Hi all,
Doncaster’s four day St Leger Festival gets underway on Thursday afternoon. It’s Ladies Day on day one. The highlights being the Betfred May Hill Stakes for juvenile fillies and the Betfred Park Hill Stakes, for older fillies and mares, which is run over the same course and distance as the St Leger.
The Group 2 Betfred Doncaster Cup is the feature race on Friday. Recent York winner Coltrane will bid for back to back wins in the race. The Group 2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes is part of the undercard.
The Betfred St Leger and the final British Classic of the of the 2023 flat season. Just nine were left in the race at Monday’s final confirmation stage but this year’s renewal has an open look. The St Leger is the feature race of Saturday’s card which also contains the Group 2 Champagne Stakes, the Group 2 Park Stakes, and the competitive Portland Handicap.
This year’s festival ends on Sunday with what has been called the St Leger Community Funday. The headline race on the card is the Group 3 Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes (3.35) which also includes the Listed Scarbrough Stakes (4.10).
Doncaster is one of the fairest racecourses in the country. It’s a left handed, galloping track which dries out quickly.
Low numbers can be favoured in races on the straight mile when the ground is soft or heavy. But mostly there’s isn’t much in the way of a draw bias.
There was 21mm of rain at Doncaster on Tuesday which turned the going to soft all over. There could be 6mm of rain on Thursday, but Friday and Saturday should be mainly dry.
For each of the four days I will be going through the card and my betting advice can be found after each day’s main piece.
Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 1
There’s an eight race card on Ladies Day. Traditionally the first day of the St Leger Festival is a low key one. However, with the meeting starting on a Thursday this year its starting off with a bit of a bang with two Group 2 contests.
ITV4 are covering four races live from Doncaster this afternoon as they are on Friday and Saturday.
1:15 – Meriel Tufnell Apprentice Handicap (Class 4) – 6f
Today’s first race isn’t on ITV but it’s as competitive a race as you’ll see on the day. Strong Johnson gained an overdue success when winning at Redcar two starts back and showed he remains in form when a ½ length 2nd of 11 at Ripon 9 days ago.
Rambuso Creek looked suited by the return to 6f when an unlucky in the run 3 length 4th of 11 at Pontefract 25 days ago. His losing run is starting to build up but he’s down to a good mark when everything clicks, goes well on an easy surface and Billy Loughnane has been booked for the ride. Plenty to like about his chance.
Temple Bruer won this corresponding race 12 months ago under today’s jockey. He’s 8lb higher than last year but he’s won twice earlier this season and wasn’t disgraced 2 ¾ length 6th of 17 in a much better race at York last time. He’s been dropped 2lb since and must be a contender dropping back in class. Although I suspect he would prefer quicker ground.
Verdict: Temple Bruer could follow up last year’s win in the race but it’s Rambuso Creek for me.
1:50 – British Stallion Studs EBF “Carrie Red” Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (Class 2) – 6 ½ f
A tricky 11 runner nursery handicap. I say tricky because the three I liked most have yet to run on ground slower than good, but you can say that much for most of the runners in the line-up.
Chic Colombine won a Newcastle maiden two starts back and followed up on Nursery debut at Haydock (good to firm) 7 days ago. Has a 6lb penalty to carry for last week’s success but is capable of better if as effective on slower ground.
Granny Budgie bids for the hat trick after nursery wins at Ripon & Hamilton. Up 7lb for her latest success but both those wins have come with ease in the ground which should be a plus with today’s underfoot conditions.
Summit was runner-up at Newmarket two starts but didn’t build on that effort when a disappointing 4th of 9 at Catterick last month. The first time cheekpieces are applied on nursery debut and the headgear needs to work if she’s to defy a mark of 76. Yard won this corresponding race in 2016.
Verdict: Chic Colombine will be a popular pick but he’s yet to race on soft ground. There are no going concerns for Granny Budgie and she good claims of competing the hat trick.
2:25 – Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 6 ½ f
The most valuable race on today’s card with £300,000 on offer in guaranteed prize money. In truth I never seem to get these big sales race right.
