1:50 Doncaster
This Class 2 Weatherbys £300,000 two-year-old stakes over 6f 111y at Doncaster on good to soft ground brings together a field of 17 juveniles where the KTB numbers identify a tight group at the top. Seven Nation Army heads the Fit scores on 59, closely followed by Night In Vegas on 58, with A Bear Affair, Stardom Glory and Dorigo all rated in the low-to-mid 50s. The race features several runners with placed or winning form at the trip, though a number remain unproven on the surface and the wide draw for some adds another layer of complication.
How the race shapes up
A strong pace is anticipated with high confidence given two or more habitual front-runners in the line-up. Night In Vegas, Stardom Glory, The Dancing Pirate and Satellite Of Love all tend to race prominently or make the running, while Zigazig Ah and Dorigo like to race close to the pace. This shape could see the leaders go hard early and potentially collapse in the closing stages, posing the key question of whether the hold-up performers such as Seven Nation Army and A Bear Affair can pick up the pieces late.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Seven Nation Army KTB Selection59/100
Seven Nation Army arrives as a useful performer who has shown his best form when winning at today's trip earlier in the season and when finishing second last time out. The drop back from 7½f looks a sensible move for this hold-up performer who usually produces his effort late. First-time headgear is now added following a mixed bag of results. Joseph Patrick O'Brien holds a solid 17% strike rate at Doncaster from 24 runs with an A/E of 1.13, though David Probert's 9% strike rate from 267 rides here comes with an A/E of 0.74. The colt remains unproven on good to soft and has no course form on record.
-
2Night In Vegas58/100
Night In Vegas is a useful performer who has won three of his five starts, including a course-and-distance success on this ground. He steps back up to 6½f following a mixed bag of form that has included two defeats when favourite. This front-runner tends to make the running or race on the pace. Eve Johnson Houghton strikes at 8% at Doncaster from 90 runs with an A/E of 0.77, while Charles Bishop is solid at the track with an 11% strike rate from 93 rides and an A/E of 1.01. The colt has recorded one win from one run on good to soft.
-
3A Bear Affair54/100
A Bear Affair is a useful performer who has already won over this course at the first attempt. He has been consistent enough without winning of late and now tries first-time headgear while stepping back up to 6½f, a trip at which he has failed to land the spoils in three previous attempts. This hold-up performer usually produces his effort late. Richard Hannon has a solid 13% strike rate at Doncaster from a large sample of 650 runs with an A/E of 0.88, and Sean Levey posts a 12% strike rate from 292 rides here with an A/E of 0.85. The colt holds one win from one run on good to soft.
-
4Stardom Glory54/100
Stardom Glory is a useful performer who has shown consistent form, finishing no worse than second in three of four starts including a win at today's trip. Dropping back from 7f looks a sensible move given that victory, while the good draw in stall 3 adds to the positives for this front-runner who tends to make the running or race on the pace. Hugo Palmer records a solid 15% strike rate at Doncaster from 185 runs with an A/E of 1.07. James Doyle has a 14% strike rate from 350 rides here with an A/E of 0.75. The colt remains unproven on good to soft.
-
5Dorigo53/100
Dorigo is a useful performer who has shown consistent form in four runs this year, finishing no worse than fourth. He steps up from 5f to 6½f having already placed twice at this trip without winning, which looks a fair ask on the balance of his races. This prominent runner usually races handily on or close to the lead. Kevin Ryan's 7% strike rate from 899 runs at Doncaster is modest by his standards with an A/E of 0.75, though Kevin Stott has a 12% strike rate from 262 rides here with an A/E of 1. The colt has one run on good to soft with no win or place.
-
6The Dancing Pirate52/100
The Dancing Pirate is a fair performer who has shown consistent form in five starts, finishing no worse than third on three occasions. He steps up to 6½f having been placed without winning at the trip in two of three attempts, while the draw in stall one could prove useful for this front-runner. Andrew Balding has a solid 14% strike rate from 436 runs at Doncaster with an A/E of 1.02.
-
7God Given Talent51/100
God Given Talent is a useful performer who has already won over today's 6½f trip. His recent form of 1064 shows a solid win on debut followed by mixed results, while the wide draw in stall 17 adds a clear negative from a tricky position for this hold-up performer. William Haggas has a 17% strike rate at Doncaster from 524 runs with an A/E of 0.87.
-
8Satellite Of Love51/100
Satellite Of Love is a useful sort who has won two of three starts including a Listed race last time. He steps up to 6½f today having already scored at the trip, which looks a fair ask from stall 7 for this front-runner. Clive Cox has an 11% strike rate from 312 runs at Doncaster with an A/E of 0.8.
