Man On The Spot: Doncaster day four | St Leger Festival free betting preview and tips
Resident form student Man On The Spot guides you through the fourth and final day of the St Leger Festival which makes up the £100,000 Pick 7 game.
1.50 William Hill Portland Handicap
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Compas Scoobie was never going the pace over Epsom’s fast 5f last time but this is a more suitable test and he’ll also enjoy the give in the ground. Vibrant Chords bounced from back from a disappointing effort at Goodwood to finish second to Desert Law over the minimum here and is another for the short-list. Three-year-olds don’t have a great record in this but The Queen’s Merlin has the form to figure this year while Captain Colby is 3lb lower than when successful 12 months ago. Stake Acclaim won at Ascot’s Shergar Cup meeting and was then third in a hot handicap at Windsor which is working out well while stablemate Lancelot Du Lac won the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood last month. A MOMENTOFMADNESS could have done without a further 3lb rise but never seems to run a bad race and Charlie Hills, who won this with a four-year-old in 2013, has secured the services of champion Jim Crowley – he should give supporters a run for their money again.
2.25 Alan Wood Plumbing And Heating Park Stakes (Group 2)
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Aclaim ran a cracker behind Brando in a Group 1 at Deauville last month but had earlier finished behind BRETON ROCK and Home Of The Brave in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood. David Simcock’s charge, who won this last year and has an excellent record at this track, has looked as good as ever this season and had excuses when behind Nathra in the Hungerford at Newbury last time – he can defy his penalty. Home Of The Brave has every chance on these terms but the Aidan O’Brien pair, Spirit of Valor and Peace Envoy, appear to have something to find.
3.00 Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes (Group 2)
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Hey Gaman is the most exposed of these but improved again to beat Red Mist in a Listed contest at Newbury last month. Mark Johnston has won this twice and has some smart two-year-olds this year. DREAM TODAY could be anything having impressed when taking a hot-looking maiden at York ahead of more experienced rivals. The well-beaten third won a valuable sales race here on Thursday to frank the form so he is take to maintain his unbeaten record. Ballydoyle runs two but Mendelssohn will need to take a step forward having only won a Curragh maiden while Seahenge was soon beaten last time at Goodwood. Mythical Magic is bidding to give Charlie Appleby a third victory in this Group 2 in five years and he won easily on debut at Ascot and then upset hot favourite Cascadian in a Listed race at Deauville – he’ll make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick.
3.35 William Hill St Leger Stakes (Group 1)
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Capri’s win in the Irish Derby has been franked and he looks the pick of Aidan O’Brien’s quartet, who are bidding to give Ballydoyle a fifth victory in the world’s oldest classic, ahead of Venice Beach. Stamina will be no problem for Stradivarius as he won the Queen’s Vase at Ascot and followed up against top-class stayers over 2m in the Goodwood Cup, though would probably have preferred a faster surface. Crystal Ocean was placed in the Dante and the King Edward VII Stakes before easily winning the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. That’s a recognised trial for this but the ground has come right for DEFOE, who can give Andrea Atzeni a third win in the last four years. Unbeaten this year, Roger Varian’s grey may have started off in handicaps but the form of his Hamilton win in July could not have worked out any better and he was just as impressive against older horses in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury last time. Newmarket winner Raheen House, not far behind Crystal Ocean at Ascot, could appeal for those seeking each-way value.
4.10 Napoleons Casinos & Restaurants Nursery
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Ventura Knight was taken out of a nursery here on Wednesday on account of the going but conditions aren’t likely to be much quicker today. He was also a long way behind WESTERLAND at Chelmsford and Frankie’s mount should give John Gosden back-to-back victories in this nursery if translating that form back to Turf. Maksab beat Rhosneigr at Leicester in June and has only been raised a couple of pounds since beating a subsequent winner at Newmarket so has to be respected. Regimented has improved with each run and is the only one of these to have so far won over a mile so he shouldn’t be far away again.
4.45 P J Towey Construction Ltd Handicap
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Bronze Angel won this off a higher mark in 2015 but has barely raised a gallop since and has a lengthy absence to overcome. You're Fired and Big Baz would have place claims on their best form while Kryptos is much improved, though faces his toughest task to date. BATTERED has fewer negatives than the others and probably came up against a well-handicapped rival at York last month on his first try over a mile – he should go one better here. Muntazah is preferred to Sinfonietta of the others.
5.55 Marra Falcons Handicap
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Game Starter has won both starts this season at Newmarket. He was second on good to soft going on his only run last year so conditions shouldn’t be a problem but he does have to overcome a 10lb hike in the weights. KING BOLETE reverts to handicap company after finishing third in a Listed race at Windsor last month. He won at Windsor in July and is only 3lb higher so gets the nod. Nietzsche developed into a smart hurdler last winter but hasn’t raced since March. Tawdeea has dropped to a decent mark but was well behind the selection at Ascot in July, though is still preferred to Amazing Red and Restorer.
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