Hi all,
It’s the start of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival. Which culminates with the final Classic of the British Flat season on Saturday and paying spectators are back on a British racecourse for the first time since March 17th. It’s not going to be the pre-covid race day experience but it’s a step in the right direction.
Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 1
Rain on Tuesday has turned the going from good to soft. However, it looks like it’s going to be dry and mainly sunny for the four days of the meeting.
1:40 – bet365 Nursery Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
A Boy Named Ivy won an Ayr maiden on his second start before finishing a close second on his nursery debut at Haydock. Given he was caught out wide he did well to get within a neck of the winner. He’s been nudged up 3lb for that effort but remains on a competitive mark.
1pt win – A Boy Named Ivy – 15/2 @ Bet365
2:10 – bet365 Scarborough Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f
The two juveniles receive plenty of weight from the older horses here but it’s still going to be tough for Acklam Express & Country Carnival against the likes of Dakota Gold and Moss Gill.
Dakota Gold bounced back to form when winning the Beverley Bullet. Before finishing runner-up to an improving 3-year-old at York on Sunday. Two of his career wins have come when running within seven days of his last start so the quick turnaround shouldn’t be a problem.
Moss Gill finished third behind Battaash in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes last month. It looks between the pair but preference is for Dakota Gold.
3:15 – bet365 Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) – 7f
Jubiloso looked set for a big future when finishing third in last years Group 1 Coronation Stakes on just her third career start. However, she’s just beaten one rival home on her last two starts and ran no sort of race on her seasonal reappearance at Royal Ascot. Has been given an 85-day break to freshen up and wouldn’t be surprise me if she bounced back to win.
A safer option looks to be Cloak Of Spirits who finished third in this year’s 1000 Guineas and has placed in Group 3 company on her last two starts at Epsom & Deauville. The drop back to 7f should suit and she can gain a well-deserved success if Jubiloso fails to give her running again.
1pt win Cloak Of Spirits – 5/1 @ Bet365
3:45 – Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
The most competitive race on the card and there are plenty in with a chance.
Rise Hall was a steady improver last season but hasn’t fired on either start this season. He’s 2lb below his last winning mark though and would be a danger to all, if returning to his best.
Caradoc wasn’t suited by the modest gallop at Ascot last time. Normally a hold up horse. A strongly run 1m 2f looks ideal and if the ground dries out, he’s a got a big chance.
Derevo’s ran better than his 6th of 15 at York last suggests, as he probably didn’t enjoy the soft ground. He’s better judged on his 4th of 18 at Goodwood two starts back and is a live contender.
Strait Of Hormuz gets in off bottom weight here. The 3-year-old is going the right way. Putting in a joint career best on RPR’s when 2nd of 14 at Chester 26-days ago. Just 1lb higher, he’s unexposed over the distance and will be suited by a strongly run race. He could be the answer in a tricky looking contest.
1pt win – Strait Of Hormuz – 13/2 @ Coral
0.5pts each way – Rise Hall -20/1 @Ladbrokes (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
4:15 – I’m happy to take a flyer here on Terentum Star. The 8-year-old ended last season with a win at Newbury (heavy) and can now race off 3lb lower. He’s dropped down the weights because he’s struggled on four of his five starts this season. Last time out he ran in the Goodwood Stewards Cup but prior to that was a slightly more encouraging 5th of 12 at York. Probably needs soft to be still in the going description to win but has each way claims at big odds.
0.5pts each way – Terentum Star – 16/1 @ Bet365 (paying 3 places ¼ odds)
Cheers
John