Doncaster Race 2 - Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2)
DESERT CASTLE (2) caught the eye on debut gaining an impressive 3.5L success attempting a 1400m newcomers maiden at Newmarket a month ago. Represents leading connections and may follow up. Top chance. GENTLE HURRICANE (3) made a winning debut by 1.5L in a 1200m novice event at Salisbury prior to a strong 2L second contesting the 1400m G3 Acomb Stakes at York. Respect on that form. SERGEI DIAGHILEV (5) runs for the Aidan O'Brien team and the colt is two from three following a 0.75L success in the 1600m Listed Churchill Stakes at Gowran Park. Stable won this event last year. Makes appeal. BREACHER (1) recorded a solid 1L third in the G3 Solario Stakes at Sandown over 1400m. Not dismissed.
Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
Weight: 58kgs
Stats
Comments
Raced twice to date. At debut, won by 2.5 len at Salisbury on June 30 over 1400m defeating Squadron with 60.5kg at $13. Second-up 3rd of 8 in the G3 Solario Stakes at Sandown Park on August 29 over 1400m, 1.0 len behind Alfred Wallace carrying 58.5kg at $4.30. Can feature.
Last Starts 14 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/8 | 29/08/2026 | 60 | G3 OPEN 2 | $136,120.00 | Sandown Park Uk | 1408m | Good Soft | Lewis Edmunds | 58.5kg | 1:32.35 | - | 4 |
| 1.0L | $4.33 |
| 1/8 | 30/06/2026 | - | MDN 2 | $23,590.00 | Salisbury | 1408m | Good Firm | Lewis Edmunds | 60.5kg | 1:29.32 | 5-4-1 | 4 |
| 2.5L | $13.00 |
Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Weight: 58kgs
Stats
Comments
Was well-supported at debut, won favourite; won by 3.5 len at Newmarket (July) on August 7 over 1400m defeating Sommood carrying 60.5kg at $1.50. Looks promising and rates highly.
Last Starts 36 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 07/08/2026 | - | MDN 2 | $23,590.00 | Newmarket Uk | 1408m | Good Firm | Billy Loughnane | 60.5kg | 1:25.91 | 5-1-1 | 1 |
| 3.5L | $1.50 |
Jockey: Jason Watson
Weight: 58kgs
Stats
Comments
Third race start today. When well in the market at debut, raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.5 len at Salisbury on July 21 over 1200m defeating Soldier Of The Sea with 58kg at $5. Last start made ground from midfield; 2nd of 10 in the G3 Acomb Stakes at York on August 19 over 1400m, 2 len behind Haffner with 58.5kg at $4.50. Useful type and makes appeal.
Last Starts 24 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/10 | 19/08/2026 | 29 | G3 OPEN 2 | $317,610.00 | York | 1408m | Good | Oisin Murphy | 58.5kg | 1:25.96 | 4-3-2 | 6 |
| 2.0L | $4.50 |
| 1/5 | 21/07/2026 | - | NOV C 2 | $19,960.00 | Salisbury | 1207m | Good Firm | Oisin Murphy | 58kg | 1:16.23 | 2-2-1 | 5 |
| 1.5L | $5.00 |
Jockey: C Lee
Weight: 58kgs
Stats
Comments
Chasing a hat-trick. Most recently won by 1.75 len in the LR CRITERIUM DU FONDS EUROPEEN DE L'ELEVAGE at Deauville on August 22 over 1600m defeating Big Money Man carrying 57kg at $5.80. The run before that won by 0.8 len at Beverley on July 4 over 1500m defeating Happy Love carrying 60.5kg at $3. Has been racing well. Interesting runner.
Last Starts 21 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/5 | 22/08/2026 | 49 | LR OPEN 2 | $213,110.00 | Deauville | 1600m | SH | Pierre-Louis Jamin | 57kg | 1:48.16 | - | 2 |
| 1.8L | $5.80 |
| 1/6 | 04/07/2026 | 34 | MDN 2 | $21,780.00 | Beverley | 1508m | Good Firm | Pierre-Louis Jamin | 60.5kg | 1:34.00 | 4-3-1 | 6 |
| 0.8L | $3.00 |
| 4/10 | 31/05/2026 | - | NOV 2 | $34,490.00 | Thirsk | 1408m | Good | Sam James | 60.5kg | 1:26.32 | - | 9 |
| 5.5L | $7.00 |
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Weight: 58kgs
Stats
Comments
Returns from a 36-day let-up. At the latest run won by 0.8 len in the LR CHURCHILL (El Gran Senor) STAKES at Gowran Park on August 7 over 1609m defeating City Of Dubai carrying 59.5kg at $3.50. The start before that 9th of 25 in the LR Windsor Castle Stakes at Ascot on June 17 over 1200m, 4.5 len behind King Of Cloughan carrying 58kg at $3.80. Can feature with the right run.
Last Starts 36 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/6 | 07/08/2026 | 51 | LR 2 | $86,160.00 | Gowran Park | 1609m | Good | W M Lordan | 59.5kg | 1:39.47 | - | 6 |
| 0.8L | $3.50 |
| 9/25 | 17/06/2026 | 25 | LR OPEN 2 | $226,870.00 | Ascot Uk | 1207m | Good Firm | Ryan Moore | 58kg | 1:13.34 | 19-21-9 | 2 |
| 4.5L | $3.75 |
| 1/8 | 23/05/2026 | - | MDN 2 | $44,140.00 | Curragh | 1207m | Good | Ryan Moore | 59.5kg | 1:13.81 | - | 5 |
| 0.5L | $1.67 |
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Weight: 58kgs
Stats
Comments
Most recently 2nd in a small field in the G3 Prix Francois Boutin at Deauville on August 16 over 1400m, 4 len behind Avec Toi with 57.5kg at $10.40. Before that held ground to the line 2nd of 10 in the LR Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot on July 24 over 1400m, 1.0 len behind Alfred Wallace with 59.5kg at $5.50. Likely to find this out of reach.
Last Starts 27 days since last start
| Place | Date | Days | Class | Prize | Track | Dist. | Cnd. | Jockey | Weight | Race Time | In Run | Gate | Result | Margin | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/5 | 16/08/2026 | 23 | G3 OPEN 2 | $120,000.00 | Deauville | 1400m | Good Soft | Tom Marquand | 57.5kg | 1:24.68 | - | 5 |
| 4.0L | $10.40 |
| 2/10 | 24/07/2026 | 13 | LR OPEN 2 | $117,970.00 | Ascot Uk | 1408m | Good Firm | Hector Crouch | 59.5kg | 1:27.39 | 2-1-2 | 5 |
| 1.0L | $5.50 |
| 4/7 | 11/07/2026 | 30 | G2 OPEN 2 | $226,870.00 | Newmarket Uk | 1408m | Good Firm | Oisin Murphy | 58.5kg | 1:24.29 | 6-4-4 | 2 |
| 3.5L | $34.00 |
| 1/9 | 11/06/2026 | - | NOV 2 | $21,780.00 | Newbury | 1307m | Good Soft | Hector Crouch | 60.5kg | 1:22.31 | 1-3-1 | 3 |
| 0.2L | $15.00 |