Johannes Brahms a I length 2nd of 10 in the group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York is vying for favourtism with Dragon Leader who was a comfortable winner of the big sales race at York’s Ebor Festival. Today’s extra ½ furlong will suit Johannes Brahms and he’s probably got the best form on offer. That said Dragon Leader’s York win isn’t to far behind and if you knew he was going to handle today’s easier surface would be the pick.
Andrew Balding won this in 2019 & 2021 and he saddles three of the 18 runners – Al Shabab, Imperial Express and Celtic Warrior. Given the trainer’s race record you wouldn’t be shocked if his three found the improvement to land this valuable prize.
Kevin Ryan is another dual winner of the race, and he saddles Room Service, Vantheman and We Never Stop.
Room Service improved to finish a 2 length 3rd of 16 in a valuable nursery at York last month. Today’s extra ½ furlong should suit the colt and has each way claims. Vantheman was a 5 ¾ length 5th of 22 to Dragon Leader at York last time. He is probably capable of better than he’s shown so far and Tom Marquand has been booked. However, its hard to see him beating Dragon Leader.
Flaccianello made it 2 wins from 4 runs when winning a Newmarket nursery last month. At least we know the filly handles ease in the ground as it was soft when she won last time. She’s another with each way claims for a yard that won this 2014 & 2015.
Verdict: Dragon Leader and Johannes Brahms have the best formbut neither has run on soft ground. Both Vantheman and Flaccianello have each way claims with the latter proven on soft ground.
3:00 – Betfred May Hill Stakes (Group 2) – 1m
A decent looking renewal of this juvenile fillies’ race. The bookies seem to have it right as I think the front four in the ante post betting are the ones to concentrate on. All four of them fillies have the scope to improve, and it should be an informative renewal.
Darnation has improved to win her last two starts at Thirsk and latterly the Group 3 Prestige Stakes (7f) at Goodwood 19 days ago. Both successes have come on an easy surface and today’s extra furlong will suit her. Trainer Karl Burke won this race with Laurens in 2017 and his filly looks a wrthy favourite.
Romanova was dropped into the deep end on her Sandown racecourse debut but showed the benefit of that experience when making all to win Salisbury maiden last month and has to be respected back up in class.
Hard To Resist progressed on her racecourse debut to win a Newmarket novice last month and improved again when a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 6 to Darnation at Goodwood. She’s another who could improve for the step up to a mile.
See The Fire was very professional when winning on racecourse debut at Newmarket (7f) last month. The step up to a mile will suit the filly who looks a potential Oaks filly on pedigree. I have backed the daughter of Sea The Stars ante post for the Group 1 Fillies Mile at Newmarket. There’s 14/1 available with William Hill for that race. If she handles today’s likely softer ground, I think she can win.
Verdict: I think this will prove a good renewal of the race. Darnation will like the ground and is a worthy favourite but if See The Fire handles the ground I think she can win and stamp herself a Classic contender.
3:35 – Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) – 1m 6 ½ f
Run over the St Leger distance. Ten fillies have been declared for open looking race with six of them separated by just 4lb on Timeform ratings.
Sumo Sam got a good front running ride when winning Group 2 Lilly Langtry Stakes at Goodwood last time. Has a 3lb penalty to carry for that success but the softer the ground the better for the 3-year-old.
Ching Shih put in a much improved performance when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 7 to Arrest in a Group 3 at Newbury last time. A good stamina test and an easy surface suited the 4-year-old who won’t be far away.
Night Sparkle completed a handicap hat trick for her previous connections at Newbury 26 days ago. First start for new trainer Andrew Balding and looks competitive on ratings.
Golden Lyra ended last season with a Listed success on heavy ground at Saint-Cloud last October and was back to that level of form when 1 ½ length 4th of 10 in a Group 2 at Deauville 26 days ago. Stamina for today’s distance has to be taken on trust but she shapes like she should be suited by it.
One Evening posted a career best on RPR’s when finishing a head 2nd of 11 in the Listed Galtres Stakes at York last month. Must be considered but may prefer a sounder surface.
Verdict: It’s not the strongest of renewals of the race and you wouldn’t normally see the likes Ching Shih and Golden Lyra as possible winners but both will like the ground and are the ones I like most.
