Sweet for William backers in Doncaster Cup repeat

Redoubtable stayer Sweet William enjoyed a deserved return to winning ways with a successful defence of the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup.

Although winless since landing this Group Two prize 12 months ago, John and Thady Gosden’s charge has run several excellent races in defeat this season, enjoying podium finishes in the Yorkshire Cup, the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup, as well as coming home fourth in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

With esteemed stablemate Trawlerman not in attendance, Sweet William appeared to have an excellent chance of getting his head back in front on his return to Town Moor and he was priced up accordingly as the 10-11 favourite under his regular pilot Robert Havlin.

It was not entirely plain sailing for odds-on backers, with the market leader slightly hampered coming out of the starting stalls. He was shuffled back to the rear of the field early on and Havlin had to coax his partner along to get him back on an even keel.

However, after creeping closer in the back straight the six-year-old had moved into the slipstream of Pendragon by the time he passed the three-furlong marker and from that point the result was never really in doubt, with Sweet William asserting his dominance with a near four-length verdict.