Raceday LIVE – Pop Star
Doncaster,
Sat 16 Aug 2025 16:15
Pop Star returns to the racecourse only eight days after his last run in this afternoon's Class 4 Handicap over five furlongs (16:15) at Doncaster.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track across our social channels on X (@CRCofficial) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Pop Star heads out onto course for the second time in two weeks, as he heads to Doncaster to take on their five furlong trip. He finished an impressive second last time out at Musselburgh, where he just fell half a length short when it looked like he was coming down the outside with a wet sail in the final furlong of the race. He went up two pounds to a mark of 80 for that performance, and it evidently didn't take anything out of him, as Alice Haynes wasted no time in entering him for his next test.
WATCH: Hollie Doyle speaks to us following Pop Star's second place finish at Musselburgh
Today will mark the first time that Pop Star has run at Doncaster and following three consecutive runs in Scotland, it'll only be the second time he's ran in England since joining the Coral Racing Club Stable. The ground is set to be good to firm, which should play to Pop Star's strengths, given the way that he's raced on quick ground in his last three runs and the flat nature of the course should lend itself to his ability also, as we saw what he's capable of when not faced with undulations last time out.
Top weight Muker is one of two course and distance winners in the field, alongside Hiya Maite for the Roy Bowring team. Grandlad arrives at Doncaster having won over five furlongs at Hamilton two weeks ago and the James Horton-trained gelding is only up one pound in the handicaps for that success. Blue Anthem is another in-form opponent for Pop Star today, having just finished second last time out in what was his bid for a hat-trick of victories.
WATCH: Raceday update from trainer, Alice Haynes
Chris Dixon, Racing TV analyst, previews Pop Star's race at Musselburgh this afternoon, including who he thinks could be our main rivals today
Pop Star ran very well when second to an unexposed winner at Musselburgh last week but will need to show improved form here off a 2lbs higher mark in what looks a slightly deeper race. Turned out fairly quickly after that effort 8 days ago, he’s clearly in good form and should run well again especially as he could be fairly well positioned if ridden prominently, as he has for many of his best runs, in a race that doesn’t look likely to be run at a searching gallop.
Grandlad is perhaps the most likely pace horse having capitalised on a reduced mark when making all in a small field at Hamilton two weeks ago and clocked a decent time in doing so. He’s now 3/4 when making the running and could be difficult enough to peg back from a 1lb higher mark. Hiya Maite could potentially be a spoiler and force Grandlad into doing too much as he also likes to be on the speed, a scenario that would suit Pop Star if he can travel just in behind them. Top Warrior is the least exposed horse in the field and could progress on his first start since being gelded, while Blue Anthem has been going the right way and may have more to offer despite being beaten last time as that race didn’t see him to best advantage and he was only beaten by one that had dropped a long way in the weights. The likelihood is something proves better handicapped than Pop Star but he should be competitive.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Alice Haynes has had a quiet time of it recently, with no winners in the last fortnight. Doncaster isn't a track that Alice's horses frequently attend, as she's only had 57 runners there in her career, returning to Newmarket with five winners. She'll be looking to win her first race of the year at Doncaster with Pop Star this afternoon.
Kieran O'Neill is also without a winner in the last two weeks. He's ridden 16 winners at Doncaster, with one of those coming this year. His strike-rate onboard Alice Haynes-trained runners is 10% over the course of his career, which is slightly above the 7% mark he's on for the Newmarket trainer this year.
Pop Star's Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Pop Star's run at Doncaster this afternoon.
What's included in an Owner for the Day prize?
Prize Money
Today's Class 4 contest is worth £10,800 in total, with the winner set to scoop £5,652 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £2,652 | 3rd: £1,325 | 4th: £663 | 5th: £330
Get paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a head or less behind the winner in today's 16:15 at Doncaster – click here to find out more.
DONCASTER 16:15 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 16:15 to watch Pop Star's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track across our social channels on X (@CRCofficial) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Pop Star heads out onto course for the second time in two weeks, as he heads to Doncaster to take on their five furlong trip. He finished an impressive second last time out at Musselburgh, where he just fell half a length short when it looked like he was coming down the outside with a wet sail in the final furlong of the race. He went up two pounds to a mark of 80 for that performance, and it evidently didn't take anything out of him, as Alice Haynes wasted no time in entering him for his next test.
WATCH: Hollie Doyle speaks to us following Pop Star's second place finish at Musselburgh
Today will mark the first time that Pop Star has run at Doncaster and following three consecutive runs in Scotland, it'll only be the second time he's ran in England since joining the Coral Racing Club Stable. The ground is set to be good to firm, which should play to Pop Star's strengths, given the way that he's raced on quick ground in his last three runs and the flat nature of the course should lend itself to his ability also, as we saw what he's capable of when not faced with undulations last time out.
Top weight Muker is one of two course and distance winners in the field, alongside Hiya Maite for the Roy Bowring team. Grandlad arrives at Doncaster having won over five furlongs at Hamilton two weeks ago and the James Horton-trained gelding is only up one pound in the handicaps for that success. Blue Anthem is another in-form opponent for Pop Star today, having just finished second last time out in what was his bid for a hat-trick of victories.
WATCH: Raceday update from trainer, Alice Haynes
Chris Dixon, Racing TV analyst, previews Pop Star's race at Musselburgh this afternoon, including who he thinks could be our main rivals today
Pop Star ran very well when second to an unexposed winner at Musselburgh last week but will need to show improved form here off a 2lbs higher mark in what looks a slightly deeper race. Turned out fairly quickly after that effort 8 days ago, he’s clearly in good form and should run well again especially as he could be fairly well positioned if ridden prominently, as he has for many of his best runs, in a race that doesn’t look likely to be run at a searching gallop.
Grandlad is perhaps the most likely pace horse having capitalised on a reduced mark when making all in a small field at Hamilton two weeks ago and clocked a decent time in doing so. He’s now 3/4 when making the running and could be difficult enough to peg back from a 1lb higher mark. Hiya Maite could potentially be a spoiler and force Grandlad into doing too much as he also likes to be on the speed, a scenario that would suit Pop Star if he can travel just in behind them. Top Warrior is the least exposed horse in the field and could progress on his first start since being gelded, while Blue Anthem has been going the right way and may have more to offer despite being beaten last time as that race didn’t see him to best advantage and he was only beaten by one that had dropped a long way in the weights. The likelihood is something proves better handicapped than Pop Star but he should be competitive.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Alice Haynes has had a quiet time of it recently, with no winners in the last fortnight. Doncaster isn't a track that Alice's horses frequently attend, as she's only had 57 runners there in her career, returning to Newmarket with five winners. She'll be looking to win her first race of the year at Doncaster with Pop Star this afternoon.
Kieran O'Neill is also without a winner in the last two weeks. He's ridden 16 winners at Doncaster, with one of those coming this year. His strike-rate onboard Alice Haynes-trained runners is 10% over the course of his career, which is slightly above the 7% mark he's on for the Newmarket trainer this year.
Pop Star's Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Pop Star's run at Doncaster this afternoon.
What's included in an Owner for the Day prize?
- Free racecourse entry
- Access to the Owners & Trainers enclosure
- Access to the Parade Ring before the race
- Meet Pop Star and the Alice Haynes team
- Take home a 10% share of any prize money he wins
Prize Money
Today's Class 4 contest is worth £10,800 in total, with the winner set to scoop £5,652 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £2,652 | 3rd: £1,325 | 4th: £663 | 5th: £330
Get paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a head or less behind the winner in today's 16:15 at Doncaster – click here to find out more.
DONCASTER 16:15 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 16:15 to watch Pop Star's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
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