The second day of the St Leger Festival takes place at Doncaster on Thursday and while we have to wait until Saturday for the feature race itself there are still some recognisable horses on show between now and then.
It has to be said the overall level of the racing on Thursday doesn’t really fit with what a meeting like this should do however there are still winners to be found and after a good look through the card we’ve come up with one bet.
3.45 Doncaster
Preview
This isn’t the strongest day’s racing but there is an intriguing 7 furlong handicap for 3 year olds where we have a warm favourite from the Roger Varian yard in Zainalarab. He’s won his last 3 including on handicap debut last time out where he beat Al Rufaa by almost 2 lengths. He’s up 5lbs for that run but I’d be more concerned over the quality of opposition he has to face. Spirit Of Nguru hasn’t won this season in 2 starts but form of 2nd (beaten a head) & 4th (off this mark & in this grade) gives him solid enough claims although odds of around 9/2 are perhaps a little short. There are trip doubts for New Kingdom whilst Billyb’s consistency is hard to knock but a 4lb rise off the back of a defeat is hard to accept.
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Betting
Admiral D is the fancy here. He was behind Billyb last time out at Thirsk in a close finish (the first 7 home covered by less than 3 lengths) & is 5lbs better off today for 2 lengths. The selection didn’t get the clearest of passages either so I’m pretty confident he’ll turn the tables today. At the end of last season, he won a good nursery at Naas when trained in Ireland & this season, since moving to the yard of Richard Fahey, he’s run some good races, all in this level of company. He was 6th of 19 in a heritage handicap at York behind a now 109-rated horse, 2nd of 19 in another heritage handicap and 3rd of 9 at the Shergar Cup, all before that Thirsk run. His mark has remained pretty static despite those excellent runs & he perhaps deserves a change of luck here. 7 furlongs suit & any ease in the ground won’t concern either. I can’t see anything beyond the first 5 in the market getting into this so he rates a good each way bet.
Tips
Back Admiral D (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 6.50 William Hill BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)
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