St Leger Festival Preview (Sat 14th September 2024 )

St Leger Day at Doncaster, with decent looking card featuring three group races and the big sprint the Portland Handicap .

Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo) Winner £88,800 6 runners 7f6y Good ITV (STALLS Centre) 

 

race conditions  £150,000 guaranteed For  2yo colts & geldings Weights  9st 2lb Penalties  a winner of a Group 1 or Group 2 race 3lb Entries  11 pay £220 Penalty value  1st  £88,800.00 2nd  £33,585.00 3rd  £16,785.00 4th  £8,385.00 

 

JBB RATINGS : (1) WOLF OF BADENOCH (108 ) (2) CHANCELLOR (104) 

 

Only six runners go to post for G2 Chanpagne Stakes over 7 furlongs ,though still looks interesting two-year-old contest .

 

The John & Thady Gosden trained Kingman Colt Chancellor has been put in clear favourite at around 7-4 , after winning 2 out 3, including winning both starts here at Doncaster , though was beaten odds on favourite at Ascot in listed company back in July. Has to be respected from top connections, though will need further improvement to land this G2 contest .Odds around 7-4 look short enough having been beaten in listed company .

 

WOLF OF BADENOCH looks the one to beat , after finishing creditable second in G2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last time , that form looks decent with third horse Cool Hand Luke winning the Gimcrack Stakes at York next time . Was good winner over C/D at Doncaster on debut .Odds around 3-1 look very fair value .

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Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo) Winner £421,355 7 runners 1m6f115y Good To Soft ITV (STALLS Inside)

 

 

race conditions  £743,000 guaranteed For  3yo colts & fillies; horses will be eligible to run in this race provided that they have a current BHA Handicap Rating of 80 or higher at midday of the confirmation stage. Horses which do not qualify for a rating may also be eligible providing the BHA Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including the day before confirmation merit a provisional assessment of 80 or higher. Horses which have not run will not be eligible. Weights  colts 9st 3lb; fillies 9st Entries  10 pay £2,000 Penalty value  1st  £421,355.30 2nd  £159,745.00 3rd  £79,946.80 4th  £39,824.80 5th  £19,986.70 6th  £10,030.50 

 

JBB RATINGS : (1) ILLINOIS (122) (2) SUNWAY (121) 

Disappointing turn out for St Leger with only 7 runners going to post ,with A.P O'Brien training three the runners .

Royal Ascot winner ILLINOIS has the most solid form, after finishing good second to Irish Derby winner Los Angeles in Great Voltiguer at York last time .Will be suited returning to this longer trip ,having won the Queens Vase over this distance .Odds 9-4 or bigger look solid value in one the weakest St Leger's in recent years .

Sunway looks best of the others, after finishing creditable second in Irish Derby and fourth in King George at Ascot , looks open to further improvement over this longer trip .Each-way claims .

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RECOMMENDED BETS :

WOLF OF BADENOCH 1.50 DONCASTER CHAMPAGNE STAKES 

2PTS WIN @ 3-1 BET365 & HILLS 

(UNPLACED SP 7-2 LOSS 2.00 PTS )

ILLINOIS 3.40 DONCASTER ST LEGER STAKES 

2PTS WIN @ 3.55 BETFAIR EXCHANGE 

(SECOND SP 11-4 LOSS 2.00 PTS )

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0.50 PTS WIN DOUBLE @  (3-1) & (9-4) BET365 & HILLS = 12-1

Doncaster St Leger Festival Day One (Park Hill Stakes Preview ) Thu 12th Sep 2024

Day One of the Doncaster St Leger Festival, with the feature race the G2 Park Hill Stakes for Fillies & Mares over Leger Distance 1M 6F 

Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) Winner £85,065 10 runners 1m6f115y Good ITV4 (STALLS Inside)

 

race conditions  £150,000 guaranteed For  3yo+ Weights  3yo 8st 11lb; 4yo+ 9st 7lb Penalties  after March 31st, 2024, a winner of a Group 2 3lb; of a Group 1 5lb Weight for age  3yo from 4yo+ 10lb Entries  20 pay £750 Penalty value  1st  £85,065.00 2nd  £32,250.00 3rd  £16,140.00 4th  £8,040.00 5th  £4,035.00 6th  £2,025.00 

 

JBB FORM RATINGS : (1) MISTRAL STAR (112) (2) NIGHT SPARKLE (111) (3) SCENIC (110)

 

10 runners declared for interesting looking G2 contest .

