Racecards
16:05 Doncaster
CIU Serlby Stakes (Listed) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- Form 4-11121
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey Richard Hughes
held up, headway 6f out, ridden and effort 3f out, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd over 1f out, no chance with winner
- Form 063618
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J M P Eustace
- Jockey L Fletcher
led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on one pace final furlong
- Form 963920
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer John Joseph Murphy
- Jockey D M Grant
mid-division, driven and headway over 4f out, ridden and effort 3f out, outpaced final 2f
- Form 6118-77
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
held up, driven 6f out, soon outpaced, weakened and eased final 2f
- Form 5-11507
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer L M Cumani
- Jockey N Mackay
behind and early reminders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened and eased
- Form 168136
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey K Darley
chased leader to over 4f out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened and eased over 1f out
- Form 45
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Trainer G C H Chung
- Jockey M Dwyer
in touch, lost place over 3f out, soon weakened and eased
- Form 023234
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
tracked leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, switched inside and led over 3f out, clear over 1f out, driven out comfortably
In depth
Verdict
Day Flight should send favourite backers home happy, with Crosspeace and Orcadian taken to chase him home. Day Flight has now won six of his nine starts, and has only lost once this season, when second to Gamut in Group 2 company at Newmarket in July. Quite simply he is head and shoulders above today's opposition, and having landed his third Group 3 victory in the St Simon Stakes at Newbury last time, he will be a short price to keep up the good work. Still only four, he can progress next season and may even gain a Group 1 success in time, so this should be a stroll on the way. Crosspeace was a creditable fourth in the Cambridgeshire but will struggle to contain his older opponent, while Orcadian will appreciate the drop back in trip after failing to stay in Group 1 company in France last time. The rest are really up against it and Day Flight is the best bet on the card, albeit at a short price.
Formwatch
Day Flight 3-1jt-fav (9-3) In touch, challenged on bit over 1f out, quickened to lead just inside final furlong, cleverly, won at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct beating Self Defense (9-0) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Orcadian (9-4) Led, headed 4f out, one pace, 8th of 11, 18l behind Alcazar (9-4) at Longchamp 1m 7f Grp 1 in Oct.
Liss Ard (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) Mid-division, 9th halfway, weakened straight, last of 16, 14l behind Essex (8-9) at Naas 1m 4f hcp gd in Oct.
Orange Touch (GER) 7-2 (8-12) Close up until ridden and weakened 2f out, 7th of 8, 15l behind Mamool (9-4) at Goodwood 1m 4f lst stk (1) gs in Jul.
Batik (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, pushed along 9f out, outpaced over 2f out, driven and kept on inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 7l behind Tarandot (9-0) at Yarmouth 1m 6f lst fll stk (1) hvy in Oct.
Marias Magic (9-0) 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Antioquia (9-0) at Toulouse 1m 4f fll stk gs in Oct.
Colinca's Lad (IRE) 100-1 (8-9) Steadied start, held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, never nearer, 5th of 9, 11l behind Tau Ceti (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f lst stk (1) sft in Oct.
Crosspeace (IRE) 17-2 (9-3) Raced far side, ridden to challenge over 2f out, stayed on well, 4th of 30, 6l behind Blue Monday (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.