Hi all,
Doncaster’s St Leger Festival gets underway today. Sadly, the ITV cameras won’t be in attendance on day one of the St Leger Festival. It’s the ‘Legends’ race at 2:50 which sees the return to the saddle of jump legends Richard Johnson & Barry Geraghty. There’s also the Group 3 Sceptre Stakes (3:25) and Listed Scarborough Stakes (4:00). Despite the forecast good to firm ground the field sizes for the seven races have held up well. I have had brief look at six of the seven races on the Doncaster card in today’s preview.
Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 1
1:45 – Hippo Pro 3 Nursery Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
Newmarket maiden winner Modern Games improved again when ¾ length 2nd of 10 at Leicester last time. Nursery debut off a workable mark of 90 and looks a worthy market leader.
Sed Maarib is getting better with racing and won a Beverley novice last time. Another open to further progress now going handicapping.
Implore is more experienced than the other two. However, he made a solid nursery debut when runner-up at Sandown 18-days ago. The first-time blinkers are applied today and the yard is 1-1 with its runners in the race since 2011. The Gosden yard is also 6 winners from 12 runners 50% +10.32 with its juvenile runners not making their racecourse debut at the meeting since 2016 which is a strong stat for the chances of the selection.
Verdict: The first-time headgear could do the trick for Implore. However, he does face a couple of handicap debutants in Modern Games and Sed Maarib who are both capable of better.
1pt win – Implore – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:20 – British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes – 1m
Five of the 10 juveniles are unraced and the Gosden yard set a poser with two of the unraced runners in Frantastic & Israr. Both are well bred and should win races with Frantastic a full brother to Cracksman. Yard’s record with racecourse debutants at the meeting is 0 wins from 6 runners 2 placed.
Mark Johnson runs another newcomer in Triple Joy. The son of Kitten’s Joy is bred to win races and could go well.
Charlie Hills saddles racecourse debutant Beaches who has a likeable pedigree. A race that should be informative with the future in mind but not one that appeals from a betting perspective.
3:25 – Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) – 7f
Just Beautiful was well placed to win her first four starts and wasn’t disgraced when a 2 ½ length 6th of 13 in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. A reproduction of that effort would make her tough to beat here.
The admirable Highfield Princess continues in fine form and must be respected back against her own sex on her recent second to Space Blues in Group 2 at York.
Double Or Bubble was not match for Toro Strike in the Group 3 Supreme Stakes at Goodwood last time, The quick ground will suit her and she shouldn’t be far away back against her own sex.
Potapova, a Redcar winner on her reappearance, predictably struggled when upped to Group 1 company in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on just her third start. However, she shaped much better when a 4 ½ length 4th of 10 in a Group 3 at Sandown last time. A return to quick ground should suit the daughter of Invincible Spirit.
Loch Lein and Wren’s Breath come over from Ireland. The latter looked a nice prospect when winning a 6f Listed race at Naas 49-days ago. That was just her second career start so she remains open to further improvement and should stay 7f given the way she finished off her race last time.
Verdict: Double Or Bubble looks to have plenty in her favour. Just Beautiful looks the best of these fillies on form. Potapova will like the fast ground and shouldn’t be far away for a yard that does well at Doncaster and this meeting. Wren’s Breath is open to improvement for the step up to 7f.
1pt win – Wren’s Breath – 13/2 @ Bet365
4:00 – Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f
Arecibo is the one to beat if reproducing his 1 ¼ length 2nd of 16 in the King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, he does need a strong pace to chase and it doesn’t like he will get that here.
Tarboosh won this 12 months ago so can’t be ruled out on a C&D that suits but he’s struggled to find his best form so far this season.
Live In The Moment is another stepping up from handicaps. The 4-year-old was a progressive handicap sprinter in 2020. Just two starts this season but he looked as good as ever when a ¾ length 2nd of 22 at York last month. I was hoping he would go for the Portland Handicap so it’s interesting to see him run in a Listed race. A prominent racer he looks like he should get the run of the race.
Verdict: Arecibo is the best horse in the race but Live In The Moment could be better placed in what doesn’t look a race with a lot of pace.
1pt win – Live In the Moment – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:30 – I Love Julie Parkes Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
Faisal won his first two starts on the all-weather last season and continued winning ways when making a successful turf/handicap debut at Windsor in May. First start for 100-days but the 4-year-old remains open to plenty of progress.
Anmaat is 3-year-old going the right way winning at Bath last month and is respected.
Maiden Castle goes well on good to firm ground. The 5-year-old returned from a 12-week absence with a neck 2nd of 15 at Sandown 17-days ago. He’s 3lb higher now but remains on a competitive mark.
Strait Of Hormuz bids for back-to-back wins in the race. Hasn’t been in the best of form on his last two starts, found a mile to short at Pontefract 5-days ago and probably wasn’t suited by the rain that fell prior to the race at York two starts back. Better judged on his ¾ length 3rd of 20 in the John Smith’s Cup at York.
Verdict: The unbeaten Faisal may not have reached his ceiling just yet but is plenty short enough. Maiden Castle shouldn’t be far away and last year’s winner Strait Of Hormuz is very much in the mix if back to his best.
1pt win – Maiden Castle – 8/1 @ Bet365
5:00 – Visit Doncaster Handicap (Class 4) – 5 ½ f
Thirteen handicap sprinters are set to take meet the starter. Wentworth Falls goes well here and on quick ground. He comes into the race in good form after finishing a head 2nd of 10 in the Grey Horse Handicap at Newmarket 25-days ago. The 9-year-old style of running means he needs a strong pace to chase and luck in the run but if he gets it won’t be far away.
Rewaayat looked set for a good season when a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 11 behind Arecibo at Newmarket on his seasonal reappearance Not so good on his last two starts but today’s intermediate trip could well suit the 6-year-old. Likely to get a good tow into the race among the high numbers.
Al Simmo has been in great form this season, winning four of her five starts. Last time out she put in a career best when beating five rivals at Bath three weeks ago. Up 7lb in a deeper race but continued progress can’t be ruled out especially on quick ground.
Bomb Proof a winner of his first two career starts hasn’t really progressed on his six subsequent starts. However, he returned from a wind-op with an encouraging enough effort when 2nd of 9 at Kempton 17-days ago. If he builds on that performance the 4-year-old shouldn’t be far away.
Verdict: A tricky handicap sprint concludes day one. Wentworth Falls likes it here and if he gets a strong pace to chase won’t be far away. Rewaayat has the ability to land a handicap like this and this trip could turn out to be ideal. Bomb Proof is interesting on his second start after wind surgery.
1pt win – Rewaayat – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John