 

The consistent Night Sparkle  has been put in favourite at around 4-1, has been in good form this season without winning, finishing second three times , including finishing good second in G2 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glourious Goodwood last month .Appeared not get home over 2 miles, when 4L fourth to Vauban in Lonsdale Cup at York last time , will be suited returning to this shorter trip against her own sex ,though once again may have to settle for place.

 

The Hughie Morrison trained Frankel filly MISTRAL STAR  , looks open to improvement over this longer trip , after finishing staying on 5L fourth in Yorkshire Oaks last time, that was fair effort in that much stronger G1 contest .Had previously won in good style at Newmarket in 12f listed contest and finished creditable third in Lancashire Oaks at Haydock. Odds around 5-1 look solid each-way value .

 

Scenic looks best of the rest ,after winning 12F listed contest at York in impressive style at Ebor meeting last month , the return to this longer trip should suit ,having previosly finished close third over 1M 7F in listed contest in France .Each-way claims in open looking race .

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RECOMMENDED BET 

MISTRAL STAR 3.35 DONCASTER PARK HILL STAKES

1PT EACH-WAY @ 5-1 BET365 

(NON RUNNER )

St Leger Festival Preview 2024

Betfred St Leger Festival  Steeped in over 400 years of history, the Betfred St Leger is the world’s oldest classic. Founded in 1776 by Colonel Anthony St. Leger, the Betfred St Leger Festival is the highlight of Doncaster’s year, acclaimed as the premier sporting occasion of the Autumn calendar.

The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards (2,921 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September. 

 Established in 1776, the St Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classics. It is the last of the five to be run each year, and its distance is longer than any of the other four. 

The St Leger is the final leg of the English Triple Crown, which begins with the 2000 Guineas and continues with the Derby. It also completes the Fillies' Triple Crown, following on from the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks. The St Leger has rarely featured Triple Crown contenders in recent decades, with the only one in recent years being the 2012 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner Camelot, who finished second in the St Leger.

The event was devised by Anthony St Leger, an army officer and politician who lived near Doncaster. It was initially referred to as "A Sweepstake of 25 Guineas", and its original distance was two miles. The rules stipulated that colts and geldings were to carry 8 st, and fillies would receive an allowance of 2 lb. 

The inaugural running was held at Cantley Common on 24 September 1776. The first winner was an unnamed filly owned by the event's organiser, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. The filly was later named Allabaculia.

The title St Leger Stakes was decided at a dinner party held in 1778 at the Red Lion Inn located in the Market Place, Doncaster, to discuss the coming year's race. It was suggested that it should be called the Rockingham Stakes in honour of the host, the Marquess of Rockingham, but the Marquess proposed that it should be named instead after Anthony St Leger.^[1] That year the event was moved to its present location, Town Moor, in 1778.^[2]

The race came to national prominence in 1800, when a horse called Champion registered the first Derby–St Leger double. Its length was cut to 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 193 yards in 1813, and despite some minor alterations has remained much the same ever since. The victory of West Australian in 1853 completed the first success in the Triple Crown.

The St Leger Stakes was closed to geldings in 1906. It was transferred to Newmarket during World War I, and the substitute event was called the September Stakes. It was cancelled in 1939 because of the outbreak of World War II, and the following year's edition was held at Thirsk in November. For the remainder of this period it was staged at Manchester (1941), Newmarket (1942–44) and York (1945).

