14:55
Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2)
Group 2, Class 1, 7f, Flat, 3yo+, £93,572, 8 runners
Winning time 1m 24.31s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Never So Brave No. 3, stall 8
Daniel Tudhope · Andrew Balding
✓ Distance winner ✓ Trainer in form (16/78, 14 days)
Never So Brave arrives here on a progressive profile that suggests the current ratings do not tell the full story, and while More Thunder holds a narrow edge on paper, there is a reasonable case that our selection is still on the upgrade and capable of bridging that gap over this seven-furlong Doncaster test. Witness Stand and Flora Of Bermuda both sit close in the ratings and must be respected as genuine dangers, meaning this is a competitive Class 1 with slim margins throughout. On balance, Never So Brave is the pick, though punters should be aware the confidence in this call is modest given the quality ranged against him.
Result
Tom Marquand
William Haggas
Settled at rear early - urged forward with a furlong left - made rapid progress soon after - powered clear near the line to prevail
Callum Rodriguez
Andrew Balding
Settled in the pack early - moved up into second spot 2f out - pushed along a furlong later - hit the front inside the last - caught close to the line to finish second
Silvestre De Sousa
Ralph Beckett
Went straight to front - pushed along with 2f left and overtaken inside final furlong - stayed on for third
Billy Loughnane
Charlie Appleby
Settled in rear - angled out and pushed along inside the final furlong - stayed on without finding more near the line to finish 4th
Marco Ghiani
Dr Richard Newland
Up with the pace early - dropped away 2f out - pushed along - faded final furlong to finish 5th
Daniel Tudhope
Andrew Balding
Slow to begin - travelled strongly up with the pack - pushed along inside final furlong - unable to close and finished sixth
David Allan
Steph Hollinshead
Pulled hard early - settled mid-pack - pushed along a furlong out and unable to quicken to finish 7th
Kevin Stott
Kevin Ryan
Held up handy in the pack - pressed into rhythm approaching the furlong marker but gave way - faded quickly to finish well held
Racecard
Tom Marquand
William Haggas 16/58
Twice placed in his last five starts, More Thunder returns after 27 days and has run over today's trip and going, with our rating ranking him the pick of the eight runners — though his inability to convert, finishing fifth last time out, is the obvious concern.
- Sire
- Night Of Thunder (IRE)
- Dam
- Buying Trouble (USA) by Hat Trick
- Owner
- Saeed Suhail
- Foaled
- 20 Apr 2021
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 16 wins from 58 runs (28%)
- Trainer running to form
- 69%
- Ratings
- Perf 118, Speed 109
David Allan
Steph Hollinshead 0/7
Ranked bottom but one on our figures, Myal is hard to fancy off a 63-day break after finishing seventh last time out, yet he does boast a win three starts back and has run over today's distance and going before.
- Sire
- Al Kazeem (GB)
- Dam
- Magic Destiny (GB) by Dubai Destination
- Owner
- Ray Bailey
- Foaled
- 9 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Upper Longdon, Staffs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 0 wins from 7 runs (0%)
- Trainer running to form
- 35%
- Ratings
- Perf 107, Speed 94
Daniel Tudhope
Andrew Balding 16/78
Never So Brave arrives here fit on a 28-day turnaround, with experience over today's trip and going in his favour, and that second three starts back gives his recent form a solid foundation — though he remains winless in his last five and faces a stiff test from draw 8 carrying 132 lb.
- Sire
- No Nay Never (USA)
- Dam
- Chica Whopa (IRE) by Oasis Dream
- Owner
- Saeed Suhail
- Foaled
- 26 May 2021
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 16 wins from 78 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 68%
- Ratings
- Perf 114, Speed 107
Silvestre De Sousa
Ralph Beckett 11/52
Qirat brings distance and going experience to this assignment and was a winner four starts back, though a ninth two starts back clouds his recent form; the 132 lb burden is a significant ask, and he faces a competitive field from stall one.
- Sire
- Showcasing (GB)
- Dam
- Emulous (GB) by Dansili
- Owner
- Juddmonte
- Foaled
- 22 Feb 2021
- Stable
- Kimpton, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 11 wins from 52 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 113, Speed 102
Kevin Stott
Kevin Ryan 4/31
Consistent enough in recent starts — second last time out and third two starts back among his finishes — but Volterra has been off the track for 168 days and remains yet to win in his last five, with a rating of 111 suggesting he holds his own without quite threatening at the top.
- Sire
- Farhh (GB)
- Dam
- Lajatico (GB) by Equiano
- Owner
- Exors Of The Late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid
- Foaled
- 8 Mar 2021
- Stable
- Hambleton, N Yorks
- Trainer last 14 days
- 4 wins from 31 runs (13%)
- Trainer running to form
- 41%
- Ratings
- Perf 111, Speed 101
Marco Ghiani
Dr Richard Newland 1/14
Witness Stand shaped with promise when third two starts back, and has run over today's trip and going, giving him a solid claims profile off a mark of 111 from stall 3; the risk is his tendency to disappoint, winless in his last six starts.
- Sire
- Expert Eye (GB)
- Dam
- Respondez (GB) by Oasis Dream
- Owner
- Scott Turner Partner
- Foaled
- 24 Jan 2021
- Stable
- Elmbridge, Worcs
- Trainer last 14 days
- 1 wins from 14 runs (7%)
- Trainer running to form
- 28%
- Ratings
- Perf 114, Speed 106
Callum Rodriguez
Andrew Balding 16/78
Flora Of Bermuda arrives on the back of back-to-back wins, with three victories in her last five starts painting a picture of a mare in fine fettle; she has experience of today's distance and going, and 21 days since her last run suggests she is fresh and ready, though that unplaced run latest time out is the chief concern.
- Sire
- Dark Angel (IRE)
- Dam
- Dubai Power (GB) by Cadeaux Genereux
- Owner
- Wathnan Racing
- Foaled
- 29 Apr 2021
- Stable
- Kingsclere, Hants
- Trainer last 14 days
- 16 wins from 78 runs (21%)
- Trainer running to form
- 68%
- Ratings
- Perf 113, Speed 106
Billy Loughnane
Charlie Appleby 6/18
Ranked bottom of the field on our figures and winless in his last four starts, Wise Approach faces a stiff ask here; he has run over today's trip and going before, and 34 days between runs suggests he returns fresh, but little else in his recent profile invites confidence.
- Sire
- Mehmas (IRE)
- Dam
- Sagely (IRE) by Frozen Power
- Owner
- Godolphin
- Foaled
- 19 Feb 2023
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 6 wins from 18 runs (33%)
- Trainer running to form
- 64%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 97
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.