Jet set for Flying Doncaster rewards
The Lir Jet can regain the winning thread as he takes a dip in both distance and class for the Bombardier Flying Childers Stakes, one of the feature events on day three of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster tomorrow.
Michael Bell’ s runner looked one of the potential juvenile stars of the season when winning the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot to supplement an impressive debut verdict at Yarmouth.
However, since that hardfought neck success over Golden Pal, The Lir Jet was just edged out by Ventura Tormenta in the Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly before again having to settle for place honours in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
He actually finished third in Ireland, beaten a short head, but the stewards promoted him to second after he was slightly hampered in the closing stages, although he was never going to trouble the winner, Lucky Vega.
The Lir Jet perhaps is just not quite as effective over six furlongs, but dropping back to the minimum trip here and with the ground set to suit, the Qatar Racing-owned colt can get his campaign back on track.
If Spanish Mission can produce his best upped in trio to two and a quarter miles, the bet365 Doncaster Cup Stakes could be his for the taking.
The four-year-old made an excellent start for Andrew Balding when making the most of a drop to Listed company, beating the reopposing Selino by three lengths – a distance that could have probably been doubled if he had really kicked on.
That will have given him a nice confidence boost after a so-far luckless 2020 campaign, with his last win coming in an invitational event at Belmont last September, when in the care of David Simcock.
Spanish Mission was good enough to beat the very useful Nayef Road last term, and that kind of effort ought to be good enough here.
Spycatcher chased home Gear Up in the Acomb on his most recent run and is likely to be a popular choice in the Flying Scotsman Stakes.
Karl Burke’s charge is still a maiden, but his two runs to date have shown plenty of promise, with his initial fourth setting him up for a big run in Group Three company at York.
Beaten half a length on the Knavesmire, Spycatcher should be wiser for that and can secure Listed glory on the way to bigger targets still.
Alfaatik returned in style at York after a long layoff and if can avoid the ‘bounce’ factor, he might be the one to follow in the bet365 Mallard Handicap.
Off the track for 455 days, Alfaatik was a convincing winner of a competitive enough event and is interesting moved up in trip.