The Doncaster Cup is the headline act of the second day of the St Leger meeting. GG’s in-house tipster Joe Napier fancies an outsider in the race among his four best bets for the racing on ITV’s cameras on Friday.
2.25 Doncaster – Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed)
It would be a good story for racing if Sir Michael Stoute can hand over a very talented juvenile to his successor. Jonquil could well fit that bill, but his unlikely victory on debut arrived just two weeks ago, so it is difficult to get a grip on the form, for all he was value for a very promising success.
The last three winners were all claiming this on their fourth starts, which bodes well for Symbol of Honour as the only horse in the race appearing for the fourth time here. However, he has been gelded since a close sixth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot which mixes his appeal, so preference is for one with even more experience in MR CHAPLIN.
He was beaten much further in the Coventry, but was drawn on the worse side of the track despite the winner racing there. He has since won a very competitive nursery at Glorious Goodwood from a distinctly inopportune track position before finishing fifth from the back in a high class renewal of the Acomb Stakes at York three weeks ago. He is entitled to overturn form with The Waco Kid on that evidence, and this smaller field, combined with a track which does not favour front runners nearly as much, all bode well.
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3.00 Doncaster – Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2)
The two preferred here were both unlucky runner-ups at York, though at the prices, ARIZONA BLAZE is the clear choice ahead of Magnum Force. The selection is four times the price of his Irish compatriot despite being rated 4lb higher, and indeed the joint highest rated in the entire field alongside Big Mojo.
He has already been highly tried, so we must be wary his bolt is not shot soon, but Adrian Murray’s colt is yet to finish outside of the first three, winning at Group 3 level in May and making the frame in Group 1 and 2 company since. In the valuable Goffs yearling stakes at York, he was caught only in the dying strides when trying to concede weight all round, and the drop back to 5f may be an astute decision.
The son of Sergei Prokofiev was third in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot when racing on his own, though the one negative here is how much pace there may be in the race. Hopefully he can either break quickly enough or learn to take a lead, as he is a fantastic each-way price as things stand.
3.35 Doncaster – Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2)
The absence of Kyprios highlights the dearth of depth in the staying division. Neither Sweet William or Gregory convince at all beyond 2m despite being the more consistent form picks, Trueshan is past his best and a doubtful participant if the rain does not fall, and Point Lonsdale blew his first chance in a genuine staying contest at York last time out.
Therefore, although he himself is none too trustworthy nowadays, COLTRANE is worth chancing at the prices. He has already finished ahead of both Sweet William and Gregory at times this season, the former when winning the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot, and the latter when fifth to Gregory’s seventh in the Gold Cup. Andrew Balding’s stalwart was tailed off in the Goodwood Cup, but we do know he stays beyond 2m effectively, winning this two seasons ago, and may still have one last hurrah in him against this field.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Value Punts – Doncaster St Leger Festival Day One
There are some huge prices available about some of Matty Sutcliffe’s fancies for day one of the St Leger festival at Doncaster. You can back them early now, as he provides his value bets for Thursday. Published: 3.30pm Tuesday, 10th September (Odds correct at time of writing) 1:50 Doncaster – British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’…
Tue 10 Sep 20244.10 Doncaster – British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap
Cabrera has been more consistently on the up for a while, but MISS ALPILLES’s win at Haydock has received substantial form boosts throughout the pack. The third won next time out, beating the second who has now also won since to be rated 11lb higher. More remarkably, the 15-length seventh won easily on her next start in France before being beaten just 2½ lengths in Listed company most recently.
All of that came from a 0-75 handicap and though Miss Alpilles has gone up 9lb for that victory, there is enough evidence there to suggest she may still be thrown in. Having made waves from the back that day, there are few jockeys you’d rather have aboard than Jamie Spencer too.
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