St Leger Festival Betting Tips

Doncaster St Leger Festival Tips: Day Three

The Group action continues at Doncaster on Saturday with the feature event of the week, the Group 1 St Leger taking centre stage at 3.40.

There’s a top class support card too with the Champagne Stakes, the Park Stakes and a typically competitive renewal of the Portland Handicap.

We have picked out selections with analysis for all seven races on the card including a value bet in the feature race.

1.50 Doncaster - 7f Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (2yo)

Richard Spencer is a trainer that does well with his juveniles and he appears to have a really promising prospect in Doncaster’s opener, the Group 2 Champagne Stakes.

Righthere Rigthnow is the horse in question and he bolted up by five lengths in a Newmarket maiden on debut, despite going off an 11-1 shot in the 12-runner field.

The son of Kodiac is open to any amount of improvement and while the form of that Newmarket race could be working out better, he couldn’t have won any more convincingly.

Selection: Righthere Rightnow

2.25 Doncaster - 5½f Betfred Portland (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+)

The Portland Handicap looks like the trickiest puzzle to solve on Saturday but it might be worth taking a chance on Shagraan after last week’s success at Haydock.

He was very well backed for that contest, going off 9-4 favourite in a competitive looking heat, and from just 3lb higher he ought to be firmly in the mix with some luck in running.

Selection: Shagraan

3.00 Doncaster - 7f Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+)

The Park Stakes looks a bit more competitive than the betting suggests and it may be worth siding with Al Shabab Storm who was a Group 3 winner in Germany last time out.

He’ll need further improvement to get involved but that’s entirely possible with the step back up in trip on quicker ground likely to suit and his yard won this last year.

Selection: Al Shabab Storm

3.40 Doncaster - 1m6½f Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) (British Champions Series) (3yo)

Seven runners have been declared for the oldest Classic and Aidan O’Brien’s trio of contenders give the Irish a very strong hand.

With Ryan Moore on foreign soil, Wayne Lordan will have picked Illinois who has some solid form coming into this but it may be worth taking a chance on his stablemate Jan Brueghel.

He still looked raw when winning at Goodwood and it’s an effort worth marking up given that he didn’t seem to handle the unique demands of that track. He should relish this step up in trip and he should probably be a bit closer to his stablemate in the market.

Selection: Jan Brueghel

4.15 Doncaster - 1m2f PJ Towey Construction Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-105)

Ian Williams excels with his middle distance horses and Parlando ought to go well off bottom weight in this contest.

He receives the services of Silvestre De Sousa for the first time and his mount was a shade unlucky when caught late at Newcastle last time out.

He should appreciate a return to turf (all three previous wins have come on the surface) and quick ground should be in his favour too.

Selection: [Parlando https://www.betuk.com/betting/horse-racing#racing/event/1021614061)

4.50 Doncaster - 1m (Str) British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (Class 2) (2yo)

The penultimate race on the card is a tricky maiden but Scandinavia sets a fairly solid standard. He took a step forward from his debut when hitting the crossbar in a Newmarket maiden and further progress may make him hard to beat.

Selection: Scandinavia

5.25 Doncaster - 1m (Str) Cepac 25th Year Anniversary Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+)

A competitive finale closes the card and there’s a suspicion that the handicapper is yet to get a hold of Tolstoy who has been thriving all season.

He rattled off a seven furlong hat-trick on the Knavesmire earlier this season and he seemed to relish his second start at a mile when coming late to win again at Newcastle last time.

His habit of not winning by far makes life tough for the assessor and it’s fair to say that he’s taking a chance with just a 5lb rise in the weights.

Selection: Tolstoy

Doncaster St Leger festival Tips: Day 2 Tips

The second day of Doncaster’s four-day St Leger meeting takes place on Friday, building up to the world’s oldest Classic on Town Moor on Saturday.

Day two is about the stayers and the youngsters with the 2m2f Doncaster Cup the highlight, while the other Group 2 on the card features the two-year-old speedsters in the Flying Childers.

There are eight races in total at Doncaster on Friday and we have selected our best bets in all of them.

13:50 - Mallard Handicap (1m61/2f)

The opener is run over the St Leger course and distance and older horses have held the call in recent years. However, it is a three-year-old who catches the eye in 2024 as the progressive SUBSEQUENT bids to make it four wins from his last five starts as Andrew Balding’s gelding takes another rise in class.

Subsequent proved himself over this distance when winning at Newmarket last time. He is effectively racing off a 7lb higher mark without a claimer on board, but on the plus side, it’s Oisin Murphy taking over in the plate.

Selection: Subsequent @ 2/1

14:25 - Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed, 7f)

Murphy is also an interesting booking in the next as the champion jockey elect will be back aboard THE WACO KID, having ridden the colt to victory at Newbury in July.

The Waco Kid has been highly tried since, finishing fifth in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and then fourth in what looked a strong Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York last time. He is taking a drop in class now and sets the standard.

Selection: The Waco Kid @ 17/2

15:00 Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2, 5f)

AIN’T NOBODY looks a big price. Kevin Ryan’s colt has run only three times, impressing when winning on his debut at Carlisle before making the most of a plum draw on the stands’ side in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot.

He failed to show up when last of six in the July Stakes, but that was over six furlongs and he’s back at the minimum trip here. The course should suit.

Selection: Ain’t Nobody @ 16/1

15:35 Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2, 2m2f)

We’ve got a real cracker in store with the winners of the previous two years, Trueshan and Coltrane, taking on the younger progressive types in SWEET WILLIAM and Gregory, while Point Lonsdale is an intriguing contender for Aidan O’Brien.

Sweet William was no match for Trueshan 12 months ago, but that effort was his first outside of handicaps and he’d had a few tough races. He’s more the finished article now, and the way he’s been seeing out his races suggests this extra trip will suit.

