The latest classic on the UK calendar is a few days away but before we get to the St Leger itself we have the first day of the four-day festival to get stuck into as the attention of the racing world descends on the Yorkshire track of Doncaster.
After finding the winner of the biggest race in the world last weekend, we are hoping for plenty more success over the course of the four days at Doncaster, and to get our betting underway we’ve picked out two from a competitive handicap on the card.
3.45 Doncaster
Preview
A mix of unexposed 3 year olds and experienced older handicapper’s will fight out this Class 2 contest over a mile and a quarter. At the time of writing, there are 4 battling it out for favouritism with 3 year olds Starcat & Strait Of Hormuz going up against the more experienced Derevo & Caradoc. Starcat ran in the 2000 Guineas & was outclassed but did seem on the way back at Goodwood last time & trainer Hughie Morrision is in form. He’d have made more appeal with Oisin Murphy on board so he’s passed over.
Favourites
Strait Of Hormuz continues to improve but is the most exposed of the 3 year olds and this is by far his toughest assignment to date. Caradoc won at Newbury last year off 2lbs & he’s always well fancied, going off 1st or 2nd favourite in all 3 starts this term. However, he’s yet to hit the frame & whilst it wouldn’t surprise if he came good, there’s no value in his price. Derevo is a real danger but again he’s been handed a draw slightly wider than ideal. Of the front 4, he’s the one who makes the most appeal.
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Betting
I’m taking 2 against the field, the first being the most unexposed in John Gosden’s Hypothetical. As a 2 year old, he raced just the once & won a Chelmsford novice event in fine style. Off the back of that run, he was given quotes of 33/1 for the 2000 Guineas & was well touted over the winter. Returning at Kempton in the Group 3, he went off favourite in a field containing Berlin Tango & St Leger favourite Pyledriver and, despite pulling hard, finished a creditable 4th. In his only other start, the soft ground was against him at Royal Ascot. This is easier, the ground is better & if he’s to fulfil his lofty reputation, he must go close here.
At big odds, Rise Hall cannot be discounted. He’s 2lbs lower than his last winning mark, 5 starts ago last summer at Newmarket when he had Caradoc in behind. Interestingly he’s 10lbs better off with that rival today too but it’s worth noting that Caradoc did hand our selection a beating at Newbury later last term when our horse was found to have a breathing problem. He went off a well fancied 5/1 on reappearance but he pulled very hard & didn’t get home over a mile & a half before being pitched into the John Smith’s Cup where he ran ok despite finishing out the back. He had a wider than ideal trip & travelled nicely into contention before fading late on. If his jockey holds on to him a bit longer, it would be no surprise to see him involved in the finish.
Tips
Back Hypothetical (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 9.00 Betfair BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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Back Rise Hall (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 21.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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