Doncaster Park Stakes Preview (Sat 16th Sep 2023)

 

St Leger Day at Doncaster on ground described as Soft(good/soft places) 

The St Leger itself looks very tricky race with Aidan O'Brien & John Gosden having seven of the 9 runners.Difficult to find any angle in race with at least six runners having some kind chance .

Going concentrate on the main supporting race the group two Park Stakes at 3.00 .

Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) Winner £68,052 5 runners 7f6y Soft ITV (STALLS Centre)

 

race conditions  £120,000 guaranteed For  3yo+ Weights  3yo colts & geldings 9st 3lb; fillies 9st; 4yo+ colts & geldings 9st 6lb; fillies 9st 3lb Penalties  after March 31st, 2023, a winner of a Group 2 race 3lb; of a Group 1 race 5lb pay £230 Penalty value  1st  £68,052.00 2nd  £25,800.00 3rd  £12,912.00 4th  £6,432.00 5th  £3,228.00 6th  £1,620.00 

 

Just five runners go to post for 7f Park Stakes .

 

The five-year-old Karl Burke trained gelding SPYCATCHER should be difficult to beat with ground conditions in his favour ,was taken out the Haydock Sprint Cup last week due to firm ground .Has been in great form this season ,winning the group three Prix de Ris-Orangis in good style in July ,also finished short head second in group one Prix Maurice de Gheest both on soft ground .Odds 7-4 or above look value in this 5 runner race

 

Sandrine look possible danger after finishing creditable third in City Of York stakes behind Kinross last month , though not easy horse to win with, only one victory in his last 12 starts .Also finished well behind Spycatcher in Prix Maurice de Gheest .

Of the others Audience has some fair form on his day ,including finishind second in City of York Stakes last time ,though is not most consistent performer and all his best form has been on fast surface 

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RECOMMENDED BET SATURDAY 16TH SPTEMBER :

SPYCATCHER 3.00 DONCASTER PARK STAKES 

1PT WIN @ 7-4 BET365 

(THIRD SP 5-4 LOSS £100/1.00PT  

St Leger Festival Day One Preview (Park hill Fillies Stakes)Thu 14th Sep 2023

Day one of the St Leger Festival.Plenty rain about with 21 mm falling on Tuesday ,ground conditions are described as soft .Not easy card to start the meeting .The most interesting race on the card looks to be the 1M 6F G2 Park Hill Stakes at 3.35 

Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) (3yo+) Winner £82,230 10 runners 1m6f115y Soft ITV4 (STALLS Inside)

 

race conditions  £145,000 guaranteed For  3yo+ fillies & mares Weights  3yo 8st 11lb; 4yo+ 9st 7lb
Penalties  after March 31st, 2023, a winner of a Group 2 race 3lb; of a Group 1 race 5lb Weight for age  3yo from 4yo 10lb Entries  18 pay £725 Penalty value  1st  £82,229.50 2nd  £31,175.00 3rd  £15,602.00 4th  £7,772.00 5th  £3,900.50 6th  £1,957.50 

 

Testing conditions for this 1M 6F group two contest for fillies & mares .Not the strongest looking G2 contest The three-year-old Nathaniel filly SUMO SAM  should relish these conditions, after winning the G2 Lillie Langtry stakes impressively by 6L at Goodwood last month,that was career best effort on her first start over 1M 6F .Had shown bits and pieces of form over shorter trips ,including finishing second to Running Lion in Pretty Polly stakes at Newmarket in May,though seem relish the step up to 1M 6F on testing conditions .Has 3lb group two penalty to overcome ,though gets handy 7lb off the older fillies. Odds around 4-1 look solid e-w value,especially with William Hills paying 4 places .

 

Of the others Golden Lyra & Ching Shih both have each-way claims ,Golden Lyra goes well on testing conditions, including winning 12f listed race at Saint-Cloud at the end of last season on heavy ground, also finished fair fourth of 10 in G2 company at Deauville last time ,staying on nicely at finishing .Looks open to improvement over this longer trip .Ching Shih ran creditable second too live St Leger hope Arrest at Newbury last time over 1M 5F , that looked fair effort giving that rival 3lb, not the easiest horse to win with, the only victory coming in Novice stakes in 2021, though goes well in these conditions .