Selection: Sweet William @ 15/8

16:10 British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies' Handicap (1m4f)

Three-year-olds have won the last three runnings of this event, but the three representatives from the Classic generation have a bit to find this time round.

Topweight There’s The Door has the best form in the book but that tends to be when the ground is soft, so the choice is between Bint Al Daarz, who is stepping up in trip, or CABRERA, who is dropping back.

Both are progressive and it’s a close call, but Cabrera gets the nod, up 4lb for her second at Newmarket last time having won over course and distance prior to that.

Selection: Cabrera @ 11/10](https://www.betuk.com/betting#racing/event/1021607477)

16:45 EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes (7f)

WHIRL finished fifth in the Convivial at York last time, while her debut fourth behind the smart Red Letter at the Curragh in July is also strong form. There are some well-bred youngsters in opposition making their debuts, including Kingsclere, Like A Vision and Gulya.

Selection: [Whirl @ 9/4}(https://www.betuk.com/betting#racing/event/1021607481)

17:20 'Confined' Nursery Handicap (6f)

SHOUT has been allotted an opening mark of 83 for his first handicap start. That looks fair, as the Crisfords’ colt has shown promise in his last two outings at Salisbury. He just did too much when third at the Wiltshire track last time, being in front from a long way out while the challengers came up the centre. He held an entry in the Mill Reef at one stage and clearly has ability.

Selection: Shout @ 7/2](https://www.betuk.com/betting#racing/event/1021607478)

17:55 Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse Handicap (5f)

The closing sprint is a wide-open handicap and it's hard to have a strong fancy. The selection is STRONG JOHNSON with Danny Tudhope an eye-catching booking. The eight-year-old has yet to strike this year, but is now 11lb below his last winning mark on the all-weather last November and he’s generally better on turf.

Selection: Strong Johnson @ 11/2

St Leger Day One Tip Results

• 13:50 - Backed Alice Fairfax - Out of top five.
• 14:25 - Backed Camille Pissarro - Finished 2nd
• 15:00 - Backed Desert Flower - Winner!
• 15:35 - Backed Sumo Sam - Finished 5th.
• 16:10 - Backed Blake - Finished 5th
• 16:40 - Backed Qaseem - Finished 4th
• 17:15 - Backed Harmonia - Winner!
• 17:50 - Backed Per Contra - Out of top five.

St Leger Day One Tips

The action really steps up a gear on Thursday afternoon with the first of the four-day St Leger meeting taking centre stage.

Thursday’s action includes a valuable sales race as well as Group 2 action in the form of the May Hill and Park Hill Stakes.

Here we provide selections with analysis for all eight races on the card, including a couple of value picks at each-way prices.

1.50 Doncaster - 6½f British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Nursery Handicap (Class 2) (2yo)

Drying ground could be a big help for Alice Fairfax, who appeals most in the nursery that kicks off the card.

Her best effort came in an Ascot Group 3 on very quick ground and it’s worth forgiving her effort at seven furlongs since.

Selection: Alice Fairfax

2.25 Doncaster - 6½f Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2yo)

This looks like a good opportunity for Camille Pissarro to get his head back in front. The son of Wootton Bassett was only narrowly denied in a Group 3 on his penultimate start and, while he was a beaten favourite at the Ebor meeting, he was given too much to do. This is a drop in class and he could take some beating.

Selection: Camille Pissarro

3.00 Doncaster - 1m (Str) Betfred May Hill Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) (Class 1) (2yo)

A case can be made for quite a few of these but Desert Flower is the obvious one to focus on.

This filly has won with any amount in hand on both starts so far on Newmarket’s July course and she gives the impression she’ll relish the step up to a mile here. This is a step up in class, but she looks capable of taking it in her stride and maintaining her unbeaten record.

Selection: Desert Flower

3.35 Doncaster - 1m6½f Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+)

It may be worth taking a chance on Sumo Sam in the feature race of the day. She really got into gear at this time last year, winning back-to-back Group races, including this contest. She might have needed her first outing since a wind operation at Newbury last month.

She has to prove herself on a quicker surface this year, but her price is attractive and she ought to go well if she does handle conditions.

Selection: Sumo Sam

4.10 Doncaster - 1m2f Pertemps Network Handicap (Class 2) (3yo 0-105)

Blake gives the impression he is on a steep upward curve and the three-year-old looks capable of gaining his third win in his last four starts here.

The son of Zoffany was backed like defeat was out of the question before obliging at Sandown last time out and, while he’s up 9lb, he should have more to offer.

Selection: Blake

4.40 Doncaster - 7f Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse Nursery Handicap (Class 3) (2yo 0-90)

Qaseem has improved with each run and he may be capable of getting his head back in front in what looks a winnable nursery for the grade.

His placed effort at the Ebor meeting was his best run so far and he gave the impression he would relish this step up to seven furlongs.

Selection: Qaseem

5.15 Doncaster - 1m (Str) Christmas Live @themovies At Doncaster Racecourse Nursery Handicap (Class 4) (2yo 0-80)

Harmonia was denied a hat-trick on the all-weather last time out, but she was highly progressive before that effort and the return to quick ground on turf ought to be up her street.

Her pedigree suggests she will improve with age and she should be able to get back on track in this seven-runner heat.

Selection: Harmonia

5.50 Doncaster - 1m (Str) Christmas Live @themovies At Doncaster Racecourse Nursery Handicap (Class 4) (2yo 0-80)

Per Contra looked like a horse firmly on the up before a blip at York when he was last seen, but he’s been freshened up since and should be capable of winning again at this sort of level. This well-bred sort looks overpriced at double figure odds.

Selection: Per Contra