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The 2025 Portland Handicap

Ian_Davies

Ian_Davies

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Fiendishly staged over the intermediate sprint distance of 5f110yds, this historic handicap takes place on St Leger Day on Town Moor at Doncaster on Saturday.

Entries are today.

It's also the race where the now long-running "-folio" series "comes home" so, once the betting is up, get those "Portfolios" at the ready, please!
 
My portfolio will contain
Run boy run and Rosario.

Rosario usually gives them a few lengths at the start so the extra half a furlong should suit.
 
A few will be familiar with his efforts but for me the one who sticks out like a sore thumb for the intermediate trip and that's Jakajaro. Also looks like Billy Loughane is jocked up which in my book is a complete upgrade from Frank.
 
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Danny said:
The one a few familiar will be familiar efforts for me sticks out like a sore thumb for the intermediate trip and that's Jakajaro. Also looks like Billy Loughane is jocked up which in my book is a complete upgrade from Frank.
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Rather spookily, I was looking at the early jockey bookings within the last minute.

Billy Loughnane is also jocked up on Rhythm N Hooves, so I'd say things aren't quite set in stone there just yet.
 
I think it's tricky tbh - at this stage I would say my numbers tell me it's closer to Good than the Official Soft there at the moment, but the weather forecast is a bit dodgy from Wednesday onwards.

With none of my shortlist of six even jocked up yet, it's no bet for me at the moment.
 
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Id be the same after last week at Haydock. Im not backing in these sprints antepost id rather know the ground the draw and where the pace is in the race before pulling the trigger. If I miss out on a sexy price so be it.
 
As I was just saying to "Leafy" just now, totally different ballgame to Local Hero this time last week.

There were no worries about the ground changing drastically on the Kempton Park Polytrack, plus he was already jocked up for what was clearly a target race for him, so we could get what we could on at the 20/1 with impunity.

This, by contrast, is a minefield of unknowns.
 
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Ian_Davies said:
As I was just saying to "Leafy" just now, totally different ballgame to Local Hero this time last week.

There were no worries about the ground changing drastically on the Kempton Park Polytrack, plus he was already jocked up for what was clearly a target race for him, so we could get what we could on at the 20/1 with impunity.

This, by contrast, is a minefield of unknowns.
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All of that said, there is a horse in this I'd be taking the 20/1 in places about if I knew it was going to run.

It's likely to be top weight so they will certainly get a run if they want it.

This horse has won over 7f on Heavy ground, but also had the speed to be beaten two short-heads and a nose into fourth place in a G3 over Longchamp's fast 5f this time last year.

More recently it was beaten half a length by subsequent Prix Maurice Du Gheest winner Sajir in the Abernant Stakes in April.

Beaten but not entirely disgraced in three pattern races since, Grand Grey gets to make his handicap debut off 104 and if he returned to his Abernant form I reckon he'd be bang there at the death because in my book he's a 110 horse on his day.

He also seems relatively impervious to the state of the ground - just wouldn't want it like a road, that's all, which I doubt it will be.
 
I would be interested in Jer Batt for this, as he's in really good form, and strikes me as a horse who will be keeping on at the finish, and relish that extra half a furlong.

The only problem at present is he is also entered over 5F on Sunday, and has a jockey booked to ride. I await to see their final decision for Saturday on Thursday.
 
Danny said:
A few will be familiar with his efforts but for me the one who sticks out like a sore thumb for the intermediate trip and that's Jakajaro. Also looks like Billy Loughane is jocked up which in my book is a complete upgrade from Frank.
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I'm not gonna lie - it looks a "bastard difficult" race to me, but I think Danny could be on the right lines.

He's has copped for Spencer, not Billy The Kid, in the plate, but tbf "Frank" is arguably at his most effective in races like this.
 
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I haven't got heavily involved in this, which is just as well as the one I liked most at entry has been taken out.

Right now the win only Portfolio could be
Jakajaro
Run Boy Run
Emperor Spirit
Air Force One (saver)

The Emperor could do with the ground drying out tbh, and was dismal last time out, but he can't be the price he is on his Newmarket win in the spring, so I'll fly a kite there.
 
Outsider said:
Rosario blue across the board now.16s best and as l9w as 12s.
dont know if thats good or bad.
at least ive got some value.
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You've sort of convinced me with this one. For me all the pace looks high to middle which would would put him in a great spot. Im also convinced after watching his replays that he's probably the best handicapped horse in the race and judging on his 2yo form he probably wouldn't mind some of that rain that could be arriving tomorrow. It also looks for all the world that 5.5f will be perfect.

My only problem is he's likely to drop out the stalls the majority of the field is likely to come over this side and experience tells me that somehow ill be watching him all dressed up with nowhere to go at the furlong pole.

It always poses a difficult question when coming across these types. I can see why you like him. I like him a lot for this but do you have a lump on and pray for the gaps ?

It's a good old spot though mate. Best of luck.

Haven't personally made my mind up but there are a couple of interesting ones in the first handicap of the day at decent prices still dependant on the weather ill wait for Uncle smart arse to sort out the likely going for us tomorrow.
 

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