Waffle can strike in the Ladbrokes Portland at Doncaster on St Leger day
The Ladbrokes Portland is always a red-hot, competitive handicap and Saturday’s renewal at Doncaster looks like a veritable minefield for punters.
Zero Money is seeking a hat-trick following victories at Newmarket and Haydock, winning a shade cosily at the latter venue a week ago. He has more on his plate off an 8lb higher mark here, though, and I’m confident that WAFFLE will run a big race in this valuable sprint.
It’s disconcerting that the five-year-old has failed to add to his debut victory at Leicester in April 2008 for Jeremy Noseda, but he doesn’t have that many miles on the clock for a horse of his age, particularly a sprint handicapper, and a reproduction of his effort in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot in June would give him every chance.
Indeed, the form of that effort has been franked by the winner, whom Waffle was attempting to concede 2lb to, as he’s subsequently landed a brace of Group Three races. Waffle was almost three lengths clear of the third in that heritage handicap, and with Richard Hughes doing the steering – the perfect jockey to get the best out of this quirky customer – I reckon he’ll be a tough nut to crack if the first-time visor has the desired effect.
Irish raider Nocturnal Affair is just 1lb higher compared to when chasing home the progressive Roicead at Cork last month and has to be respected, while Swiss Diva, an all-the-way winner of Newmarket Listed event on his latest start, and the thriving York Glory are others to consider.