The latest of the flat season’s big fixtures gets underway on Thursday with the start of four top-class days’ racing on Town Moor for day one of the St Leger Festival and you can find our Doncaster day 1 betting tips below.
The season’s final Classic isn’t until Saturday, but there’s plenty of high-class horse racing action for punters to take in before then over the first couple of days and the ITV Racing cameras will be on hand to cover five of the first day’s eight-race card.
DAY ONE ST LEGER FESTIVAL TIPS – AT-A-GLANCE
1:15 Doncaster – BRISK SYMPHONY (15/2)
1:50 Doncaster – JEL PEPPER (4/1)
2:25 Doncaster – MOON TARGET (13/2)
3:00 Doncaster – FLORESTA (16/1, EW)
3:35 Doncaster – CASTLE STUART (9/2)
4:10 Doncaster – REVERBERATE (7/1)
4:43 Doncaster – MCMURRAY (9/2)
5:15 Doncaster – MUNSIF (7/1)
DONCASTER THURSDAY TIPS ST LEGER FESTIVAL – RACE-BY-RACE PREVIEW
1:15 Doncaster – British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap Cl2 (2yo) 6½f
BRISK SYMPHONY (15/2) arrives here chasing a hat-trick and Jonathan Portman’s progressive Sergei Prokofiev filly may be the way to go in the opener.
After an inauspicious debut over five furlongs at Chepstow, she has struck wins at Nottingham and, more recently, Newbury over this longer trip, latterly giving upwards of 5lbs to her rivals and winning with something to spare.
There could be more to come from her, and an opening mark of 82 on her handicap debut can prove workable. She can continue her upward curve, and it’s no surprise to see her in the mix, assuming the forecast slower ground doesn’t inconvenience.
1:50 Doncaster – Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (GBB Race) Cl2 (2yo) 6½f
JEL PEPPER (4/1) wasn’t disgraced despite only finishing fourth at Naas last month, and Oliver Cole’s charge can resume winning ways here.
A soft-ground winner on debut at Goodwood, the Inns Of Court gelding raised his game considerably to finish a solid third of six behind Zavateri at Newmarket in a Group Two, where reopposing Brussels was behind. That form has been boosted with the winner subsequently landing a second Group Two, while the runner-up has placed in both starts since in Graded company.
He fared best of those drawn low when last seen in the Ballyhane at Naas, and on what he has shown so far in his short career, he ought not to be too far away, given he is still open to further improvement.
2:25 Doncaster – Betfred May Hill Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (2yo) 1m
MOON TARGET (13/2) might have bumped into one when losing her unbeaten record at Goodwood last month, but Sir Mark Prescott’s charge is worth another chance stepping up in trip now.
The Cracksman filly had won both her previous starts at Newmarket and Yarmouth, respectively, scoring each by a wide margin before her Goodwood outing, where she wasn’t disgraced despite proving no match for an impressive winner.
It is possible she failed to act on the track, given she never really seemed to be travelling, and she hung left late on. However, back on a more conventional track, she could bounce back, especially with this extra furlong promising to suit.
3:00 Doncaster – Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m6½f
At a likely big price, it might be worth chancing Irish raider FLORESTA (16/1, EW) who represents the in-form Jonny Murtagh and the Wadgeist filly can continue her progression, taking a step up in class.
She’s won two of her last three, which include over this trip most recently in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes, where she ran out an impressive winner and comprehensively reversed form with Happy Pharaoh who had beaten her the time before.
This is certainly going to be a tougher ask stepping into a Group Two, but her shrewd yard rarely over-fazes their runner so her presence in this line-up certainly suggests connections consider her up for the task. Also proven on the ground and at the distance, she could run a big race for a yard that has been amongst the winners recently.
3:35 Doncaster – Oddschecker Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m2f
CASTLE STUART (9/2) won twice for Karl Burke over shorter trips, but the Dubawi colt took a forward step on his debut for new handler Richard Fahey when upped in trip at York last month, finishing a dead-heat third behind Dain Ma Nut In, finishing well.
That was a solid effort over this yardage in a race which was run at a muddling pace and which appeared to bring about some improvement, and he was running on well from the back having been briefly outpaced. Only beaten around a half-length on that last occasion, the form took a boost when the fifth won next time out, and he’s been raised just 1lb in the weights so he likely remains on a workable mark.
Unexposed at the trip, he is proven on softer ground, and the form of his earlier Musselburgh win is working out well; and he can make his presence felt in this competitive handicap.
4:10 Doncaster – JHA Architecture Nursery Handicap Cl3 (2yo 0-90) 7f
REVERBERATE (7/1) needs to step up again from his breakthrough success at Catterick last month, but the Night Of Thunder colt might be worth chancing to find the requisite improvement now he makes his handicap debut.
His two previous runs were by no means devoid of promise, and the form of his Ayr third to Rochfortbridge has been frankedby the runner-up going on to win a Listed contest. He ran out a ready winner when last seen at Catterick, beating Aleen by just over two lengths and while that form is ordinary, he is likely to do better.
Proven over the trip and in softer ground, he switches to the handicap ranks where an opening rating of 82 may not prove to be beyond him given he has plenty of scope to improve further.
4:43 Doncaster – Yates Drywall Ltd Nursery Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl3 (2yo 0-90) 1m
MCMURRAY (9/2) has improved with each start, shaping with promise on debut at Newbury before finding only A Bit Of Spirit too good next time out. That form has been boosted well by the winner, who has gone on to land a Group Thre,e and the Mehmas colt got off the mark himself at the third attempt when readily scoring at Ffos Las last month.
George Boughey’s charge did well to overcome some trouble in running, so he was likely worth more than the official margin, given he won going away from the field and the runner-up did nothing to harm the form next time when filling the same spot in a decent-looking maiden.
Now making his handicap debut, there may be better to come with this extra furlong likely to suit, while an opening rating of 83 looks fair. He can make his presence felt with further improvement anticipated, and no surprise to see him going close here.
5:15 Doncaster – Winners Wear Skopes Menswear Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl3 (3yo+ 0-90) 1m4f
MUNSIF (7/1) travelled like the winner for much of the race when tried for the first time over this trip at Goodwood last month, but the Sea The Stars gelding looked unbalanced late on and faded out of the race. Now equipped with headgear it might be worth chancing Roger Varian’s charge to bounce back.
A winner of his first two starts earlier in the campaign, scoring wins at Nottingham and Pontefract respectively he stepped up on those wins when making his handicap debut at York in May, eventually finishing third to Dante’s Lad and beaten less than one length.
He tackled this longer trip in that latest Goodwood effort, held up early but easily going to the front a half-mile out and travelling well. But once under pressure, he didn’t find a great deal and may not have acted on the track.
Back on a more conventional layout and with a hood now applied he remains fairly weighted off his unchanged mark, while the form of that Goodwood run has been boosted with the winner, runner-up and fourth horses home all making their presence felt in valuable handicaps since. He can improve for the application of headgear and he ought to be on the premises on the back of a short break.
Free Bets to spend on our Doncaster Tips
