The Listed Cammidge Trophy sees some of the season’s top sprinters return to begin their year with glory at Doncaster. Nine runners have been declared, as Joe Napier previews the contest.
JAMES’S DELIGHT
(Clive Cox/Rossa Ryan)
Highly progressive last term, James’s Delight won three times in handicap company in 2024, developing into a Pattern quality sprinter. He graduated to Listed honours at Deauville before narrowly going down to Spycatcher at that same French track. His eighth in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint to conclude the season was a solid effort again that highlighted that he could well be one to follow this campaign.
MARSHMAN
(Karl Burke/Clifford Lee)
A group 1 favourite as a juvenile, Marshman has not quite reached those heights, but he has enjoyed a very productive all-weather campaign this winter. He has won twice at Newcastle and Lingfield, while finishing a close second over an inadequate 5f last time at Southwell. It is a slight concern how regressive he was on turf last season though and the three runs he has had may have taken the freshness out of him, which has proven a positive in the past.
SPYCATCHER
(Karl Burke/James Doyle)
Another for Karl Burke, Spycatcher has been a regular in Group races over 6f the last few seasons. He is a former Group 1 runner-up too, having also won a Group 3 last term, beating James’s Delight. That rival is now older and likely stronger, but he no longer has to concede weight-for-age penalties to him and his consistency, coupled with an ability to produce his best form when fresh, put him high on the list.
WITNESS STAND
(Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole/Kieran Shoemark)
A ready winner at Listed level over 7f at Newbury last term, Witness Stand has only raced over this shorter trip once, when third in novice company at Yarmouth in 2023. He is the highest-rated runner in the field, having progressed rapidly to conclude 2024, but was also slightly erratic, and his first run for this new yard did not go well in Saudi Arabia most recently.
THE FIELD
Former Group 2 winner Iberian was not as his best in only two starts during the turf season last year, but won after wind surgery on the all-weather. He is definitely capable enough if on a going day, as is Al Shabab Storm, who shot through the ranks too, but needed at least three runs to show his best last year.
The three-year-old Perfect Part and the mare Sophia’s Starlight are the pair who need to step up form wise, while Frost At Dawn has traditionally been at her best over the minimum 5f trip.
VERDICT
Those aged five and upwards have the better record in recent renewals and SPYCATCHER has the most convincing profile, possessing some of the strongest recent form and an excellent record fresh. James’s Delight has finished behind the selection the last twice but could easily prove progressive enough to challenge, while Marshman and Iberian are next best.
- Spycatcher
- James’s Delight
- Marshman
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