The race was switched to Ayr in 1989 after the scheduled running at Doncaster was abandoned due to subsidence. The 2006 race took place at York because its regular venue was closed for redevelopment.

The St Leger Stakes has inspired a number of similar events around the world, although many are no longer restricted to three-year-olds. European variations include the Irish St. Leger, the Prix Royal-Oak, the Deutsches St. Leger and the St. Leger Italiano. Other national equivalents include the Kikuka-shō, the New Zealand St. Leger and the VRC St Leger.

Triple Crown 

In England, where the term Triple Crown originated with West Australian's three wins in 1853, it is made up of:

1)The 2,000 Guineas Stakes, run over 1m (1,609 metres) at Newmarket Racecourse in Newmarket, Suffolk

2) The Derby, run over 1m 4f and 10y (2,423 metres) at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Epsom, Surrey

3)The St Leger Stakes, run over 1m 6f and 132y (2,937 metres) at Town Moor in Doncaster, Yorkshire

Since the 2,000 Guineas was first run in 1809, fifteen horses (including three winners of substitute races at Newmarket during the First World War) have won the English Triple Crown. The most recent – and only winner since World War II – was Nijinsky, in 1970. For many years, it was considered unlikely that any horse would ever win the English Triple Crown again. In the winter of 2006/2007, however, trainer Jim Bolger was training his unbeaten colt Teofilo for the Triple Crown^[1] and bookmaker William Hill plc was offering odds of only 12/1 against Teofilo winning the 2007 Triple Crown. The horse was withdrawn from the 2000 Guineas two days before the race after suffering a setback and never raced again.

Since Nijinsky, only Nashwan (1989), Sea the Stars (2009), and Camelot (2012) have won both the Guineas and the Derby. Between Reference Point in 1987 and Camelot in 2012, no Derby winner (not even the potential Triple Crown winners Nashwan and Sea the Stars) even entered the St. Leger. This reluctance to compete in the St. Leger is said to be because of the impact it would have on a horse's stud value in a market where speed is preferred to stamina. 

 The other main supporting races of the Doncaster Festival are  :

The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles 1 furlong and 197 yards (3,600 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

The Doncaster Cup is one of Britain's leading events for "stayers" – horses which specialise in racing over long distances. It is the final leg of the Stayers' Triple Crown, preceded by the Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup. The Doncaster Cup is the only British race where the winner has ballot-exempt entry to the Melbourne Cup.^[2]

The Sceptre Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 7 furlongs and 6 yards (1,414 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

The event is named after Sceptre, a successful filly foaled in 1899. Her victories included four Classics, concluding with Doncaster's St Leger Stakes. 

May Hill Stakes 

The May Hill Stakes is currently held on the first day of the four-day St. Leger Festival.

The leading horses from the race often go on to compete in the Fillies' Mile. The last to win both was Inspiral in 2022.

Park Hill Stakes

The Park Hill Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards (2,922 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

The Flying Childers

The Flying Childers Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old horses. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 5 furlongs and 3 yards (1,008 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

The Flying Childers Stakes is currently run on the second day of Doncaster's four-day St Leger Festival, the day before the St Leger Stakes. 

 Champagne Stakes 

The Champagne Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old colts and geldings. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 7 furlongs and 6 yards (1,414 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

Park Stakes 

The Park Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 7 furlongs and 6 yards (1,414 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

 Portland Handicap 

The Portland Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 5 furlongs and 143 yards (1,137 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

The event was established in 1855, and for a period it was known as the Portland Plate. The original course started opposite a coaching inn called Red House, and it featured a left-handed bend at about halfway. The race was later transferred to a straight course.

The Portland Handicap is held during Doncaster's four-day St. Leger Festival, and it is currently staged on the third day, the same day as the St Leger Stakes. 

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(Selections will be posted through the week)

July Cup & Superlative Stakes Preview (Sat 13th July 2024)

The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

It is one of Britain's most valuable and prestigious sprint races, and many of its winners have been acknowledged as the champion sprinter in Europe.