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VERDICT : (1) SUMO SAM (2) GOLDEN LYRA (3) CHING SHIH 

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RECOMMENDED BET THURSDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 

SUMO SAM 3.35 PARK HILL FILLIES STAKES

0.50 PTS EACH-WAY @ 4-1 WILLIAM HILLS (1/5 ODDS 1-2-3-4 )

(WINNER SP 4-1JF PROFIT £240/2.40 PTS )

St Leger Festival Preview 2023

The Betfred St Leger Festival is one of the highlights of the flat racing season. Thousands attend to watch history in the making across four thrilling days of action and excitement. Culminating on the final day of the festival with the Group 1 Betfred St Leger Day, this historic race has been won by some legendary horses through the decades and jubilant crowds watch on to see a little piece of horse racing history each year. 

Doncaster Day One (Thu 14th Sep) : The two feature races are the May Hill Stakes & Park Hill Stakes 

The May Hill Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres)

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) 

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Doncaster Day Two (Fri 15th Sep) : The two feature races are the Flying Childers & Doncaster Cup

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)

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), The earliest important race in Doncaster's history was the Doncaster Gold Cup, first run over Cantley Common in 1766. The Doncaster Cup is the oldest continuing regulated horse race in the world. Together with the 2 miles (3,200 m) Goodwood Cup and 2+1⁄2 miles (4,000 m) Ascot Gold Cup, the Doncaster Cup is part of Britain's Stayers' Triple Crown for horses capable of running longer distances. 

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Doncaster Day Three (Sat 16th Sep) :St Leger Day with the three main races the Park Stakes ,Portland Handicap and the St Leger inself

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)

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) 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 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) 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. 

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Doncaster Day Four (Sun 17th Sep) : The two feature races are the Sceptre Stakes & Scarbrough Stakes 

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)

The Scarbrough Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years or older. It is run at Doncaster Racecourse over a distance of 5 furlongs and 3 yards (1,008 metres)  

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(Selections posted later in the week)

Irish Champions Weekend (Day Two ) Sunday 10th September

Day two of Irish Champions Weekend,with the feature race the Irish St Leger .

Good to see the return of last years winner Kyprios ,though really disappointing turn out for €500,000 race, with only five runners declared .

Not easy card to find much value ,especially in group races ,with lot short price favourites .The G2 Blanford Stakes at 2.25 looks one most interesting races .

Moyglare ''Jewels'' Blandford Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies & Mares) (3yo+) Winner €118,000 11 runners 1m2f Good RTE2

 

race conditions  €200,000 guaranteed For  3yo+ fillies & mares only Weights  3yo 9st 2lbs; 4yo+ 9st 8lbs Penalties  (to count from 1st January, 2023) Winner of a Group 1 race 3lb extra Weight for age  3yo from 4yo+ 6lb Penalty value  1st  €118,000.00 2nd  €38,000.00 3rd  €18,000.00 4th  €8,000.00 5th  €4,000.00 6th  €2,000.00

 

The Aidan O'Brien trained Jackie Oh has been put in jt favourite at around 4-1 ,after winning G3 contest at Gowran Park on heavy ground back in July , though all her best form has been on soft or heavy conditions , fast ground has to be major concern after running very poorly at Royal Ascot on similar ground.

The British raider ARAMINTA  should go well ,after winning 9f group three contest at Chantilly last time ,that form looks solid with second Exellent Truth boosting the form next time, winning G3 contest at Deauville.Had previously won the 10f Height Of Fashion listed stakes at Goodwood in good style .Looks open to plenty more improvement after just four starts .Odds around 4-1 look solid each-way value,especially with bookmakers paying 4 places 

The consistent Lumiere Rock has each-way claims ,after finishing good second at Deauville last time in G2 company ,also finished creditable second in Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot behind Warm Heart on fast ground .

