Hi all,
A veritable feast of action to get the pulse going over the next two days with the best weekend’s horse racing of the year. At Doncaster it’s St Leger Day on Saturday with the feature race being Britain’s oldest classic.
Over the Irish Sea it’s Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown on Saturday and the action moves to the Curragh on Sunday. The feature race of an eight-race card at Leopardstown is the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes which you’ll be able to see live on ITV for the first time.
It’s hard to do justice to all the great action on offer. So, I will just concentrate on those races where I have selections. Let’s begin at Doncaster.
Doncaster
2:25 – bet365 Portland Handicap (Class 2) – 5 ½ f
Arecibo is on a losing run of seventeen but he is 7lb lower than when finishing a length 4th of 22 in this race 12 months ago. Big field suit and he wasn’t seen at his best when runner-up at Sandown last time.
A Momentofmadness won this race in 2018 and was beaten half a length into second 12 months ago. He can race off 4lb lower and shaped like he could be about to hit form when 3rd of 11 at Goodwood 46-days ago.
Danzeno is maintaining his form well for a 9-year-old. He can usually be relied on to run his race in these big field sprint handicaps. As he did when a running on 3rd of 11 at Haydock 7-days ago.
Meraas won three of his first four starts this season and wasn’t disgraced when 6th of 27 in the Goodwood Stewards Cup. Never got competitive at York on soft ground last time and will be seen in a much better light returned to a sounder surface.
Mountain Peak has improved with each of his five starts winning twice at Haydock over 5f. Last win came off 4lb lower on good to firm and he’s another who will be suited by the drying ground. The slightly extra distance could well suit and he’s got each way claims.
1pt win – Arecibo – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt each way – Mountain Peak – 14/1 @ William Hill (paying 6 places 1/5 odds)
3:35 – Pertemps St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) – 1m 6 ½ f
Santiago didn’t win the strongest of Irish Derby’s. No issues with stamina for the colt as he won the 1m 6f Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. A bit keen when a shade disappointing third behind Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup last time but this track will suit him better than Goodwood and has solid claims.
Leopardstown
2:35 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Petingo’ Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 1m 5f
Persia could well be suited by this sort of trip. Returns for the first time since winning at Chelmsford on his final juvenile start last November. Handicap debut off a mark of 100 but a reproduction of his juvenile form would see the Aidan O’Brien colt in the mix.
Mirann made a winning stable debut at Gowran Park in June. Before finishing 2nd of 10 when stepping up to 1m 6f at the Curragh. Was doing his best work at the finish when 3rd of 14 at Dundalk back at 1m 2 ½ f. Back up in trip will suit although carrying top-weight of 10-0 he remains on a workable mark if the ground isn’t to quick.
Buildmeupbuttercup can usually be relied uponto run her race as she did when 2nd of 17, beaten a neck, in this race 12 months ago. Now 5lb higher but useful apprentice Joey Sheridan takes off a handy 5lb means she races off the same mark as last year. Not the strongest of finishers and must be produced at the right moment but if she does, won’t be far away.
1pt win – Persia – 7/1 @ Bet365
1pt win – Buildmeupbuttercup – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:10 – Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) – 1m 2f
Ghaiyyath made it 4-4 when winning the International Stakes at York last month. Earlier in the season he had won the Coronation Cup & the Coral Eclipse. Hard to see he him getting an uncontested lead as he had done in his previous races but he’s the one to beat.
Aidan O’Brien saddles three in last year’s winner Magical & Japan, was reported to have suffered from sore feet when running badly behind Enable in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot last time. Ryan Moore has chosen him over Magical which could be significant. The third O’Brien horse is Armory who could well challenge Ghaiyyath for the lead.
French raider Sottsass adds further intrigue to the race. Last years Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner went on to finish third in last years Arc. Won the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Chantilly on his second start this season. Returned from a two-month layoff to finish 2nd of 7 in a Group 3 at Deauville 28-days ago. That run will have put him spot on fitness wise. A reproduction of his Arc run would see him get into the places and he could be the one to take advantage should the favourite underperform. Trainer won this race in 2016 with Almanzor.
1pt win – Sottsass – 6/1 @ Bet365
5:15 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF ‘Sovereign Path’ Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 7f
Music To My Ears made it 2 wins from 6 runs when winning a mile handicap at the Curragh on her second start of the season. Improved on that performance when coming from last to finish a head 2nd of 17 back at the same venue over 7f. Up 3lb but the filly can surely defy her new mark if the 7f here doesn’t prove to sharp a test. Can’t afford to leave as late as she did last time from stall 4. Is the one to best although she is short enough for competitive handicap like this.
1pt win – Music To My Ears – 7/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John