Group Two Doncaster Cup Stakes Guide 2022

This dual purpose 9 year old showed smart enough form in the other code having won 4 races over jumps and looking like a decent enough chaser for Willie Mullins. He made his return to the level when running in a 12 furlong listed race in May of this year. Lacking the pace to get involved over the short trip he failed to beat a rival home.

However, with that pipe opener under his belt he was last seen winning the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot with a brilliant staying performance to get to the front late on. He’s shown he can be a very smart performer on the flat with a close 2nd in a group 2 in 2020 and a brilliant win in the 2019 Cesarewitch.

Mullins has a talent of turning out his jumps horses in these flat staying races to good success so he shouldn’t be written off lightly.

One for Heather Main here, Island Brave showed himself to have bundles of stamina back in 2020 when enjoying a step up to staying trips. Winning a 2 mile handicap event at Ascot and finishing his season off with with a conditions stakes win at Newcastle on the all-weather.

He didn’t have the best of seasons last year but did run well in the Northumberland plate to be a decent enough 4th off a rating of 100. He did manage to seal a handicap win over 14 furlongs before finding a listed event well out of his depth at the end of the campaign.

A trip to Meydan over the spring proved fruitless and he found himself well beaten by Get Shirty in a handicap at Ascot. Only managing 8th in the Northumberland Plate this year, he was last seen scoring a handicap over 14 furlongs only 8 days ago under the in from Gina Mangan.

Group level races still look like they’re going to be too taxing for him.

Mainly seen in handicap races during his career, Reshoun is a very highly experienced 8 year old stayer for Ian Williams.

Forty career outings have seen him gain 7 wins, most recently when taking a 2 mile handicap at Newbury despite a handicap mark of 101. He put in a stellar effort before that to be 2nd to Stratum in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the Royal meeting. Unable to defy a mark of 104 in a 2.5 mile handicap at Goodwood, he was then moved up to group company.

Not entirely disgraced in the Lonsdale Cup to be 3rd, he was well behind Quickthorn but was only a short head behind Coltrane. Well worth another go at this level off the back of that, he looks closely matched with Coltrane on their last meeting but is nowhere near the quality of Trueshan.

Alan King’s stayer hit the top of the division when easily winning the British Champion Stayers race in 2020 in truly impressive fashion.

He was unable to shoulder top weight in the Northumberland Plate last year but did bounce back to win the Goodwood Cup on his favoured soft ground. He continued his dominance as a stayer when holding off Stradivarius to win the Prix Du Cadran over in France and winning the British Champion Stayers race for the second year in a row, only 2 weeks later.

A return to racing this season with a win in a listed race, he then provided one of the best weight carrying performances ever to win the Northumberland Plate under top weight in emphatic style. Unable to cope with fast ground at Goodwood this year he only managed to come 3rd behind Kyprios and Stradivarius. Connections will be praying for plenty of rain to see him at his best here.

David O’Meara’s 6 year old has been progressing smartly in handicaps recently and hit a real purple patch between April and July of this year. After spending the early part of his career over in France he shaped well in staying races where he captured a handicap and a listed race.

He failed to find his feet in his first season over in the UK last year but took a major step forward this year. Four handicap wins over 12-14 furlongs saw him even defy a mark of 105. He made a decent showing of himself in the Ebor last time out and wasn’t beaten far in 5th off a lofty rating of 110.

He looks ready to make his step up in grade now and if transferring his handicap form to group company he could go close.

Henry De Bromhead and Frankie Dettori team up with 5 year old Lismore here. After beginning her career with Mark Prescott, she looked to be taking to staying handicaps well when winning four low level events in 2020. A trip over to Germany saw her only narrowly held off in a 2.5 mile listed race at Mulheim.

Moving over to Ireland, she struggled over shorter trips but found her feet when coming over to England and winning the Henry II Stakes at Sandown with relative ease. She’s since been well held in staying events however. The soft ground and stiff finish at Sandown seemingly bringing out the best in her.

She looks like she is at her best on rain softened ground now in deeper waters. If the rain falls she might just bounce back to form, but likely doesn’t have the same talent as Trueshan.

Graduating from handicap ranks as a 3 year old, Coltrane was gelded at the end of his first season despite impressively winning the Melrose handicap at York.

Despite not being able to show much on the all-weather, a return to the turf recently saw him take a major step forward. A close 2nd at Chester over 18.5 furlongs behind Cleveland was then followed by a smart win in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal Meeting. He then went on to win a listed contest at Sandown easily.

He ran with credit in the Goodwood Cup on his first attempt in a group one to be 4th, but was no match for the impressive Quickthorn when last seen at York. Likely to find Trueshan too classy but best of the rest.

Already a mammoth price for this race, Haizoom has been contesting low level handicaps over staying trips this season for Keith Dalgleish.

He’s already be churned out 9 times since season and has won once off of a mark of 76 over 13 furlongs. He’s since been running well in defeat but still sees his rating below 80.

Moving up to group company for the first time he’s going to have to show something very special to have any kind of chance.