-
9Alfa Hoodini49/100
Alfa Hoodini showed little on debut over 7f and now drops back in trip to 6½f where he has already been beaten once. The wide draw in stall 16 adds to the difficulties on just his second start while stepping up in class for this hold-up performer. Ivan Furtado has a 7% strike rate from 199 runs at Doncaster with an A/E of 0.95.
-
10Blazing Inferno49/100
Blazing Inferno won his only start over 6f and now steps up to 6½f where that win came while stepping up in class. The yard has a solid 15% strike rate from 91 runs at Doncaster with an A/E of 0.96. With just one run on the board and too few runs to judge the going or run-style with confidence, this remains a very light profile that needs treating with caution.
-
11Backmeifyoucan48/100
Backmeifyoucan has shown little in two starts to date, finishing eighth then sixth on ground that offers no firm clues. He drops back to 6½f today having failed to make an impact at the trip in either run while stepping up in class for this hold-up performer. The yard records a 7% strike rate at Doncaster from 199 runs with an A/E of 0.95.
-
12Icy Moon48/100
Icy Moon showed only modest form when finishing sixth on debut over 7f. Dropping back to 6½f today asks a fresh question while the small sample leaves going and overall ability hard to pin down for this hold-up performer stepping up in class. Ivan Furtado has a 7% strike rate from 199 runs at Doncaster with an A/E of 0.95.
-
13Secret Society46/100
Secret Society is a fair performer who has shown steady progress in three starts, finishing placed over today's trip on his latest outing. He steps up from 6f now which looks a neutral move given he has already handled the distance once without winning for this front-runner. Clive Cox has an 11% strike rate at Doncaster from 312 runs with an A/E of 0.8.
-
14Mithaaly46/100
Mithaaly has shown fair form in three runs and arrives here in decent nick after two placed efforts behind useful types. He steps up to 6½f having already won at the trip, though the extra yardage asks a fresh question of a horse still with scope to improve while stepping up in class for this hold-up performer. The yard's modest 9% strike rate at Doncaster with an A/E of 0.57 offers no particular encouragement.
-
15Zigazig Ah44/100
Zigazig Ah is a fair 2-year-old with solid recent form including two wins and a placed effort at this trip from three attempts. The step up from 6f looks a fair question given the wins at the distance and overall ratings profile for this prominent runner. Trainer Richard Spencer has a 5% strike rate from 88 runs at Doncaster with an A/E of 0.5.
-
16Sovereign Glory43/100
Sovereign Glory is a fair performer who has shown mixed form across five runs, including a win and a placing at this trip. He steps up in distance today which poses a fresh question after his last run over 6f for this mid-division runner. Charles Hills strikes at 12% here from 356 runs with an A/E of 0.87.
-
17Ongombo39/100
Ongombo is a modest performer who has shown some ability in three starts, finishing second over this trip on his latest outing. He steps up in trip again today while wearing first-time headgear and stepping up in class for this mid-division runner. Charlie Fellowes has an 11% strike rate at Doncaster from 113 runs with an A/E of 0.87.
KTB verdict
Seven Nation Army is the KTB Selection. He is a useful performer who has shown his best form when winning at this trip earlier in the season and again when second last time, with the drop back from 7½f looking sensible. The addition of first-time headgear comes after a mixed bag of results but he is expected to be suited by the strong pace that could collapse late, favouring his hold-up style. Night In Vegas, with his course-and-distance success on this ground, and A Bear Affair, who has already won over the course, head the dangers, while Stardom Glory and Dorigo also hold solid claims from their respective draws and form.
KTB Selection Seven Nation Army
This is the narrative read of the 1:50 Doncaster. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Doncaster racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Doncaster results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Night In Vegas, Stardom Glory, The Dancing Pirate and Satellite Of Love all tend to make the running or race on the pace, while Zigazig Ah and Dorigo like to race prominently.
Why might hold-up horses be favoured in this race?
The pace shape indicates a strong pace is likely with two or more habitual front-runners, which could collapse late and favour hold-up horses such as Seven Nation Army and A Bear Affair.
Which principals are unproven on good to soft ground?
Seven Nation Army, Stardom Glory and God Given Talent have no runs on good to soft.
Which horse has course winning form?
A Bear Affair has won here with a record of 1 from 1.
What is the trainer strike rate at Doncaster for the yard of the KTB Selection?
Joseph Patrick O'Brien has a 17% strike rate at Doncaster with an A/E of 1.13 from 24 runs.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies