ITV Racing Tips for Doncaster St Leger Day and the Irish Champions Stakes (11/09/21)

The final Classic of the flat season takes place at Doncaster this weekend and we have got ITV Racing tips from there, Chester and the Irish Champion Stakes from Leopardstown over in Ireland.

Hurricane Lane is the well-fancied favourite for the Leger and St Mark’s Basilica is around Evens to win the Irish Champion Stakes. There is a listed race at Chester and three more races from Doncaster to complete Henry’s Saturday racing tips.

 

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1:45 Doncaster

The 1:45 race is the Portland Handicap. A trappy 5f sprint race full of many familiar sprinters.

The one for me is STONE OF DESTINY (9/1). I thought he was unlucky last time out at Haydock as he didn’t get a run till arguably too late in the race and making up ground on the inside at York is never easy. He was 5th there but wasn’t beaten far at all. He now returns to the scene of his last victory which was this race last year and I can see him going very close again this year.

 

2:00 Chester

The 2:00 race from Chester is the Stand Cup Stakes, a listed contest over the 1m4f trip.

My selection here is ALOUNAK (5/2). Alounak has had a fantastic season including a victory in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock three starts back. He ran an absolute cracker last time out finishing third in the competitive Ebor handicap and a repeat of that run will see how go very close here. The favourite Alignak has to defy a year long absence which is a slight negative for me.

 

2:20 Doncaster

The Champagne Stakes is next up and only 4 runners head to post for this Group 2 affair over 7f for 2 year-olds.

I expect REACH FOR THE MOON (4/5) to win this. He was a great second in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot before improving to take the Solario Stakes last time out at Sandown impressively by 4l. This son of Sea the Stars can continue to improve and take this.

 

2:35 Chester

The second and final race from Chester on ITV is a tricky 1m6f handicap.

I like HOCHFELD NB (5/1) here. He loves it here at Chester and has managed to win two from his five career starts here at the track. He also finished third in the Chester Cup earlier in the year and in typical Mark Johnston fashion, I expect he will bounce back at a track he obviously relishes. Hopefully he can get to the front from a wide draw and prove tough to pass.

 

2:45 Leopardstown 

The Irish Champion Stakes, a Group 1 over 1m2f is the next race live on ITV. Only four runners again but it’s a fantastic race.

I think it’ll prove to be a very tactical affair which won’t suit Tarnawa in my opinion. She’s better over slightly further and would appreciate some cut in the ground.

I’ll take a chance that POETIC FLARE (10/3) can get to the front and go slow so he can’t use his potent turn of foot and prove tough to pass. He has been a star of the season and his win in the St James Palace Stakes was one of the performances of the year. Hopefully he can get to run on similar quick ground here otherwise his stamina may become an issue.

 

3:00 Doncaster

The 3:00 race is the Park Stakes, a Group 2 race over 7f.

I think Crowley may have got this one wrong as I really like the chances of DANYAH NAP (11/4) here. A horse who’s progressed well throughout the season getting better and better with each run. He won a deep handicap at Ascot on his last start and I think he’ll continue his season progression and win this weak Group 2 contest. He’s a course and distance winner and trainer Owen Burrows continues to have a fine season.

 

3:35 Doncaster

The final classic of the season is next up, the Group 1 St Leger Stakes over an extended 1m6f. Hurricane Lane is a worthy favourite but is too short for me at around the 4/6 mark.

The one I’ve landed on is INTERPRETATION EW (14/1). An Aiden O’Brien runner that appears to have gone under the radar here. A winner on his last two starts over 1m5f and 1m6f he is already proven over this trip unlike many of his rivals. He’s all stamina and finds plenty for pressure which we know will be important in this race. Hollie Doyle is a decent jockey booking and I think he’s certainly the value at around 14/1.

 

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