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Martin Dixon's Saturday tips: "He still looks well handicapped"
By Martin Dixon
Last Updated: Fri 23 Oct 2026
Top Racing TV pundit Martin Dixon has three fancies at Doncaster on Saturday, with his nap of the day running in the 12.55.
12.55 Doncaster: Al Shabab Storm (Nap)
Mick Appleby’s horses are in excellent form, with winners on both Wednesday and Thursday this week capping a fine month for the yard. Al Shabab Storm is favourite for this sprint handicap, and his recent form makes him the standout in the field.
He’s a previous Group winner, so his ability isn’t in doubt, and he’s very effective on soft ground. Connections have kept him away from quick ground this season, so he hasn’t had a busy campaign. His summer win in the Gosforth Park Cup reads well, with Corolla Point and Air Force One, both behind him that day, going on to win valuable sprint handicaps since. He followed that with third in the Portland at this track last month, then another excellent third at York last time, beaten less than a length in a valuable sprint handicap.
I also like his draw in stall five. Drawn in the middle, he should get a prominent ride and be able to track the key pace horse, Luna A Inbhir Nis, through the race from a handy position.
He’s proving very consistent, and while several of his rivals look like they could be over the top after busy seasons, he arrives here fresh and at his peak. At a top price of 7-2, he’s well worth backing.
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3.55 Doncaster: Shafdar
Shafdar has had a very progressive) season for Ian Williams. Picked up at the Arqana Sales last autumn as a lightly raced three-year-old, he has improved steadily throughout the year and proven himself in a series of highly competitive handicaps during his four-year-old campaign.
He last ran in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket four weeks ago, and while 12th place looks only midfield on paper, he was beaten less than five lengths and shaped much better than the result suggests. He was denied a clear run at the two-furlong pole and had to switch out into the middle of the track, and although he finished off nicely, the principals had already gone by the time he built up full momentum.
The step back up to a mile and a quarter should suit, and he handles testing ground well, having shown that from early in his career, including in maiden company in France. Conditions should be right up his street, and with an end-to-end gallop looking likely, he’ll have a strong pace to aim at, which is perfect for him.
He still looks well handicapped off a mark of 92, and conditions should be ideal for him to show his best on Saturday.
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5:05 Doncaster: Prosperitas
Prosperitas was an easy winner of this corresponding race over course and distance last autumn, on very testing ground, causing an upset at 33-1. He won’t be anything like that price this time, but that was a highly impressive performance.
He hasn’t had much racing as a four-year-old, and he remains unexposed on testing ground, with both of his wins coming when the mud has been flying. Conditions on Saturday should be his absolute optimum.
He returned from a break at Kempton in September and shaped well, travelling with plenty of enthusiasm despite not getting a clear run, which suggests he’s in good form. He should also get a strong pace to aim at, with front-runners Highland Olly, Magic Boy and It’s A Ten From Len all in the field, and a strong gallop allows him to settle and fully relax into his race.
A lightly raced four-year-old who is unexposed on ground that clearly suits him, he’s racing off just 4lb higher than when winning this race 12 months ago and still looks potentially very well handicapped.
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