Doncaster plays host to one of it’s biggest flat meetings of the season on Saturday, with the Group 1 St Leger Stakes the feature race across their four-day meeting. As well as the Group 1, there’s also two Group 2 races and a host of interesting Handicaps across the card.
Tote are guaranteeing a huge £150,000 in the Placepot for it, so our editor has given his selections in an attempt to land the big prize pot.
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Leg 1: 1.50pm
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Rosallion
Just the five runners in the opener, and it’s difficult to get away from the favourite ROSALLION, who looks set to make it a perfect 3/3 in his career with victory in this. His impressive win in the Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot in July has been franked since, with the runner-up Al Musmak going on to land Listed honours next time out. Richard Hannon’s colt pulled well clear of the rest in a matter of strides, and he looks a horse firmly on the upgrade.
Leg 2: 2.25pm
Leg 2 Selections: (19) Call Me Ginger (3) Chipstead
The second race on the card is a much more open affair, so I’ll be putting two selections up for it. I’m actually going to side with last year’s 1-2, in CALL ME GINGER and CHIPSTEAD. The former impressed me with how he performed in the race last year and he arrives in good form, winning his last two races. Despite the form he’s in, he’s only rated 2lb higher than he was when winning this last year, so I expect him to go close.
Chipstead was actually first past the post last year but was demoted to second for causing interference. His record when racing in August to October reads 811121214 (5/9), with the eighth on debut and the fourth in the Shergar Cup Dash, with jockey Thore Hammer Hansen on board for the first time. Just focusing on September, his record reads 112 (2/3), but would be 100% had he not been demoted in this race last year. Regular jockey Frederick Larson is back on board here and I expect another bold bid from Roger Teal’s runner.
Leg 3: 3.00pm
Leg 3 Selections: (5) Spycatcher
In the last ten renewals of this, four favourites have won and the biggest odds winner in that time was 9/2. With that in mind, it should pay to focus on the top three in betting here, and it’s SPYCATCHER who I think will take all the beating. He went agonisingly close to winning the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time out, and a similar effort here should see him winning. He had Sandrine over three lengths behind that day, and both Sandrine and Audience are closely matched on their City Of York form, so the verdict has to be Spycatcher.
Leg 4: 3.35pm
Leg 4 Selections: (2) Arrest (4) Continuous
On to the big one! There’s only been one real shock winner of this in recent years (Harbour Law in 2016), so I think it’s going to pay to focus on the head of the betting. It’s interesting to see Frankie Dettori opt to ride Arrest instead of Gregory, and I’m not going to give my opinion on whether that’s the right decision or not – Frankie is a much better judge than me so I’ll trust him and side with ARREST. He’ll relish the going and he was an easy winner of the Geoffrey Freer Stakes last time out, and the Frankel colt looks to have a big chance of following up here.
It’s a bit boring, but I also want to back the second favourite CONTINUOUS, who comfortably beat Gregory in the Great Voltigeur Stakes last time out. He’s 3lb worse off with that rival now, but I don’t see that being enough to reverse the form. He also had Arrest well behind when chasing home King Of Steel in the King Edward VII Stakes, so it would be foolish to not include him if I fancy Arrest to go well! This should be a fantastic race, and if the top two aren’t fighting out at the finish I’ll be surprised.
Leg 5: 4.10pm
Leg 5 Selections: (3) La Yakel
I’m hoping the drop in trip can suit LA YAKEL, who was soundly beaten in the Shergar Cup Challenge last time out, but his prior form makes him a lively contender for this. After winning the Lavazza Handicap at Ascot last year, he was sent off as favourite for the Old Rowley Cup Handicap but could only finish fourth. His seasonal reappearance saw him finish a neck second to Oneforthegutter, which was a solid effort on the back of a 218 day break. The drop in trip could be just what he needs, and I expect him to go close.
Leg 6: 4.45PM
Leg 6 Selections: (1) Bellum Justum (4) Let’s Get Em
This looks wide open so I’m going to put another two up for this. First up is BELLUM JUSTUM, who stepped up from his debut fifth when filling the runner-up spot at Newmarket last time out. He had Oddyssey over two lengths behind, which is a good bit of form when you consider he had already placed in Group 2 company. Further improvement could see him prove tough to catch here.
The other one I’m keen on is LET’S GET EM for trainers Paul & Oliver Cole. He made a promising start to his career when finishing runner-up behind the odds-on favourite Havanagreattime at Windsor earlier this month, with the winner much more experience. He stayed on well that day and I expect him to improve for the run, and he should know a lot more this time around.
Suggested Placepot
Leg 1 Selections: (4) Rosallion
Leg 2 Selections: (19) Call Me Ginger (3) Chipstead
Leg 3 Selections: (5) Spycatcher
Leg 4 Selections: (2) Arrest (4) Continuous
Leg 5 Selections: (3) La Yakel
Leg 6 Selections: (1) Bellum Justum (4) Let’s Get Em
8 Lines x £1 = £8
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