Evening all,
Doncaster’s St Leger Festival gets underway on Wednesday. The Leger Legends Classified Stakes (3.00) will be the highlight for many racegoers on day one of the St Leger Festival. However, the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes (3.35) and the Listed Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes (4.10) are the quality contests of a seven-race card on Town Moor.
There’s plenty of rain forecast for the next few days and if it does materialize then we could see some upsets to the form book. I will be keeping a close eye on the weather forecast over the next few days.
Inside today’s main piece I look four races at Doncaster. Plus, there's a few profitable St Leger Festival trainers.
Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 1
Trainer angle:
Unlike York’s Ebor Festival I couldn’t find a strong simple but profitable angle for the meeting. It’s probably not that sort of track or meeting. However, digging into horseracebase I have found a small group of trainers who runners could be worth following over the next four days. There shouldn’t be too many qualifiers so any damage to the betting bank should be small.
There two qualifiers running at Doncaster on Wednesday afternoon both trained by Clive Cox who is 4 winners from 10 runners 40% +38.5 5 placed.
3:00 – Codify
4:45 – Grand Central.
Onto today’s action.
1:50 – Meriel Tufnell Apprentice Handicap (Class 4) – 6f
Is there a tougher mare in training than Sound Of Iona? The 6-year-old is having her 7th race since the start of August and her 4th this month. A winner at Ascot (6f) on Friday and was a ½-length third of 9 there a day later. The three-time course winner, albeit over shorter, drops in class here and should give another good account of herself provided the ground doesn’t get too testing.
Roach Power comes into the race in good form after a breakthrough win at Ripon and close to a personal best back in handicap company over 7f last time. Yet to race on ground worse than good to soft but the dam was at her best on rain softened ground, so he’s respected back sprinting.
The unreliable Stone Of Destiny is another well handicapped horse but he hasn’t won since landing the valuable Portland Handicap over 5 ½ f here in September 2020. He got no sort of run through the final 2f’s when a 1 ½ length 4th of 12 in the Goodwood Stewards Cup consolation race two starts back. However, he didn’t build on that when a disappointing 4th of 5th at Newmarket last time.
Barbill returned from a 12-month absence and for a new trainer when last of 11 at Kempton last month. Not the most encouraging of runs it must be said. However, he’s run well here on two starts in the past and there’s no doubt he’s well handicapped if he rediscovers his old form.
2:25 – Cambion Electronics Nursery Handicap (Class 2) – 7f
Charlie Appleby won this with Modern Games last year and has the likely favourite in Modern Dancer. A winner over C&D on his racecourse debut in June. He improved again under a 6lb penalty when 2nd of 5 at Yarmouth last month. Looks on a decent mark on nursery debut but rain softened ground asks another question of the colt.
Hour By Hour seemed to relish soft ground when making a winning nursery debut at Hamilton (6f) 12-days ago. Up 7lb in a deeper race but the ground could be in his favour and he shouldn’t be far away.
Utilis shaped with enough promise on his first two starts to think he can win races of his present mark. There was also plenty to like about his 3-length 6th of 18 in a hot looking York nursery last time. Doing his best work at the finish over 6f the return to 7f looks ideal. He won’t be far away if as effective on easier ground.
Grey’s Monument shaped like he needed a step up to 7f when a 1 ½ length 3rd of 10 in maiden at Ffos Las last time. Being by Territories he shouldn’t have a problem if the ground was to ease further. Trainer Ralph Beckett is 1 winner from 4 runners +6 2 placed with his nursery debutants at the St Leger Festival since 2017.
3:35 – Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes (Group 3) – 7f
I’m not really looking beyond German challenger Novemba. The 4-year-old gets to race on an easy surface for the first time this season and although she hasn’t been disgraced on her last two starts on quick ground softer ground suits her better. Looking at the pace map she could get an uncontested lead which enhances her chance.
4:10 – Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f
Ryan Moore is an interesting jockey booking for Manaccan. A winner of an Ascot Class 2 handicap two starts back. He maintained his improvement when a ½ length 3rd of 9 in Listed company at Newmarket (6f) 12-days ago. The drop back to 5f looks a positive although softer surface would be an unknown.
There are no concerns over soft ground for Mo Celita. The 4-year-old was a big improver last season winning six times, going from selling company to winning a Listed race at Deauville and finishing 4th of 14 in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp. She returned from a 3 month break to finish a respectable 2 ½ lengths behind Manaccan at Newmarket last time. Should bet closer to Manaccan here especially if the rain arrives to ease the ground further.
Wednesday Selection:
Doncaster
4:45 – Grand Central – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John