September 20 / 13.50 Ayr

13.50

Good To Soft

Ladbrokes “Big Football Bet Builder Boosts” Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £34026
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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Ladbrokes “Big Football Bet Builder Boosts” Doonside Cup Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: -53104 D BF

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won the Cambridgeshire last October (1m1f, soft) and landed a Listed race at Goodwood (1m2f, good) this May, for which he carries a 3lb penalty; below par on both runs since but bang there if back to his best today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(10)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Sandown

Liberty Lane

9st 12lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: K R Burke

1m winner early in career but has shown best form at 1m1f/1m2f, notably with wins in the 2024 Cambridgeshire and Listed races last year; bit to prove off current mark back down in trip; wears first-time headgear.

20/1

8th

1

(1)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Liberty Lane

10st 1lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Usually races prominently (didn't when trying 1m4f last time); a mostly solid 2025 included 1m2f Listed wins in May and November; has started 2026 in downbeat fashion but today's ground could prompt something better, as his top three ratings have been registered on softer than good; below-form favourite in this race two years ago but was denied a clear run; needs to be back in peak form to have any chance.

12/1

4th

4

(3)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Liberty Lane

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Usually races prominently; a mostly solid 2025 included 1m2f Listed wins in May and November; 2026 started in downbeat fashion (similar to last year) in Listed race and his top three ratings have been registered on softer than good; this is also a new trip (unraced beyond an extended 1m2f) but he's bred to get it and has a chance on best form; ground the chief worry.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 936-22 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Listed winner for Karl Burke (1m2f, good) last May and he's gone very close in Listed races this summer on his first two runs for William Haggas (1m2f/11.4f, good to firm), making the running each time; has shown promise on good to soft (unraced on softer); might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(5)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Caviar Heights

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: William Haggas

Listed winner for Karl Burke (1m2f, good) last May and he's gone very close in Listed races this summer on his first two runs for William Haggas (1m2f/11.4f, good to firm), making the running each time; has shown promise on good to soft (unraced on softer); might not be far away.

11/2

2

(2)

23rd Aug 2025

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 1

18:15 Windsor

Caviar Heights

9st 7lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Won a Newmarket Listed event (1m2f, good) for Karl Burke in May last year; sold for 520,000gns last autumn and having been gelded he made a fine return/stable debut when beaten a nose in a Sandown Listed contest (1m2f, good to firm) in June; much respected if building on that; holds a Qipco Champion Stakes entry.

13/8

2

(6)

4th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Caviar Heights

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Maiden winner in 2023 for Andrew Balding and Listed scorer in 2024 for Karl Burke; sold for 520,000gns and gelded since last run; returns from absence and debuts for William Haggas; heed the market signals.

9/2

Form: 21-367 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
9yo whose form has been mixed across three starts this year; however, they've all been on good ground and his last five wins have come on good to soft and slower ground, the latest a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) last September; could bounce back with a big run if conditions are in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(8)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Certain Lad

9st 3lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Multiple winner down the years but 2025 figures suggest age may be catching up with him to some degree; hasn't won a domestic race since 2023 and it's an even longer time since he made a successful seasonal debut.

14/1

3

(3)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:26 Leopardstown

Certain Lad

9st 7lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Strike rate of 11-49 reads well although hasn't won in over a year and this season has been restricted by quick ground; had his favoured soft ground but still good bit below best at Ayr last month so must be doubtful he can run to current mark and ideally wants a bit further.

8/1

3

(1)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Certain Lad

9st 5lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

9yo whose form has been mixed across three starts this year; however, they've all been on good ground and his last five wins have come on good to soft and slower ground, the latest a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) last September; could bounce back with a big run if conditions are in his favour.

6/1

Form: 7-4635 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Expensive to follow in Group/Listed races on his eight starts since winning a handicap at Newbury in May 2024; however, the drop back to 1m1f was against him at York last time and he has plenty of form that puts him firmly in the picture today; seems versatile in terms of ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(4)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Kings Gambit

9st 9lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Harry Charlton

Capable of very useful form but he is 0-12 since landing a major handicap at Newbury over two years ago and was unplaced in the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot last month; supplemented at a cost of £50,000, possibly to act as pacemaker for fellow Wathnan Racing runner Gethin.

66/1

7th

10

(6)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Kings Gambit

9st 5lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Harry Charlton

No win since landing two of his first four starts but has a largely consistent record in Listed/Group company since, including third to Haatem and Galen in this race on good to firm 12 months ago; again ran well when chasing home Damysus in Group 3 at Newmarket (1m1f, good) on reappearance in April; a subsequent Chester run was disappointing but his record suggests he's unlikely to stay down for long.

11/1

9th

4

(5)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Kings Gambit

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Harry Charlton

No wins since landing two of his first four starts having been highly tried in the meantime, but he has a consistent record in Group/Listed company shy of the top level (22363522); again ran well when chasing home the smart Damysus on his return in the Earl Of Sefton at Newmarket (1m1f, good) last month; shortlisted with the run under his belt.

13/2

Form: 41-1

Last run: 158 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won at York (1m, soft) on second 2yo start and followed up in Listed race at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft) in April; absent since, which strikes a cautionary note, but he's a highly likeable prospect who looks set to be suited by this step up to 1m2f; very much respected under 3lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(5)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Almeric

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Three wins from his first four starts, with a soft-ground Listed success at Ayr (1m2f) last September standing out in form terms; respectable third to top-class Ombudsman at Sandown six weeks ago was easily the best of three runs since, all at 1m2f on good ground (unraced on firmer); he needs to return to peak form and to stay a new trip, so others look far more solid.

7/1

3rd

2

(2)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

19:12 Sandown

Almeric

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Three wins (1m-1m2f, soft/good to soft) from his first four starts, including two Listed races; his progress has stalled on good going on his two starts since but one was the Group 1 Champion Stakes and the other was last month's reappearance (here); it's too soon to label him a slow-ground specialist and he's not written off in view of his abundant earlier promise.

15/2

Form: 11-70

Last run: 105 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
2-2 in 2yo campaign, impressive in Pontefract Listed race on the second occasion (1m, soft); didn't run badly when seventh in the Dante on reappearance (1m2f, good to firm), then well beaten in the Derby (1m4f, good; off since); others have stronger form but this 3yo is unexposed and the return to slow ground is an interesting angle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(5)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

14:39 York

Tuscan Hills

9st 7lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Nigel Tinkler

Respectable seventh in the Dante here in May 2025 and he's one to watch in the betting back down in trip starting out for another new yard (remains in same ownership); however, he's very much struggled since the Dante and arrives with plenty to prove.

25/1

12th

13

(9)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Tuscan Hills

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Robson De Aguiar

Lightly raced for three trainers and little seems to have gone right since he went 2-2 as a 2yo; the positives seem to be that he was considered worth a shot at the Dante and Derby last season, moves back up from 1m and away from heavy ground.

33/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Almeric

RP RATINGS:

King's Gambit

TOPSPEED:

Caviar Heights

LAMBOURN:

Almeric

The Guardian:

Almeric

The Sun:

Almeric

Daily Record:

Almeric

The Times:

King's Gambit

D Express:

King's Gambit

Daily Mirror:

King's Gambit

The Star:

King's Gambit

POSTDATA:

Caviar Heights

NEWMARKET:

Caviar Heights

Telegraph:

Caviar Heights

Daily Mail:

Caviar Heights