The event was established in 1876, and the first two runnings were won by Springfield, a colt bred by Queen Victoria at the Hampton Court Stud.

The Superlative Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old horses. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.

The race was renamed the Superlative Stakes in 1991 to honour Superlative, a splendidly tough two-year-old in 1983, trained by Bill O'Gorman and owned by Mrs Poh-Lian Yong, who won the July Stakes and Flying Childers Stakes, and 'reached the frame' in three Group 1 contests - Prix Robert Papin(2nd), Middle Park Stakes(2nd), Dewhurst Stakes(4th).^[1]

For a period the Superlative Stakes held Listed status. It was upgraded to Group 3 level in 2003, and to Group 2 in 2006. It is currently staged on the final day of Newmarket's three-day July Festival meeting. 

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bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2yo) Winner £56,710 9 runners 7f Good ITV (STALLS Centre)

 

race conditions  £100,000 guaranteed For  2yo Weights  colts & geldings 9st 3lb; fillies 9st Penalties  a winner of a Group 1 or Group 2 race 3lb Entries  12 pay £1,000 Penalty value  1st  £56,710.00 2nd  £21,500.00 3rd  £10,760.00 4th  £5,360.00 5th  £2,690.00 6th  £1,350.00 

 

The unbeaten Charlie Appleby trained Dubawi Colt Ancient Truth  has been put in strong favourite ,after winning both starts at Newmarket ,including winning C4 novice stakes over C/D at Newmarket last time .Looks promising sort, though takes big step up in class into group two company, has to be respected though odds around 6-4 look very short in this much stronger race .

 

At the prices the George Boughey trained PENTLE BAY  looks the each-way value, after finishing staying on second in listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot , though no match for the impressive winner Bedtime Story, was staying nicely at the finish.That form looks solid with the third & fifth both winning easily next time. Had previously won 6f maiden at Leicester in good style . Odds 8-1 or bigger ,look fair each-way value .

 

Of the others Columnist looks the most interesting, top rated on official BHA figures on mark (103) , after finishing good third in G2 Coventry stakes over 6f, though on pedigree far from certain to stay this longer trip . 

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VERDICT : (1) PENTLE BAY (2) ANCIENT TRUTH (3) COLUMNIST 

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My Pension Expert July Cup Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+) Winner £340,260 12 runners 6f Good ITV (STALLS Centre)

 

race conditions  £600,000 guaranteed For  3yo+; horses will be eligible to run in this race provided that they have a current BHA Handicap Rating of 80 or higher at midday of confirmation stage. Horses which do not qualify for a rating may also be eligible providing the BHA Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to nd including the day before confirmation merit a provisional assessment of 80 or higher. Horses which have not run will not be eligible Weights  3yo colts & geldings 9st 2lb; fillies 8st 13lb 4yo+ colts & geldings 9st 8lb; fillies 9st 5lb Weight for age  3yo from 4yo+ 6lb Entries  46 pay £2,580 Penalty value  1st  £340,260.00 2nd  £129,000.00 3rd  £64,560.00 4th  £32,160.00 5th  £16,140.00 6th  £8,100.00

 

The fast improving 3-Y-0 colt INISHERIN looks the one to beat, after winning both the Sandy Lane Stakes & Commonwealth Cup in good style, far from disgraced when finishing sixth in 2000 Guineas over mile, though has looked different horse since dropping back to 6 furlongs winning both starts over the trip .Always travelling well in Commonwealth Cup ,before quickening clear furlong out for decisive victory . Odds 5-2 or bigger look solid value .

 

Vandeek  looks the most interesting of the other runners, if coming back to his useful two-year-old form ,including winning the G1 Middle Park at Newmarket in good style, though was disappointing in Sandy Lane stakes when no match for Inisherin, when odds on favourite, should improve for that first run of the season, though will need to bounce back to his very best form to beat that rival .

 

Irish raider Regional looks best of the rest, very consistent sort, including finishing creditable second in King Charles 111 stakes at Royal Ascot last time, had previously won the G1 Haydock Sprint Cup last season . This looks stronger race , though place claims .

