Hi all,
The Betfred St Leger Stakes (3.35) is the headline race of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival and the final Classic of the British flat season.
Today’s race sees Desert Hero bid to become the first Royal winner of the race since Dunfermline in 1977. The undercard is also strong with two Group 2 contests the Champagne Stakes (1:50) & Park Stakes (3:00).
ITV Racing are covering four races from Doncaster and two from Chester this afternoon.
Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 3
1:50 – Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) -7f
Rosallion knew his job when winning at Newbury on racecourse debut in June and improved significantly to win a Listed race at Ascot 49 days ago. Chindit landed that Ascot race for the yard in 2020 before going onto to land today’s race. The son of Blue Point is an excellent prospect and a worthy market leader, and I expect him to emulate Chindit and win this.
Iberian also won at Newbury on racecourse debut. He then improved again to finish a length 2nd of 9 to Haatem in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last time. He still looked a bit green at Goodwood so there should be more to come from the Lope De Vega colt. Capable of better and should give the favourite a race.
Verdict: Rosallion is the best British trained juvenile we’ve seen this season and although Iberian is a useful prospect himself, I can’t see him preventing Rosallion from maintaining his unbeaten record.
2:25 – Betfred Portland (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 5 ½ f
The field sizes for the Doncaster handicaps have been disappointing but you can’t say that about this contest. A maximum field of 22 have been declared and as ever you can make cases for most of them.
Here’s my shortlist:
Call Me Ginger won last year’s race on appeal after Chipstead was deemed to have interfered with him at a crucial stage. He’s just 2lb higher than 12 months ago even though he comes into the race having won his last two starts.
Kimngrace won a Listed race at Lingfield in February, but the 4-year-old has mostly been out of form since. The filly has shaped better on her last two starts and didn’t the clearest of runs 2f out when a 2 ¼ length 8th of 14 to Designer at York last month. Down to good mark and in the mix.
The well-being of the Julie Camacho yard remains a concern, but I do like two of her runners Makanah & Significantly.
Previous course winner Makanah was 6th in last year’s race off 5lb higher and was back to form when ¾ length 4th of 20 to Equilateral at York Ebor Festival. Likely to be there or thereabouts again.
Stablemate Significantly won at Haydock on his second start after switching to the Camacho yard and hasn’t been disgraced on either start since. He ran well for a long way when a 3 ½ length 6th of 27 in the Goodwood Stewards Cup (6f) before his stamina ran out. This intermediate trip could prove ideal.
King’s Lynn is winless since landing the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock in May 2022, but he’s run several good races in defeat since including when a length runner-up at Chester in May. Poor run in the Goodwood Stewards Cup last time but is 3lb lower than at Chester and should be bang there.
Dakota Gold is dual course winner (both over 6f) and goes well on soft ground. The 9-year-old has just had three starts this season in a light campaign and is down to his last winning mark. I can see him running a big race at a venue that he goes well at.
Top-weight Annaf did well on the all-weather last season and proved he’s as good on turf when a 2 ¾ length 3rd of 17 to Bradsell in the Group 1 King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. He’ll get the strong pace he needs and has a good chance if the ground isn’t too soft.
Verdict: Forget the St Leger this is the race of the day for me. The inform Call Me Ginger must be high on the shortlist. Top-weight Annaf has the class to be involved but may want the ground to dry out more to win. King’s Lynn is handicapped to go close. If the Julie Camacho yard was in better form, I would be more confident about Makanah & Significantly. Kimngrace is down to a winnable mark and could get into the frame. Dakota Gold will live the easy ground and the old boy can’t be ruled out at a track that he’s run well at in the past.
3:00 – Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) – 7f
Not the strongest of fields for this Group 2 contest with just six declared to run. It’s hard to look beyond the favourite Spycatcher who relishes soft ground and posted a career best when a short head 2nd of 10 in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time.
Verdict: Like the opening Group 2 this isn’t a betting race for me, but I will be surprised if Spycatcher on his favoured ground doesn’t win a weak looking race for the grade.
3:35 – Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) – 1m 6 ½ f
The final British Classic and despite the single digit line-up its one of the most open renewals of the race in many years.
Long time ante post favourite Gregory has been replaced at the head of the betting by stablemate Arrest. The money came in for the latter after the rain turned the going to soft and the announcement that Frankie Dettori would ride the colt. If you fancy Gregory I wouldn’t you off on form but soft ground is a worry for me.
Besides Arrest & Gregory the John & Thady Gosden yard saddle Middle Earth. The impressive York Melrose Handicap winner was supplemented after his York win. He’s an improving colt but the ground is going to be different to what it was last time.
Aidan O’Brian saddles four of the nine runners. Two of them look like possible pacemakers and of his quartet the ones to focus on are Continuous and Tower Of London. The first named won the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at the Ebor Festival last time (Gregory third). He ran at York like he would be suited to the step to the St Leger distance and is the pick of Ryan Moore.
Tower Of London has progressed with each of his four starts this season winning at Leopardstown & Down Royal. We haven’t seen the Galileo colt since he was an unlucky in a slowly run Bahrain Trophy (1m 5f) at Newmarket in July. He shaped that day like a stayer and his full brother Capri won the race in 2017.
