Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I look ahead to the start of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival and preview this afternoon's Group 2 May Hill Stakes
Traditionally the first day of the St Leger Festival is a low key one. However, with the meeting starting on a Thursday rather than a Wednesday its starting off with a bang.
It’s Ladies Day on day one. The highlights being the Betfred May Hill Stakes for juvenile fillies and the Betfred Park Hill Stakes, for older fillies and mares, which is run over the same course and distance as the St Leger.
The Group 2 Betfred Doncaster Cup is the feature race on Friday. Recent York winner Coltrane will bid for back to back wins in the race. The Group 2 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes is part of the undercard.
The Betfred St Leger and the final British Classic of the of the 2023 flat season. Just nine were left in the race at Monday’s final confirmation stage but this year’s renewal has an open look. The St Leger is the feature race of Saturday’s card which also contains the Group 2 Champagne Stakes, the Group 2 Park Stakes, and the competitive Portland Handicap.
This year’s festival ends on Sunday with what has been called the St Leger Community Funday. The headline race on the card is the Group 3 Sceptre Fillies' Stakes (3.35) which also includes the Listed Scarbrough Stakes (4.10).
ITV Racing are covering four races live from Doncaster this afternoon as they are on Friday and Saturday.
Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 1
Doncaster is one of the fairest racecourses in the country. It’s a left handed, galloping track which dries out quickly.
Low numbers can be favoured in races on the straight mile when the ground is soft or heavy. But mostly there’s isn’t much in the way of a draw bias.
There was 21mm of rain at Doncaster on Tuesday which turned the going to soft all over. There could be 6mm of rain on Thursday, but Friday and Saturday should be mainly dry. I’m going through the card for all four days of the St Leger Festival and if you want my race previous and betting advice you can get it here for just £5.
3:00 – Betfred May Hill Stakes (Group 2) – 1m
A decent looking renewal of this juvenile fillies’ race. The bookies seem to have it right as I think the front four in the ante post betting are the ones to concentrate on. All four of them fillies have the scope to improve, and it should be an informative renewal.
Darnation has improved to win her last two starts at Thirsk and latterly the Group 3 Prestige Stakes (7f) at Goodwood 19 days ago. Both successes have come on an easy surface and today’s extra furlong will suit her. Trainer Karl Burke won this race with Laurens in 2017 and his filly looks a wrthy favourite.
Romanova was dropped into the deep end on her Sandown racecourse debut but showed the benefit of that experience when making all to win Salisbury maiden last month and has to be respected back up in class.
Hard To Resist progressed on her racecourse debut to win a Newmarket novice last month and improved again when a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 6 to Darnation at Goodwood. She’s another who could improve for the step up to a mile.
See The Fire was very professional when winning on racecourse debut at Newmarket (7f) last month. The step up to a mile will suit the filly who looks a potential Oaks filly on pedigree. I have backed the daughter of Sea The Stars ante post for the Group 1 Fillies Mile at Newmarket. There’s 14/1 available with William Hill for that race. If she handles today’s likely softer ground, I think she can win.
Verdict:
I think this will prove a good renewal of the race. Darnation will like the ground and is a worthy favourite but if See The Fire handles the ground I think she can win and stamp herself a Classic contender.
Thursday Selection:
Doncaster
3:00 – See The Fire – 6/1 @ Coral.
Good luck with your Thursday bets.
John