Good morning all,

A shorter article than normal this week as my Mother-in-Law died late last week. However, I will have quick look back at Saturday’s St Leger. I also have one for the tracker from Doncaster and a Monday selection for you.

Capri courageous in Leger win

This year’s final classic of the season the St Leger looked a decent race on paper and so it proved, with the right horses fighting out the finish.

Irish Derby winner Capri came on top to give Aiden O’Brien another win in the race. The colt was very much suited by the test of stamina that this year’s renewal provided and dug in to win and hold off Crystal Ocean and Stradivarius. The former looked to be going best of all between the final two furlongs but just wasn’t as strong as the winner in the closing stages of the race on good-to-soft going. The step back to 1m 4f will suit the colt whose in the right hands to make a top class four-year-old.

Stradivarius who had won the 2m Goodwood Cup on his previous start ran another excellent race but couldn’t match the first two for class. He should make up into a good Cup horse next year and will also be suited by a quicker surface than he faced here.

The only disappointment of the race was Defoe who was weak in the market before the race, he put in a lifeless performance and was a beaten horse two furlongs from home. This wasn’t his true running and he can also develop into a top class four year old when he gets some ease in the ground. The winner will presumably head for the Arc after this performance for which he will have a decent each-way chance although St Léger winners do have a poor win record in the race.

One For The Tracker:

Hoofalong trained by Michael Easterby had caught the eye when running on over 5f at York on his previous start. He caught the eye once again at Doncaster over 6f. The rain that fell before the festival didn’t help the 7-year-old who is 0 wins from 12 runs 2 placed when soft appears in the going description, all four of his turf wins have come on good or quicker going. He is also 3 wins from 12 runs 6 places on all weather. Stable has been struggling for winners so this run wasn’t too bad in the circumstances. The gelding has dropped down to his last winning mark and can get another win when he gets his favoured underfoot conditions and the trainer is back among the winners.

Jockey Ben Curtis at Carlisle

If there is a better jockey around Carlisle than Ben Curtis then I have yet to see them. His record at the course is an excellent 26 winners from 101 rides 26% +134.14 A/E 1.73 41 places 41%.

He has booked rides at the course today, three for Johnny Murtagh, one for Brian Ellison and one for David Barron. It may well pay to keep an eye on his three rides for Johnny Murtagh but it’s his ride for David Barron that interests me most. The jockey is 4 wins from 10 rides 40% +34.3 A/E 2.09 8 placed 80% when riding for the trainer at Carlisle. The pair team up with Red Star Dancer in the 2:50.

Monday Selection:

Last weeks selection was a non-runner so let’s hope we can get a run this week.

2:50 – Red Star Dancer has his first start for David Barron since moving from Linda Perratt’s stable. Not shown much in six starts for his previous trainer and heavy ground would be a complete unknown for the gelding but the trainer has his horse going well 2 winners from 7 runners 3 placed in the last 7 days and of course, Ben Curtis takes the ride. The selection looks worthy of some each way support despite the unappealing form figures.

Red Star Dancer – 10/1 or bigger

All that’s left now is to wish you a profitable week's punting.

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