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VERDICT : (1) INISHERIN (2) VANDEEK (3) REGIONAL 

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NEWMARKET (SATURDAY JULY 13TH) SELECTIONS :

 

PENTLE BAY 3.25 NEWMARKET SUPERLATIVE STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 17-2 WILLIAM HILLS

(NON RUNNER )

 

INISHERIN 4.35 NEWMARKET JULY CUP 

2PTS WIN @ 11-4 WILLIAM HILLS 

(FIFTH SP 11-8 LOSS 2,00 PTS)

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1/4 PT EACH-WAY DOUBLE @ 34.62-1 WILLIAM HILLS 

TOTAL LOSS 2.50 PTS

John Of Gaunt Stakes Preview (Sat 8th June 2024 )

The John of Gaunt Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain first run in 1976, open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 7 furlongs and 37 yards (1,442 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in late May or early June.

The event is named after John of Gaunt, the 1st Duke of Lancaster, who lived in the 14th century. It was formerly open to horses aged three or older, and it used to be classed at Listed level. The minimum age was raised to four in 1998, and the race was promoted to Group 3 status in 2008.

 

RECORDS  

Most successful horse since 1976 (2 wins):

Warningford – 1999, 2002

Main Aim – 2009, 2010

Leading jockey since 1986 (3 wins):

Ryan Moore – Major Cadeaux (2008), Main Aim (2009, 2010)

Leading trainer since 1986 (4 wins):

 John Gosden – Mutakddim (1995), Decorated Hero (1997), Mount Abu (2001), Sleeping Indian (2005)

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Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (4yo+) Winner £48,204 12 runners 7f37y Good To Firm ITV4 (STALLS Inside)

race conditions  £85,000 guaranteed For  4yo+ Weights  colts & geldings 9st 2lb; fillies 8st 13lb Penalties  after August 31st 2023, a winner of a Group 3 race 3lb; of a Group 2 race 5lb; of a Group 1 race 7lb Entries  17 pay £850 Penalty value  1st  £48,203.50 2nd  £18,275.00 3rd  £9,146.00 4th  £4,556.00 5th  £2,286.50 6th  £1,147.50 

 

JBB FORM RATINGS:

(1) WITCH HUNTER (119) 

(1) NOBLE DYNASTY (119) 

(3) TIBER FLOW (118)

(4) POGO (117)

 

Competitive group three contest over 7 furlongs on ground described as good/firm.The Charlie Appleby trained 6-Y-0 Dubawi gelding Noble Dynasty , has been put in clear favourite at around 7-2, after making all in class two handicap at Newmarket off mark 105, that was good effort off  9-12 , though has yet to win in listed or group company, including when only fifth in G3 Ras Al Kor at Meydan in March .Looks short enough in market in such competitive race .

The Richard Hannon trained five-year-old WITCH HUNTER , should go well after finishing creditable staying on third in G1 Lockinge stakes at Newbury last time . Had some decent form last season , including winning G2 Hungerford Stakes at Newbury.With plenty pace in the race , this hold up performer should get race run to suit.Odds around 13-2 look solid each-way value with bookmakers paying 4 places .

Of the others the 8-Y-0 Pogo can't be ruled out, goes well here at Haydock , including winning this race in 2022 , also finished good second last time at Haydock in the Spring Trophy listed stakes .Place claims in open looking race .

VERDICT : (1) WITCH HUNTER (2) NOBLE DYNASTY (3) POGO 

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SELECTION : 

 

WITCH HUNTER 3.35 HAYDOCK JOHN OF GAUNT STAKES 

1PT EACH-WAY @ 13-2 BETVICTOR 

(UNPLACED SP 7-2 LOSS £200/ 2.00 PTS  )

 

RESULT :

1ST : TIBER FLOW @ 6-1

2ND : SIRONA @ 12-1

3RD : POGO @ 11-2