Catching Pigeons column St Leger preview

Vibrant Chords can see off old rival Amomentofmadness and win the William Hill Portland Handicap at Doncaster on Saturday.

The five-and-a-half furlong dash is a tough opener for St Leger Day, but Henry Candy has always thought the selection has it within him to win a big handicap. Most of his form this term has been over the minimum trip, but he will stay the extra yardage - indeed, it could well be his ideal distance.

Lightly raced, he has improvement in him even though he is not that big, and he showed his well being with a close second to subsequent winner Desert Law on this course last month. He has pleased at home since.

Aclaim looks to have done well for a short break since his trip to Deauville and can take the Alan Wood Plumbing And Heating Park Stakes.

He's as classy as he is versatile and after just missing out behind Brando in the Prix Maurice de Gheest over six and a half furlongs, the return to seven furlongs looks certain to play to his strengths. Plans for a return to a mile are on hold for the time being.

Grand Koonta is better than his eighth place in the July Stakes suggests and he should reward an each-way interest in the Group Two Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes.

Clive Cox has enjoyed a fantastic season and his horses have been in better form over the past month than at any stage of the campaign. He has always rated this colt highly and it was no surprise to see him tackle one of the biggest juvenile races in the middle of the season, at the July Festival.

However, he raced on the much slower centre ground in the six furlong contest, and he was unable to match Cardsharp, who had moved from the centre to the favoured far side in the closing stages. Given a break after that run, Grand Koonta has been working very nicely, and it is significant his shrewd trainer has been tempted by this Group Two event rather than the conditions race earlier in the week.

Raheen House should go close to giving Brian Meehan his first Classic win in the Group One William Hill St Leger. The Manton trainer had high hopes for his charge over a distance of ground as far back as a year ago, and, after a luckless effort in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, he duly delivered in a trial for this race at Doncaster the following month.

Whilst a good number of his opponents here have been in action since, Meehan has purposely kept his star back in the hope that he will arrive here a fresh horse and will enjoy an advantage as a result. His preparation has gone very well on the Marlborough Downs, and he looks to have a sound chance of reaching a place in what looks a relatively weak renewal of this great race.

It's Open Weekend at Newmarket so those planning on visiting Roger Varian's yard on Sunday could be able to set eyes on a Classic winner if Defoe does the stable proud on Town Moor.

He's pleased the team with his prep work in the build up to the big day, though purely from a betting perspective it's hard to argue he still represents any value at this stage.

There's a disappointing entry for the Napoleons Casino Nursery with the ground earlier in the week looking as though it will be testing.

But the six-strong field should still produce an entertaining race and Rhosneigr may just have the edge over old rival Maksab. The pair met at Leicester in The Summer, and Maksab came out of top after the selection ruined his chance with a swerve to the right in the closing stages. There should be little between them, but Rhosneigr looks to have a little more improvement in him and can complete a hat-trick after his wins at Ffos Las and Haydock.

Kryptos shouldn't be overlooked in the P J Towey Construction Ltd Handicap.

He's looked a well-handicapped animal since joining John Berry from Dermot Weld's, bolting up under Nicola Currie at Thirsk last weekend. It's a quick turnaround, but this thriving three-year-old is worth following.

The concluding Marra Falcons Handicap can go the way of Saeed bin Suroor's Game Starter.

He worked well with the unbeaten High End in the weekend and possesses more than enough scope to defy a 10lb rise for his July Course romp last month.

John Quinn has a good record with juveniles in Scotland and Dubai Empire see off his three rivals to improve the strike rate further in the LG Pharmacy Maiden Stakes at Musselburgh.

He finished only just behind Thursday's valuable sales race winner Laugh Out Loud in the Convivial at York and gave every impression he would love this step up to a mile.

Contentment still has plenty to offer with just six outings behind her, and can double her career tally in the EBF Stallions Breeding Winners Scottish Premier Series Fillies' Handicap. She has had a nice break since her slightly below par effort at Chelmsford last time.

Andrew Balding looks to have found the right warm up race for Duretto after his long lay off in Chester's 32Red.com Stand Cup Stakes. The five-year-old took a major step forward at this time last season when he won a Group Three at Newbury, but his progress stalled after just one run on this course in May.

He has not been seen since, but his performance in finishing a close third, again at Group Three level, was a first rate effort and a repeat should be good enough to land this listed prize. He has been in good form at home and should handle the soft ground well.

Balding rarely misses a meeting on the Roodye without heading back to Hampshire with a winner, and he can double up with another course specialist, St Mary's, in the Christmas Parties With Horseradish Catering Handicap.

She has struck up a great partnership with 7lb claimer William Cox, who steered her to victory at the last meeting here two weeks ago, and her stamina will still come into play on the easy ground despite the step back in trip.

One for next week to keep tabs on is Regal Reality from the Sir Michael Stoute yard.

The son of Intello, out of Regal Realm, has a couple of entries at Yarmouth and while he's likely to come forward for his initial racecourse experience, his homework suggests there's a lot to look forward to in the long term.