Hi all,
The Group 3 Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes (3.35) is the feature race on final day of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival. The undercard also includes the Listed Scarbrough Stakes (4.10). Sadly, the latter race attracted just four runners. Add in the Leger Legends race (3:00) and two Class 5 handicaps that bookend the card and this is a poor way to end a supposedly major festival.
Listowel’s Harvest Festival gets underway on Sunday afternoon. It’s the first of six days racing at the Irish racecourse which ends next Saturday. I will be having a few selections at the meeting over the next few days but not as many as I’ve had in the past.
Inside today’s preview I’m just looking at four races on the Doncaster card.
Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 4
2:25 – Zouky appreciated a strongly run race stepped up to 7f for the first time when winning at Newbury 30 days ago. She’s now 5lb higher in a better race which makes life tougher but she’s in form, proven over the distance and handled good to soft last time. The booking of Wiliam Buick is interesting, 1-2 when riding for the yard in the past five years.
3:35 – Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) – 7f
Last year’s 1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet makes a belated seasonal reappearance in the Doncaster feature race. A long absence shouldn’t be a problem for the 4-year-old as she won first time up in 2021 and last year. She’s the one to beat if returning at anything like at her best.
Of her ten rivals the one that looks a shade of value is Irish challenger Clounmacon. The 3-year-old won a soft ground Listed race (6f) at Naas two starts back and showed she remained in from when a 4 ½ length 4th of 11 back at Naas in a Group 3, three weeks ago. A decently run 7f could be her optimum trip and she has each way claims.
Nigiri showed she didn’t need soft ground when completing the hat trick in valuable fillies’ handicap at York last month. Looked like a Group filly in victory last time and fully deserves her place in today’s line-up. If Cachet does need the run, then she’s the one most likely to take advantage.
4:45 – State Of Desire makes his handicap debut after a recent gelding operation and a mark of 78 is probably workable. Monsieur Melee looked like he would be suited by a return to a mile when a length 3rd of 8 at Musselburgh 18 days ago. Handicap debut here and looks set for big run. Sea The Dream seemed to improve for facing soft ground when a neck 2nd of 9 at Haydock two starts back. A mark of 77 doesn’t look generous on what he’s achieved so far but he looks the sort to do better now going handicapping.
5:20 – I rarely touch Class 5 or 6 handicaps on the flat but this one has intrigued me. J R Cavagin won a division of this corresponding race 12 months ago and is now 5lb lower. Seems to be working his way to winning form and posted a seasonal best when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 11 at Beverley three weeks ago. The only thing that stops me from outing up is soft ground as she looks better on a sounder surface. Catch Cunningham also posted a seasonal best last time when a 1 ½ length 4th of 10 at Ripon 19 days ago. He’s not the easiest to catch right (2 wins from 20 starts) but he’s been given a chance by the handicapper being 8lb lower than when winning at York last September. Thornaby Pearl won a soft ground handicap at Ripon in July, from 3lb lower. Given all three of his career wins have on soft/ good to soft he’s got to be respected with Mia Nicholls taking off a useful 7lb.
There are no selections at Listowel on Sunday by there’s likely to be some on Monday so watch your inboxes for updates.
Betting Advice:
Doncaster
2:25 – Zouky – 5/1 @ Coral
5:20 – Catch Cunningham – 7/1 @ Coral.
Cheers
John