4:10 – Hippo Bamboo Wipes Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
You can make a case for most of the eight runners.
Kingfisher King improved markedly on his first two starts when a neck 2nd of 5 at Hamilton 20 days ago. A mark of 100 on handicap debut looks workable. Soft ground won’t hold any terrors for the 3-year-old gelding and he’s high on the shortlist.
Sisyphus Strength has improved on her last two starts to win a Newmarket handicap and finish a neck 2nd of 9 at York last month. Up 4lb but is going the right way and remains on a competitive mark. If the ground was good or quicker, she would be the pick.
Maximilian Caesar won here (1m) on his seasonal reappearance has finished runner-up on his last two starts. Effective on good to soft and likely in the mix once more.
Wildfell completed a four timer when successful here (1m) in June. He proved his effectiveness for soft ground when a ¾-length 2nd of 17 in a similar handicap at Goodwood 42 days ago. Another with claims if staying today’s longer trip.
Westerton won a Sandown maiden in June and looked a future handicap winner when 1 ¾ length 3rd of 12 at Newmarket on his next start. He ran well for a long way when 5th of 12 at Goodwood last time before his stamina for 1m 4f on soft ground seemed to run out. Must be respected dropped back to 1m 2f and Ryan Moore staying in the saddle.
Iron Lion was suited by soft ground when getting off the mark to win a novice over C&D last time. Although he needs to improve again to win a race like this on handicap debut he’s at the right end of the handicap and shouldn’t be far away.
If Not Now won on handicap debut at Sandown in May and then produced a career best when an 8 length 5th of 10 to Arc contender Fantastic Moon in the Group 1 German Derby at Hamburg last time. The drop back to 1m 2f looks positive for the colt who seems at his best with ease in the ground. No easy task under top weight but he can win this.
Verdict: If Not Now makes plenty of appeal and he’s my idea of the winner but at 3/1 I can let him win. Westerton is better than he was able to show at Goodwood last time and looks a bit more value at 9/1.
4:45 – Winners Wear Skopes Menswear Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 4f
Harappan made it 2-2 since joining Iain Jardine when winning a Catterick novice (good to soft) 24 days ago. He’s open to further improvement on handicap debut and looks capable of going close.
El Jasor bounced back from a poor run when winning at Newbury 26 days ago. Up 6lb and given his profile isn’t sure to be in the same form as last time. If he is will go close.
Crystal Delight has been back to form on his last two start including when a 5 ½ lengths 6th of 10 at Yarmouth last time and could get into the places if anywhere near his best.
Turntable hasn’t fired on three starts since joining his present trainer. A question mark over his well-being on his first start over 1m 4f but he’s 2 wins from 4 runs, 3 places in September and one win in October. So, this has been his time of the year in the past and he’s down to last season’s winning mark.
Verdict: The improving Harappan won’t be far away, but I wouldn’t be surprised if top-weight Turntable the outsider of the ten runners outran big odds.
5:20 – Chique Boutique Doncaster Specialists In Racewear Nursery Handicap (Class 3) – 7f
Mafnood has progressed on all three career starts looking at his RPR’s and landed a Haydock novice 34 days ago. The son of Kingman looked to have improved for the step up to a mile last time but shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the drop back to 7f.
Nellie Leylax won a C&D novice here in July and followed up on handicap debut at Haydock last month. Both those successes have come on testing ground so he should be fine on the ground and could get an uncontested lead.
Spanish Blaze made it 2-4 when winning on nursery debut at Sandown over the distance 12 days ago. He’s up 6lb for his latest success but had a bit in hand at Sandown and likely to be thereabouts if in the same mood as last time.
Betting Advice
It’s not a day I will be getting too heavily involved in, but I have a few fancies on the card albeit there a few selections at fancies prices
Doncaster
1:15 – Rambuso Creek – 1pt win – 9/2 @ Coral
3:00 – See The Fire – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral
3:35 – Ching Shih – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral
4:10 – Westerton – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Coral
4:45 – Turntable – 1pt win – 25/1 @ Bet365 and Harappan – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral.
Cheers
John