade 2 at Haydock (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; holds obvious credentials back down in grade.

2/1

Form: 1719-3 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Third win last term was in a slowly run 2m2f conditions stakes at Pontefract (soft) in October in tidy style; respectable, never-dangerous third in a handicap at Glorious Goodwood (2m4f) on reappearance but, despite being markedly better off at the weights, she clearly needs to improve upon that if she's to turn the tables on easy winner Kyle Of Lochalsh.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

6

(13)

9th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Bath

Oxford Comma

9st 6lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Thorough stayer who battled on for modest third in 2m4f handicap at Glorious Goodwood (soft) in August but then ran as though something was amiss in last month's Doncaster Cup; even if back on song, she might be a shade vulnerable back at 1m6f on drying ground here.

12/1

7

(1)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Oxford Comma

9st 4lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Third win last term was in a slowly run 2m2f conditions stakes at Pontefract (soft) in October in tidy style; respectable, never-dangerous third in a handicap at Glorious Goodwood (2m4f) on reappearance but, despite being markedly better off at the weights, she clearly needs to improve upon that if she's to turn the tables on easy winner Kyle Of Lochalsh.

18/1

Form: 8-1112 C BF

Last run: 50 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Unraced on softer than good; emphatic wins in his first three handicaps, here on second occasion; the winning sequence ended on latest outing but he was a close second that day to the subsequent Melrose winner; has a fair bit to find on form but this 3yo should be open to further progress and he's a dark horse venturing beyond 14.5f for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(4)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Pendragon

8st 10lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Unraced on softer than good; emphatic wins in his first three handicaps, here on second occasion; the winning sequence ended on latest outing but he was a close second that day to the subsequent Melrose winner; has a fair bit to find on form but this 3yo should be open to further progress and he's a dark horse venturing beyond 14.5f for the first time.

8/1

2nd

2

(1)

24th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:55 Sandown

Pendragon

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Has been a textbook Prescott improver switched to handicaps this term, posting three emphatic wins, latest over C&D (good to firm); could well defy another big rise in the weights and complete the four-timer.

7/4

1st

4

(3)

4th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Sandown

Pendragon

9st 3lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Sir Mark Prescott Bt

Four 2yo runs at up to 8.5f barely scratched the surface of his potential and he ran out the comfortable winner of two handicaps last month, 1m4f at Ripon and an extended 1m6f at Doncaster last week; 10lb higher this time but still 2lb well in and he has more to offer as a stayer.

10/11

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sweet William

Telegraph:

Pendragon

The Sun:

Kyle Of Lochalsh

TOPSPEED:

Tashkhan

Daily Mail:

Pendragon

D Express:

Pendragon

RP RATINGS:

Sweet William

POSTDATA:

Sweet William

NEWMARKET:

Sweet William

The Times:

Sweet William

The Guardian:

Sweet William

Daily Mirror:

Sweet William

The Star:

Sweet William

Daily Record:

Sweet William