Good morning all, and welcome to another episode of “What’s The Weather Going To Do Today, Then?” 

It seems almost every Punt post of mine has begun with a weather warning over the past two months and today is no exception, with the potential for showers/steady rain/thunderstorms/probably a monsoon, who knows, at Doncaster. On the assumption that the weather forecast I’m looking at is correct, I still think we’ll be looking at ground on the quick side, and it’s on that my picks today are made. ITV3 for those of you looking for it on terrestrial TV. 

Read More »Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 3

Morning all,

The dry and warm spell of weather is coming to an end with thundery showers forecast for today and tomorrow although Saturday could be mostly dry.

The St Leger Festival tends to be a slow burner with the quality of racing improving each day. It’s fair to say today’s seven race card is of better quality than day one.

The ITV cameras are covering five races on the second day of the St Leger meeting plus the jump jockeys Derby at Epsom. The feature races at Doncaster are the Group 2 May Hill Stakes (2.40). Where next year's 1,000 Guineas ante post favourite Inspiral will be odds on to maintain her unbeaten record. The other feature race is the Group 2 Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (3.15).

Inside today's main piece you can read my thoughts on the Doncaster races being covered by ITV.

Read More »Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 2

Morning all,

The sizzling September weather is set to continue for the start of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival. Its 12 months since Doncaster hosted a government pilot event. Which enabled a small number of paying spectators to attend a British racecourse for the first time since March. Sadly, the pilot only lasted a day. As the local public health authority pulled the plug due to rising Covid19 cases in the area. This meant the rest of the festival took place behind closed doors. No issues this year and the meeting will take place with no crowd restrictions.  

Inside today’s main piece I have some Cazoo St Leger Festival trainer stats for you. Plus, you can read my thoughts on six of the seven races on the Doncaster card.

Read More »Doncaster St Leger Festival – Day 1

Morning all,

In terms of quality, it doesn’t come any better this weekend. Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown and the Curragh. Arc Trials Day at Longchamp. And, of course Doncaster hosts the final classic of the British flat season the St Leger. Irish Derby Winner Hurricane Lane is the 4/6 favourite to land the oldest classic and he will be very tough to beat on the figures. However, as we saw last weekend with Starman these ’shorties’ can get turned over.

Aidan O’Brien bids for a seventh success in the St Leger and has no less than six of the 13 runners declared at Monday’s five-day stage. His contingent was bolstered by the supplementing of High Definition at a cost of £50,000. The colt has been disappointing on both starts since finishing a 2-length 3^rd of 10 behind Hurricane Lane in the Dante Stakes in May. It will be interesting to see if connections opt for the first-time headgear for the colt.

It's Tuesday so it must be eyecatcher day. Inside today’s main piece you’ll find three horses that should be winning sooner rather than later.  Plus, I have selection from Galway’s tea time fixture.

Read More »Tuesday Fancies & Three Eyecatchers