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RECOMMENDED BET SUNDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2023 

 

ARAMINTA 2.25 CURRAGH BLANFORD STAKES 

0.50 PTS EACH-WAY @ 4-1 CORALS (1/5 ODDS 1-2-3-4)

(FOURTH SP 9-2 LOSS £10.00/0.10) 

Irish Champions Weekend (Day one ) Saturday 9th September 2023

Day one of the Irish Champions weekend at Leopardstown ,with five group races ,including the feature race of meeting the

€1.25 million Irish Champion stakes at 3.20 

However this looks very tricky card , with the big race looking very wide open ,with bookmakers going 3-1 the field .

Going concentrate on two supporting races .The G1 Matron Stakes & G2 Dullingham Park Stakes .

Coolmore America "Justify" Matron Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (3yo+) Winner €236,000 13 runners 1m Good ITV3

 

The Dermot Weld trained three-year-old TAHIYRA  stands out on form , having won three G1 races ,including winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time ,also was good winner of the Irish 1000 guineas at Curragh .Has been kept fresh for this race and will be difficult to beat from good draw in stall 4 .

 

Stablemate Homeless Songs would be big danger if repeating last years Irish 1000 guineas form, when beating the useful Tuesday by 5L ,though  has got nowhere near that level of form in 3 runs since , including when beaten in listed company over C&D at Leopardstown in April .

 

Of the other contenders ,three time course winner Zarinsk looks the most interesting, after winning 7f G2 contest at Leopardstown in July.Has excellent record at track winning 3 out 5.Place claims ,though has to overcome wide draw in stall 11 .

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VERDICT: (1) TAHIYRA (2) ZARINSK (3) HOMELESS SONGS  

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Dullingham Park Stakes (Group 2) (3yo+) Winner €118,000 12 runners 1m Good RTE2

 

race conditions  €200,000 guaranteed For  3yo+ Weights  3yo 9st 5lbs; 4yo+ 9st 10lbs Penalties  (to count from 1st January, 2023) Winner of a Group 1 race 3lb extra Weight for age  3yo from 4yo+ 5lb Allowances  fillies & mares 3lbs Penalty value  1st  €118,000.00 2nd  €38,000.00 3rd  €18,000.00 4th  €8,000.00 5th  €4,000.00 6th  €2,000.00 

 

 The Aidan O 'Brien trained Victoria Road has been put in favourite at around 11-4 ,had some useful form as two-year-old ,including winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf at Keenland ,though was disappointing on only start this season ,when finishing 7th of eight at Deauville in G2 company last month .The return to this shorter trip will suit ,though will need bounce back from that poor run .

 

 BUCKAROO goes well here at Leopardstown ,including winning listed race over C&D here in April ,also finished creditable short head second in Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last season .Ran another solid race at Royal Ascot last time in Wolferton Stakes ,finishing never nearer 2l third behind Royal Champion .Solid claims at around 3-1 in not the strongest looking G2 contest .

 

Of the others Bold Discovery looks the most interesting ,after winning listed race at Curragh in July .Slightly disappointing last time at Goodwood in G3 company,though looked unsuited by soft ground .Will be suited by this quicker surface .Each-way claims .

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VERDICT : (1) BUCKAROO  (2) BOLD DISCOVERY (3) VICTORIA ROAD 

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RECOMMENDED BET LEOPARDSTOWN  SAT 9TH SEPTEMBER  :

 

TAHIYRA 2.45 LEOPARDSTOWN MATRON STAKES  (1/5 ODDS 1-2-3)

(WINNER SP 5-6 )

BUCKAROO 3.55 LEOPARDSTOWN DULLINGHAM PARK STAKES (1/5 ODDS 1-2-3-4)

(SECOND SP 2-1)

0.50 PTS EACH-WAY DOUBLE @ 7-1 BET365 (EVENS & 3-1 )

(WINNER & 2ND LOSS £6.00 /0.06)