The St Leger meeting at Doncaster concludes on Sunday with another packed card. To conclude the week, Matty Sutcliffe has four best bets throughout the day.
Published: 1.58pm Friday, 12th September (Odds correct at time of writing)
2:05 Doncaster – Pertemps Network Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-95) – Tees Spirit 14/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
TEES SPIRIT fared little chance from his draw in stall 16 in the opener of the Ebor meeting, where you had to be drawn low/race on the far side to have any chance of going close. Tees Spirit led the nearside group until a furlong out, and possibly didn’t stay the extra half furlong which was also the case in the Portland here last season.
He’s only a pound above his last winning mark when taking a class two handicap at Sandown in July, in a race where the fifth has come out and won cosily since. The lack of early pace is strongly in his favour, and the drop back to class three company for the first time since his Newmarket success on seasonal debut will further aid his cause, as he’s 2-2 in C3 handicaps including over C&D.
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2:40 Doncaster – Betfred City Of Doncaster Handicap (Class 2) (3yo 0-100) – Telemark 16/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
TELEMARK bounced somewhat back to form at Goodwood last time out having lost several places in the last few strides, weakening to finish a four length 8th. The gelded son of Night Of Thunder was lit up around the sharp right handed bend and his keen exertions inevitably scuppered his tank for anything left in the finish, but the long, galloping track at Doncaster should give him more time to settle.
We can possibly draw a line through his two previous efforts, particularly around Chester when noted to have blood in his mouth at the start. He didn’t look all that in love with the course there, and we can also discount his effort at York when a well backed 11/4F in a strong 0-105 contest, having been hampered and interfered with by a loose horse.
He was a winner for the column in a Sunday Series at Thirsk when showing the signs of promise he had as a two year old around this time last season, and his RPR of 105 there suggests when he’s mentally prepared within himself on the day, there’s a smart horse somewhere inside. Generally you had to race prominently at Thirsk there with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th all racing to the fore, and those racing in midfield/rear all finishing somewhat easily beaten. That form’s worked out in places, and a reproduction would see him good enough to take this contest.
The drop back into 3yo only company should suit, and based on his late season 2yo form he’s still got plenty of scope off a mark of 94.
3:15 Doncaster – Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Elim 10/1 1pt WIN
The drop back to seven furlongs for the first time since her debut nearly proved the oracle for ELIM, who was somewhat of an unlucky loser when a neck or so behind Queen Of Mougins in a competitive fillies handicap at York’s Ebor meeting.
Without the risk of sounding like a beaten drum, horses in rear at York fared little chance throughout the week and Elim was unsuited by travelling in their last throughout there. That said, she made eyecatching progress throughout the field, clocking the quickest final three furlongs of any horse in the contest with the first three home all racing prominently/midfield.
She’s a steadily progressive filly and Doncaster can suit her hold up style for the inform Bethell/Rodriguez team.
4:15 Doncaster – Betfred “The Classic Bookmaker” Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-105) – King’s Lynn 15/2 1pt WIN
If ever KING’S LYNN was going to win another race again, then this one has to be the day. His passion to knuckle down in a finish has become seriously suspect, but his recent form in handicaps suggest he’s got more than enough ability to take this race off effectively a mark of 90.
He posted an RPR of 100 when finishing fourth behind three progressive 3yos at Goodwood last month, and his when beaten a quarter of a length in a racing league contest at Wolverhampton has worked out particularly well. The second (Marine Wave) is now rated 7lbs higher having won a listed contest next time out, and the winner was previously a length behind the subsequent G1 Sprint Cup winner Montassib on his penultimate start. His length 5th over a potentially inadequate 5F at Ascot worked out well too, with the fourth winning well last time out and the second (Albasheer) just touched off in Listed company.
Returning to this track where his record reads 122186, where the latter came when beaten three lengths in the Portland last season off a 14lbs higher mark, should undoubtedly suit off a rare low weight.
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