Hello & welcome along to my first blog of the week for Doncaster's St Leger Festival the last major Flat Festival of the summer. Ahead are 4 days of quality action culminating in the world's oldest classic on Saturday in which there could well be a decent field lineup with all of the major fancies standing their ground.
I am travelling up to Doncaster towards the end of the week to pay my first visit to Town Moor for what looks 2 excellent days racing on Friday & Saturday.
Ground conditions at present are good to soft with drying weather predicted for the start of the week although there are some showers that may make an appearance before the weekend.
Wednesday's card is a gentle introduction into the rest of the week with some small fields opening up the card before the ex jockey's come back out in the Leger Legends race. A 7f Nursery opens the meeting with recent York 5th Salateen heading them, that 5th was in Group 3 company on quick ground which did not appear to suit. This slightly softer ground should help him here although as a result of a couple of good runs he has quite a stiff opening mark but in truth this is not the strongest of Nurseries.
Similar comments apply to Percy Alleline who has been easily brushed aside on a couple of conditions events recently. Where Will It End has finished behind the improved Grigolo on his last 2 starts which is good form in the context of this race, his mark has risen but not by a dramatic amount so he should remain competitive.
Grey Sensation has improved with every start so far & comfortably opened his account last time, mark of 78 is not unduly harsh & has a chance.
Only Joking represents the in form Hugo Palmer stable, she had been off since May when making a easy 8 length winning return to action a month ago in a extremely weak race at Thirsk, despite that winning margin her mark could prove to be a little stiff.
Goring has not had the rub of the green with the going so far, he showed distinct promise on debut in a useful maiden at Newbury before just failing to last home on heavy ground at Leicester. Next time he was thrown into The Windsor Castle at the Royal Meeting where he ended up on the wrong side. A month later he bumped into a potentially useful sort at Ffos Las in Elysian Flyer again on ground with some cut in it as a result his initial mark has been dropped to what looks a very favourable one here, if the ground dries out too good he will have a smashing chance of getting off the mark.
Stardrifter was an 8 length winner of a seller 2 starts back but appeared to find the step up back into a good class Nursery at Newcastle beyond him next time although he did pull initially.
Will be with Goring 18/1 E/W BetVictor (2nd at 12/1) from looks a favourable mark, if the ground is good or firmer I will be even happier.
Better class 2yo's come up next with a 6f conditions event; Angelic Lord has an official rating of 106 after close up finishes in 2 Group 2 races at Royal Ascot & Newmarket, he will find this easier & has to be respected. Growl found the Acomb on fast ground all too much last time, he is unfurnished & will be better next year but is another who will appreciate the lesser grade here. Markaz was well fancied to win a Goodwood Nursery last time when finishing a comfortably beaten 2nd, he has the lowest official rating of those that do by just a couple of lbs so its not inconceivable that he can get involved in this. Fuwairt is exposed after 6 runs & each occasion he has tackled grades higher than Class 4 (Class 2 today) he has been well beaten.
Prince Bonnaire like Fuwairt is also exposed but at least when he has tackled Class 4 or above he has been competitive.
No bet race.
The feature event on Day one of Doncaster's St Leger Festival is The Listed Scarbrough Stakes over 5f.
In recent years horses carrying between 9-9 - 9-12 have won all of the last 10 renewals.
4 x 4yo have won in the last 10 years.
3 x 5yo have won in the last 10 years.
2 x 6yo have won in the last 10 years.
1 x 8yo has won in the last 10 years.
9 winners in the last 10 years have started at single figure odds between 13/8 - 15/2.
Steps heads the field carrying 10st after a Listed win earlier in the year, he will appreciate the drop in class & is a threat to all.
B Fifty Two has hit form in the last 2 months with 2 wins in his last 4 starts including a very impressive success at Chester last time, he has always been held in high regard by his former trainer the late John Hills. As a 2yo he was just below Group class but did finish 2nd to Dabirsim, can't be discounted in his current mood.
Kingsgate Native has tried & failed in these type of races since he won The Temple last season, classy at his very best but for the time being it would appear that the light is dimming.
Monsieur Joe will find this easier than The Nunthorpe last time out but is another who is out of form after a decent start to the season.
