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12:30 Doncaster
Unfortunately we only have the three runners in the opener on this rearranged final of day of Doncaster's St Leger meeting however despite the small turnout it seems relatively competitive.
It'd come as no shock or surprise if any of the trio were to claim success in this 7 furlong, Group 2 contest.
Of the three two year olds I think it's a close call between the two most fancied runners. Both Chaldean and Silver Knott look to claim their third consecutive victories.
Based solely on their latest runs I'm going to side with Godolphin's Silver Knott who claimed a very convincing victory by over 3 lengths.
Chaldean and Indestructible weren't far apart when filling the top two spots at York and a similar outcome looks to be on the cards.
Silver Knott looks to have a touch of class in comparison to the other two rivals here.
SILKVER KNOTT (WIN)
written by Rory Paddock
13:00 Doncaster
Able Kane attempted to make all when finished a fair fourth at Goodwood last time out and the form of that race looks fairly strong. Effective at this course and likely to adopt his favoured front running role, he looks a very big player and respect is afforded.
Tanmawwy is progressive and showed a very good attitude when battling on well to score at Ffos Las when last seen. Still quite lightly raced and proven on the ground, Charlie Hills charge looks an interesting contender and Jim Crowley is riding at the top of his game.
Mums Tipple can be frustrating but she showed her better side when hacking up at Newmarket a few starts back and her second at Ascot the last day was a fair effort. Juan Les Pins has won his last four and he looked better than ever when bolting up here last month, nudged up 7lbs for that, he is now 22lbs above the mark he started the sequence off but he cannot be dismissed out of hand and is worth considering. Asjad has two ways of running and he arrives here totally out of form, however, unlike a few of the others, he will enjoy the ground and he is surely fresher than a few. Hailing from a yard coming to the boil again, he gets a tentative vote at decent odds although one couldn't be too confident.
ASJAD (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly
13:35 Doncaster
The second two year old Group 2 contest of the day sees a total of eight runners go to post for this sprint contest.
Although the betting would indicate it's perhaps a two horse race with The Platinum Queen and Trillium vying for the favourites spot as neither have tackled ground as soft as this they both have major questions to answer in regards to this surface.
Of the two well fancied runners I'd be more inclined to side with the Richard Hannon youngster who's had a less hectic season however I'm going to look for an each way alternative elsewhere.
At a massive price Lady Hamana hails from a yard who's prolific with their two year olds and could be drastically overpriced by the odds compilers. It'd be no shock to see do better than her price would indicate but she does need to show improvement on what she's done to date.
I'm going to make a tentative selection with the George Boughey trained Malrescia. She's not the most prolific but unlike most of her rivals she has solid form on soft ground and should relish a return to the minimum trip. With ticks in the right boxes that many of today's rivals don't have I'll side with her to finish in the money.
MALRESCIA (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
14:10 Doncaster
A typically competitive looking renewal of the Portland and without messing around, our first of two selections come in the shape of, Whenthedealinsdone. Well backed when sent to Ascot last time, he appeared to relish the good to soft ground and his emphatic three length victory was super impressive on the eye. Shoved up 10lbs by the handicapper for that, he will probably have to find another jolt of improvement but such was the impression he left that day, he simply cannot be overlooked.
Makanah has forgotten how to win and his losing stretch dates back nearly three years, often there or thereabouts, he will almost certainly run his race and respect is a must, but you do feel he is playing for places only at this point.
Dusky Lord rarely finds what he promises to when push comes to shove but he does leave the impression he could win off this type of mark, from a yard firing, he looks a fair option for the place players and he could well go close under David Egan. Sunday Sovereign would appreciate further rain and he would be a big player if getting his conditions, likely to be suited to the way this race is run, he looks handicapped to go close and is feared. Dakota Gold can be forgiven for flopping when poorly drawn last time and he is another to factor in. Well handicapped in the grand scheme of things and proven at the course and under the conditions, he is afforded a our second play and he would be very dangerous if getting an easy lead. Count D'Orsay, Chipstead, Burning Cash and Bergerac are others to consider in a wide open contest and those without a mention could hardly be written off comfortably.
WHENTHEDEALINSDONE (WIN)
DAKOTA GOLD (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly
14:45 Doncaster
Trueshan’s defeat in the Goodwood Cup last time out was the first time he has been beaten since June last year but still finished comfortably ahead of Coltrane. The extra distance and likely softer ground conditions will only aid him franking that form here today. With regular partner Hollie Doyle on board he is well worthy of being a strong favourite here today.
