TV TIPS – ST LEGER MEETING (THURSDAY)

13:50 Doncaster Clubbable has been ultra consistent in her first year on the track but after four runs is still yet to taste victory. No doubt she’ll be there or thereabouts come the finishing line but isn’t my idea of the victor. A horse I pinpointed as one to follow from the start of the flat season is the Mick Easterby trained Silver Starlight. Placed in the top three in five of his six races to date he’s clearly talented and with a win on softer ground will handle these conditions. A sixth in a very competitive race at York last time out looks like good form and will probably go better than most people expect however with so many runs under his belt how much he has left this season is open for debate. The horse that gets the nod finally shook off his maiden tag when winning at Newbury last time out. The Mums represents the top yard of John Gosden and a return to six furlongs is bound to aid his chances. A liking for soft going will be an advantage and I hope well loved jockey Frankie Dettori can add another win to his huge career tally. THE MUMS (WIN)

14:25 Doncaster Nyaleti was a short priced favourite for this race earlier in the week but although she’s still favourite her price is drifting as her lesser exposed rivals look like feasible alternatives. The Richard Hannon trained duo of Tajaanus and Billesdon Brook both have very viable chances and both are seeking to make it three victories in a row. Billesdon Brook claimed a Group 3 win last time out and this sort of contest should be within her capabilities. If the tough season hasn’t taken too much out of her then she’s set to go close. Her stable mate Tajaanus hasn’t raced as often and may have more scope for improvement so cannot be readily ignored either. The lightest raced runners here have only ever graced a course on two occasions. Former course and distance winner Dark Rose Angel returns to the scene of her only victory. A very impressive victory it was and that should stand her in good stead but just how strong that race was is hard to decipher. The other lightly raced contestant is Karl Burke’s Laurens. A victor here in her first race she should benefit for the step up in trip and a close second in a very competitive race over in France also reads as decent form. I’m hoping the soft conditions and greater distance should play into her hands for a yard who’s been doing phenomenally well with their two year olds. LAURENS (WIN)

15:00 Doncaster The second group race of the day looks, if the betting is anything to go off, to be a three horse race that only Dubka, Natural Scenery and Melodic Motion can win. That’d be unfair on the rest of their rivals and although all three have very viable chances I’m taking the bold step of opposing the aforementioned trio. Aljezeera rattled home to finish third in his last race and the well-bred son of Frankel should thrive for this step-up to 1 mile and 6 furlongs. He claimed his one and only victory here at Doncaster so a return to this venue should also be of benefit. Trainer Luca Cumani has hit some serious form with a 36% strike rate in recent weeks and although the three year old still has a few questions to answer looks a fantastic bet at very generous odds. ALJEZEERA (WIN) – NAP

15:35 Doncaster Our fourth and final televised race doesn’t get much easier as a huge cavalry charge of twenty two runners are set to line up. As mentioned in the 14:25 race trainer Karl Burke has been in blistering form with his two year olds and enters Humble Gratitude. He claimed his first victory at Hamilton last time out in what was quite a poor contest. Although he doesn’t have the best form on offer he looks an unexposed runner who seems a likely improver. Another runner that’s worth a small wager is hoping to go one better than his second placed effort at Beverley in his previous race. International Man may not be suited entirely by the expected soft ground but at 33/1 Richard Fahey’s charge has enough in his locker to push some of the main protagonists. The market principles Tangled and Great Prospector look set to renew the great dual they had at York last time out. The form of that race could feasibly be reversed and both are set to do well once again. Although I can’t think of hugely compelling arguments to say that either won’t put in a good showing I just couldn’t side with such short priced horses in a race with so many runners and hence the bigger priced selections look a better alternative. HUMBLE GRATITUDE (E/W) INTERNATIONAL MAN (E/W)

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