Noble Storm has been a useful horse for connections over the years but despite his talent he has only ever won once at Listed level at will struggle again here.
Reckless Abandon made an highly encouraging return to action after an aborted stud career when a close up 3rd behind Tropics & Alben Star with Sunday's Listed scorer Naadirr just behind him. This is his grade at present & it represents an excellent opportunity if he is to regain the winning thread although the bounce factor is a worry.
Demora couldn't handle the step up to Group 3 company last time at Goodwood but should find this a little easier although she is coming up against a couple of in form horses.
Gladatrix is not up to this grade on what she has shown.
Swan Song was well beaten in this race last season & has work to do to get involved this time around.
Mecca's Angel was due to run at Beverley recently but fast ground ruled her out, she was most progressive earlier in the season before trying Listed company in France where she refused to settle, big player if she settles here.
Online Alexander has won her last 2 starts in good style at Goodwood & York. Clearly on the upgrade & well worth a go in Listed company.
Have no strong opinion in this.
The Leger legends race is not a race I would get involved with for betting purposes but it makes for an interesting spectacle in the middle of the card.
An intriguing 1m2f conditions race follows, former Secretariat Stakes winner Bayrir attempts to get his career back on track after a mediocre time down under & a far from inspiring return to action at Windsor 18 days ago.
Cap O'Rushes has not been seen since finishing all but tailed off at York in May, he was decent at 3 but his form tailed off badly after his win in The Gordon at Goodwood, 10f is not his trip although he could well get an easy lead.
Clon Brulee has returned to the UK in great form with a 3rd at Epsom, an easy win at Newmarket & an excellent effort under a big weight at Sandown the other week. He was a winner at this meeting last year & rates the one to beat.
Magic Hurricane found the drop in trip against him last time & this represents another step up in class over that same 10f trip.
Nabucco has been running consistently in Listed & minor Group company so far this season but every time who gets outpointed over this 10f distance looking one paced & as if a step up will suit.
Red Galileo has been generally disappointing this season bar one stand out effort when a staying on 5th in The Derby under an astute ride by Oisin Murphy, this is no easier against his elders & I could not fancy him.
Definitely a non betting event.
3yo's over 7f face the starter at 4:45 with Hugo Palmer's Suzi's Connoisseur heading the weights, his last 3 starts have been at 6f & he has yet to really get the hang on sprinting despite running well on all 3 occasions. The step up will suit & he is more than capable from this mark. Expert on the other hand needs help from the handicapper. Sir Robert Cheval ran well for a long way on his return to action after a gelding operation & is not without hope stepped back up to his preferred distance of 7f.
Evening Attire has not been seen for over a year & is unbeaten in both his starts so far here at Doncaster & Kempton. On both occasions he beat horses now rated in the 100's (Roseburg 102 & Hors De Combat 108), could well be thrown in here off a mark of 92 if he is ready to roll on debut for his new stable. Azagal has been struggling most of the year & remains a pound above her last winning mark.
Basil Berry has been a model of consistency this season rising from a mark of 64 on his first start of the year in January to his latest 3rd from a mark of 90 on his 15th start of the year. No reason to suggest he can not get involved once more.
Ticking Katie is another consistent animal who has found her current mark just beyond her on her last 3 starts. Similar comments apply to Lincoln who has yet to win this season but has been placed on 8 occasions. Nakuti gained a win 2 starts ago when everything fell into place at Newmarket, she was well beaten next time & will struggle again here. Marmoom remains capable of better after a all the way win at Newmarket last time, he has a couple of lengths to find with Ticking Katie 2 starts back but that race was run at a crawl so he had excuses, player. Wilde Inspiration is yet another consistent animal in the lineup who has not been out of the first 3 all season but his wins have so far come on soft ground so he would not the ground to dry up.
Nezar needs the visor first time to bring about a huge amount of improvement as he has been along below his best so far this season.
A cracking handicap with so many consistent animals on show that it makes finding just one to back tough so I would rather leave alone.
The last race on Day one is an incredibly tough low grade 5f sprint handicap which are not my specialty so I would rather leave it alone & look ahead to the rest of the week.
@fttfracing
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