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16:50 Doncaster
A tricky looking handicap for this one, but the solution may lie with David Simcock and his four-year-old gelding Halation. The Qatar Racing owned runner has made slow, but steady progression this year and added to an early season success at Lingfield with an impressive success in a mile contest at the Ascot Shergar Cup meeting last month. He looked better the further he went that day under Jamie Spencer, and with the step up in trip looking right in his favour along with Andrea Atzeni taking over in the saddle, he looks to have everything in his favour here off just 2lb higher. He is therefore the confident selection.
One horse who can give the selection something to think about is the Godolphin runner Quick Wit. Despite no win in two years, the horse looked to have left a miserable stint in Dubai well behind when a good third at Chepstow. The step up in trip will be in his favour and the eight-year-old is feasibly treated if one a going day. Another horse who can give his running in this contest is the Charlie Hills runner Forgotten Hero who followed up a victory at Newmarket in May with a respectable placed effort in the John Smith’s Cup in the summer so another decent bid looks plausible here.
Halation (WIN)
18:00 Doncaster
The closing contest of Day Two at the St Leger meeting is a highly competitive sprint handicap over six furlongs. These races tend to wide open so it is always worth a chance on one at a bigger price, and with that, Marjorie Fife’s runner Savannah Beau definitely one who comes into that category.
The speedy filly has already been placed three times since a double win at Newcastle over the summer in May and June. The way she shaped last time suggested she was a horse to stay on the right side of and her form stands up against any of these with her remaining well treated and she looks the stand out each way bet here.
Rex Imperator from the impressive David O’Meara yard will come good again at some point off its current mark and a repeat of her July victory at Thirsk would see her go close, but the bigger danger may come from another in-form northern trainer Keith Dalgleish. The Scottish-based trainer lines up Stonefield Flyer here and he has gone from strength to strength since a June win at his local track Hamilton. The six-year-old gelding was nabbed close home at Newmarket last time out and can run off the same mark here and looks the one for the forecast.
Savannah Beau (WIN)
(With Doncaster’s Channel 4 Live action only two selections are made here)