Coltrane does look next best on form given how he has progressed this year. He followed a great victory in the Ascot Stakes with a procession in a listed contest at Sandown. He has found life a bit tougher at group level however, and was very much put in his place by Quickthorn last time out.
Though Trueshan is by far the most likely winner, I’m going to look for each way value here in the form of Stratum. He is proven over this maranthon distance and is quite versatile with ground conditions too. He is a much better option than Get Shirty who, though he has progressed in handicaps this season, highlighted by winning the Old Newton Cup, is far from certain to appreciate this distance and Stratum is excellent each way value at his current odds to be in the first three for Willie Mullins with William Buick in the saddle.
STRATUM (E/W) written by Tom Bates
15:20 Doncaster
Kinross seems to be a rejuvenated character and all of those improvements came to the forefront when winning the Group 2 City Of York Stakes last time out. That victory came on firmer ground so you’d naturally be concerned of the five year old’s chances now tackling turf with plenty of cut. However with a previous victory on soft at Goodwood it shouldn’t be as big an issue as feared.
Al Suhail finished 5th behind Kinross last time out and I expect the Godolphin owned runner to finish much closer. Although I’d consider him a serious each way selection, with just the seven runners in the lineup and as such just the two places on offer it’s not a viable punting prospect.
At a bigger price the Irish raider New Energy has some serious form in the book with a 2nd behind Native Trail. The downside however is he’s only won the once on debut and hasn’t entered the winners enclosure since but could go close none the less.
KINROSS (WIN)
written by Rory Paddock
15:55 Doncaster
New London bids to give Charlie Appleby back-to-back victories in the St Leger, the final British Classic of the season. The son of Dubawi’s only defeat to date came in the Chester Vase when the ground was soft and he’s plenty short in the market considering the ground conditions and that he’s only won at Group 3 level.
Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal made it second time lucky for new connections in the “March Stakes” at Goodwood last month. William Buick didn’t have to work overly hard to brush aside his three rivals that day but there are question marks surrounding the strength of the form. He’s undoubtedly a talented individual but may have to settle for minor honours.
Queen's Vase winner Eldar Eldarov was slightly disappointing in France most recently but should appreciate a return to this trip, so can't be ruled out. The supplemented Haskoy holds leading claims to become only the fourth filly to win the St Leger since Dunfermline. John Gosden’s unbeaten filly has looked impressive in two starts to date and could potentially beat what might be an average representation from the colts
HASKOY (E/W) written by Peter Keogh
16:30 Doncaster
Arthur’s Realm has won over course and distance and was highly unlucky in the Summer Cup at Thirsk, when starting slow but only going down by a neck. His conqueror that day was Empirestateofmind, who lines up against him today. He has a good record on this ground and might well outrun his odds today. However, he’s been raised by 4 lbs and doesn’t have a brilliant draw, which does make his task more difficult.
Point Lynas looks to be progressive and has been climbing up the ratings in his last two starts. He comes into this race with a flyweight and he has ran well at Doncaster before. On the other side, he does have to improve again to land the spoils today and he unproven on soft ground. He’ll need to do more.
Tyrrhenian Sea showed that he could adapt to the turf when finishing a fine third in a competitor handicap during the Ebor festival. He shouldered top weight that day and has to carry a similar weight again. He has the form from the York race, which sets the standard and he’s a fine individual. The only major concern is that he’s untested on soft ground but given his lineage that may not be a problem.
TYRRHENIAN SEA (WIN)
written by Kieran McHugh
17:05 Doncaster
The final race of the day sees a contest where many of these bring recent winning form to the table.
Adam Nicol has had a nice start to his training career with Wise Eagle. He is a versatile performer who has proved himself over a variety of trips on a range of different ground conditions too. He has it all to do to land a hat-trick here however as he is on a career high mark and up in grade so others are preferred today.
Inchicore will love conditions here, and though she edges up the weights with every run, she has proven herself in this grade and the mare looks sure to give her running again today. The step back up in trip looks a definite positive and she will be tough to beat in this event though her odds are currently too short in my opinion.
HMS President is another who is edging his way up the weights following a string of placed efforts and he looks interesting with William Buick booked to take over in the saddle. Themaxwecan got back to winning ways last time, but will likely need the ground to dry out to be involved here.
Dark Jedi has been super consistent all year long for Tim Easterby and he is my selection each way in this event. The step back up in trip will be ideal for him and he will love conditions here today. I am taking him to run much better than his advertised current double figure odds in the lucky last here.
DARK JEDI (E/W)
written by Tom Bates