Doncaster Cup best bet: Trueshan can turn tables on Coltrane after wind op

15:00  Betfred Doncaster Cup Stakes (2 miles 2 furlongs)

Last year’s winner Coltrane is favourite to defend the crown he claimed when beating opposing Trueshan by a neck, with Lismore just a short head further adrift in a thrilling finish.

Andrew Balding’s six-year-old has carried on in similar vein in 2023, with two frame finishes bookended by a spring success at Ascot, and most recently when beating Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami to land the Lonsdale Cup at York three weeks ago.

If we discount the prospects of 66/1 shot The Grand Visir and the seemingly out-of-form Broome, then Coltrane’s main challengers would appear to be the Gosden yard’s Sweet William and old rival Trueshan.

Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Coltrane wins, get a £5 Free Bet!

Sweet William compiled an impressive mid-summer hat-trick which was only cut short when coming a half-length runner-up behind Absurde in the Ebor 20 days ago.

Any repeat of that form makes him a serious contender here, but it is Trueshan that has attracted plenty of attention among Tipstrr’s pundits, who are intrigued to see how one of the most successful stayers in recent years bounces back following wind surgery.

Two below-par performances in the springs caused enough concern to prompt wind surgery, but if successful we can expect a strong performance under Hollie Doyle after a four-month lay-off.

The same partnership already avenged last year’s defeat to some extent, when Doyle edged Trueshan’s head in front of Coltrane’s in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot’s British Champions meeting last October, so the scene is set for another epic duel here

Suggested bet: Trueshan in the 15:00 at Doncaster

• Tip advised by SVB Tips on Tipstrr

 

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