Green light for Trueshan to defend his Doncaster Cup crown

Autumn has clearly arrived, and with the nights being that much cooler than in recent weeks, the moisture remains in the ground for longer, which will suit our stable-star Trueshan when he defends his Doncaster Cup crown on Town Moor on Friday.

Had the going ridden on the fast side, Alan would have kept Trueshan back for the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp’s Arc meeting, but with 5mm of rain having fallen overnight, official underfoot conditions  are described as ‘good to soft’, meaning it’s all systems to go for Hollie Doyle to seek an encore.

Alan said:”Trueshan had a fortnight’s break after Goodwood, and I have been happy with his preparation. He seems in good shape, so we are hoping for the best.”

Hollie has not been to Barbury to ride Trueshan again since Goodwood, but, echoing Alan’s sentiments, she said:”Trueshan is settling so much better this season, which gives me hope that he might reverse the form with Sweet William now that the ground has eased.

“Trueshan beat Sweet William in this race last year, and, though he has finished in front of us three times this season, Alan is happy with my fellow after his little break, so we’ll give it our best shot.”

We’ll be heading back up to Donny on Saturday, when Paradias attempts to put an unlucky run from last month’s Ebor meeting behind him when he runs in the mile and a quarter handicap.

Rossa Ryan got a good tune out of Paradias when they won at Glorious Goodwood, where the five-year-old settled so much better than he had when disappointing at York.

But things did not work so well for the pair at last month’s Ebor meeting at Goodwood, when he suffered badly in some scrimmaging early in the straight, so fingers crossed he’ll enjoy better luck in running here.

Gallant Lion, who has only been at Barbury since the spring, was one of our unluckiest losers of the season when unable to break free from traffic at Sandown in June,.

He was subsequently disappointing in the prestigious Cumberland Plate at Carlisle, but the race came just 12 days after Sandown so maybe it is best ignored when assessing his chance for Chester on Saturday.

The first of our three Saturday runners is Smart Charger, whom Tom Queally rides in the two mile handicap at Lingfield’s polytrack meeting.

Smart Charger has a win and three seconds from just five runs to his credit for Alan since he was transferred to Barbury from Tony Carroll’s yard in April.

He was only beaten a nose over this course and distance in July, so, having also run well on this surface when runner-up at Kempton last month, Smart Charger looks to have a solid chance again.