Desert Hero came from the rear two win a strongly run King George VI Handicap at Royal Ascot. It was quick ground at Ascot but the Sea The Stars colt showed his ground and tactical versatility when winning a soft ground and more steadily run Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last time.
Chesspiece was a neck behind Desert Hero at Goodwood last time. He made the running and might have benefited from setting more of a stamina test that day. He’s a likeable colt, he’s proven over the distance having finished third to Gregory in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. He’s improved since Ascot and any ease in the ground will suit him.
Verdict: I’m taking on the front three in the betting Arrest, Continuous and Gregory with Chesspiece and Tower Of London.
4:10 – PJ Towey Construction Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
Simply Sondheim won six times during a productive 2022 and made a winning return to action at Kempton in April. A disappointing beaten favourite last of 6 at Newmarket when last seen in action in May. Goes well fresh so the absence isn’t an issue, and he could easily return to winning ways here.
Symbol of Light completed an all-weather hat trick in January 2022 when trained by Charlie Appleby. Returned from a 518 day layoff for a new yard with a promising neck 4th of 10 to Lattam at Newcastle 58 days ago. Handicapped to go close but might need quicker ground and stamina for 1m 2f to be proven.
Akhu Najla has only had four starts since winning a Yarmouth maiden in April 2022. He returned from a ten month absence with a promising enough 1 ½ length 4th of 9 at Ascot (1m) in July. Didn’t build on that promise when a 6 length 13th of 19 at York (1m) last month but if the first time blinkers have the desired effect, he’s a player.
Verdict: Both Symbol of Light and Akhu Najla are contenders butmust prove their stamina for 1m 2f and their effectiveness on rain softened ground. That leaves Simply Sondheim as the selection but given there’s just six runners it makes limited appeal as betting race for me.
4:45 – British EBF 40th Anniversary Maiden Stakes (Class 2) – 1m
This could turn out to be a useful maiden of those to have run Deira Mile shaped with promise when a ½ length 3rd of 9 on racecourse debut at Sandown last month. He shouldn’t be long in winning a maiden.
Of the newcomers the Gosden’s saddle the nicely bred son of Dubawi God’s Window and they won this race with Israr in 2021 who was also making his racecourse debut.
Karl Burke runners need respect, and he saddles Otto Flash. The No Nay Never colt cost 155,000 gns as a yearling and is bred to win races.
At Vimeiro cost 650,000 gns yearling and the son of Sea The Stars is out of German mare who Group 2 winner and finished runner-up in a Group 1. If the race does go to one of the racecourse debutants it could well be this colt that, does it.
Verdict: An interesting maiden with the future in mind. I like the look of some of the newcomers Good’s Window, Otto Flash and the expensively purchased At Vimeiro and my dart at the race has been thrown at the latter.
5:20 – Hippo Pro 3 Sealant Handicap (Class 2) – 1m
Decent enough handicap to close out the card. You can make cases for the consistent
Pisanello and last year’s runner-up Empirestateofmind.
The return to easy ground saw Liberty Lane bounce back to form when a 2 lengths 4th of 12 in handicap at Newmarket 56 days. The 3-year-old is the least exposed of the 15 runners, just the five starts, and if settles better than he did last time is a serious contender.
Sonny Liston finished runner-up in the Royal Hunt Cup in June and was close to that level of form when an eyecatching 2 length 4th of 19 to Ropey Guest in a valuable mile handicap at York’s Ebor Festival. Capable of landing a handicap like this off his present mark but might not get the strong pace he likely needs.
Millbosc useful when trained in France, finished a close-up third to St Mark’s Basilica in the 2021 French Derby. Shaped with plenty of promise on his first starts for William Haggas but looked ill at ease on the Goodwood undulations when only 9th of 15 last time. He drops back to a mile for only the second time in his career and if it suits, he’s on a handy enough mark.
Brunch is a useful performer on his day but hasn’t really been at his best since finishing a head 2nd of 13 at York last May. Best run so far this season came when he finished a 1 ¼ length 6th of 1o to Lattam at Newcastle two starts back. Well beaten in this corresponding race 12 months ago but something likely amiss. He’s been given a chance by the handicapper and can’t be discounted.
Verdict: Sonny Liston won’t be winning one of these valuable mile handicaps out of turn and has a favourites chance. Millbosc is on a good mark based on his smart French form and has caught the eye since joining William Haggas. if Brunch comes back to something like his best, he would win this
Chester
As a bit of a bonus, I have had a quick look at the two races that ITV are taking live from Chester.
2:05 – Irish Oaks runner-up and Yorkshire Oaks fourth Bluestocking takes a drop back into Listed company. The easier ground will suit the filly and if she handles the twist and turns of Chester she should gain her first win of 2023.
2:40 – Dark Pine is on a losing run that goes back to May 2021 (C&D). The 6-year-old’s best performance this season also came over C&D when he finished a neck 2nd of 11 to City Streak in May, from 4lb higher. On a winnable mark and has handy low draw in stall 4. For all that he’s the sort who needs at the cards to fall right to win. Yard going through a very quiet spell winner wise, but he’ll be a bet if I can get 10/1+.
To give you a chance to look through Saturdays’ preview at your leisure I’m sending it out earlier than normal.
Betting advice and selections to follow later on Friday evening.
Cheers
John