We are getting used to big Saturdays in the racing world these days and we most definitely have another this week with the culmination of the St Leger meeting which includes the feature race itself. It is also Irish Champions Day too so there is a lot to enjoy.
There are other meetings up and down the UK and Ireland on Saturday but there are only two places where we are focusing our betting attention and that is the main meetings, where we have picked out four races to target, including the big one.
2.25 Doncaster
Preview
A maximum field for the ultra competitive Portland handicap over the intermediate trip of 5 and a half furlongs, and this year’s renewal looks as difficult to solve as usual. A Momentofmadness was edged out by subsequent Group 1 winner Oxted in this race last year, he won this in 2018 & his mark has fallen over the last 12 months but it’ll be some feat to make all against 21 rivals. Soldier’s Minute is running well but is better at York whilst Arecibo has been knocking on the door but struggles to get into the winners enclosure.
Betting
The first of our bets is Jawwaal. He’s a cracking sprinter who looked en route to pattern company until disappointing last time but he had excuses. York is stiffer than Doncaster so maybe he struggled to last home on his last start but of more concern was the fact the ground was on the soft side, despite the official going being quoted as good. He travelled sweetly that day & is definitely worth another chance based on his previous 2 starts, especially his penultimate run where he trounced an 18 strong field in a handicap at Ascot. Several winners have come out of that race & if he returns to that form, he’s certain to be involved in the finish. With good course form too, he’s a confident each way selection.
Wentworth Falls cannot go unbacked at Doncaster. He has a record of 1/22, 4/11, 4/11, 3/21, 2/13, 5/22 (in this last year) & 1/13 (earlier this year). That win 3 starts ago was off a mark of 89 & he’s 5lb higher here but he did win by almost 3 lengths so is handicapped to follow up. Last year in this race he was just over a length behind Oxted but had a terrible passage & given a clear run would have given the winner a race. Granted a clear run today, he’ll be in the frame especially as he loves a big field, with a record of 1325 in fields of 20+ runners. Conditions will suit, he has a nice middle draw & ranks another excellent each way bet.
Tips
Back Jawwaal (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back Wentworth Falls (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 13.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
Back them here:
2.35 Leopardstown
Preview
Champions weekend over in Ireland & the first race of interest is a middle distance Premier handicap with a big field of 18. Mirann is the favourite but isn’t for me off top weight whilst Aiden O’Brien’s number 1 hope Persia has an absence of almost a year to overcome. Winner Takes Itall & Emperor Of The Sun have decent apprentices aboard & both make some appeal but are just a little short in the market so instead I’m siding with 2 long priced horses.
Betting
The first of those is Springbank who appears to be the yard’s second string behind Mirann but I don’t see it that way. A 3 year old with just 7 runs to his name, he’s been excellent this season. He won 3 starts ago off a mark of 77 before disappointing in the Ulster Derby. However, he then slammed a field of 15 at Gowran Park by 6 lengths, kicking clear, coming home comfortably & staying on strongly. The extra furlong will suit, the race has a lack of pace so he may get an easy lead and despite a steeply rising mark, his last time out win could easily have been more than the actual winning margin. The first time blinkers probably helped & they stay on today so it’s hoped they have the same effect.
On a formline with Mirann, Grandmaster Flash is overpriced. 2 starts ago, he was 3rd behind Lynwood Gold with Mirann just half a length in front but our selection is now 3lbs better off. For that alone, I cannot understand why he’s three times the price. He followed that up with a cracking 5th of 20 at Galway in a hot race over a trip too far, fading near the end. He’s well handicapped on his all weather form of last year and, with his yard in top form (a remarkable 17 winners in the past fortnight), he should go well.
Tips
PLACED – Back Springbank (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 13.00 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back it here:
Back Grandmaster Flash (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 15.00 Skybet BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
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3.25 Doncaster
Preview
The big race over in England is the final classic of the season, the St Leger. I’m not sure it’s the strongest renewal but it’s also not the easiest race to find the winner, although the market is clearly split but 4 runners trading at 5/1 or lower & the other 7 runners all at 16/1 or bigger. Santiago & Pyledriver both won at Royal Ascot & are worth their place at the head of the market, whilst Hukum & Galileo Chrome are more unexposed types and will need to improve again. It’s hard to pick from these 4 so I’ll go for one at a longer price to upset the odds.
Betting
Mohican Heights is a tentative selection. He’s seen the track just 4 times but has shown enough to be involved in the finish here. He won both his starts at 2, including a 2 length beating he handed to Subjectivist who is at a similar price to the selection here. He was then 4 lengths 3rd to Pyledriver in the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot before a no show in the Derby when rearing in the stalls. It’s easy to ignore his Derby run & it’s also easy to think he’d have finished a lot closer at Ascot had he not been caught in the worst position when the pace lifted. The exaggerated Jamie Spencer waiting tactics were an issue in such a small field. However today, he’ll have a longer straight, a longer trip & a bigger field to contend with that should yield a faster pace. The Simcock yard has hit a rich vein of form with Simock & Spencer teaming up for 4 winners from their last 8 runners. At 20/1, he’s worth a small each way investment.
Tips
Back Mohican Heights (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 21.00 888sport BOG (⅕ odds 1-3)
Back it here:
5.50 Leopardstown
Preview
Day 1 of Champions weekend finishes with a super 7 furlong Premier handicap where Music To My Ears is a well fancied favourite. It’s hard to pick holes in her form although her one disappointing piece of form was when pitched in with the boys so that’s a definite concern. Another Batt & Lord Rapscallion are last time out winners but may struggle to follow up off their revised marks so I’ll take 2 against the field.
Betting
The Irish Cambridgeshire did us a great turn recently as we picked out the 1-2 & we’re heading back to that race for our 2 bets with the 3rd & 4th Breaking Story & Agitare the 2 we’re keeping on side here. The former finished 3rd that day & actually hit the front a furlong out so maybe this slightly shorter trip will help. He also brings another promising bit of form to the table with his 6th of 16 in a Premier handicap at Galway when he travelled as well as any but never got the breaks & can be marked down as unlucky. His mark remains unchanged & should again be involved in the finish.
Agitare was narrowly beaten into 4th in the Irish Cambridgeshire & remains a maiden but it’s surely only a matter of time before he puts that right. He was probably the unlucky horse in that race so it was no surprise to see him run well next time out when less than a length 3rd in a Listed race back over this trip. Another running off the same mark, he has a nice middle draw that will mean he can tuck in without getting boxed in & still go the shortest way round. With 5 places on offer, he’s another that should be involved in the finish, especially considering he’s never finished worse than 4th in 10 career starts.
Tips
Back Breaking Story (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 11.00 Betfair BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back it here:
Back Agitare (e/w) for a 0.75/10 stake at 13.00 Boylesports BOG (⅕ odds 1-5)
Back it here:
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