It’s a very strange weekend of horse racing with all of Saturday’s action in Britain cancelled as a mark of respect. The British Horseracing Authority and other bodies quickly worked out a plan to put on a bumper card at Doncaster including the St Leger with ITV Racing providing coverage as they will of the card at the Curragh which includes the Irish St Leger.
Strange as it may be, racing fans do have an excellent day ahead of them on Sunday. So, we’ve picked through each of the live ITV Racing contests to select the best bets of the weekend.
12:30 Coral Champagne Stakes
Group 2, 7f
With so much racing to fit in, it’s an early start at Doncaster. We’re sure to remain right on schedule after the opening Coral Champagne Stakes as only three runners are set to contest this Group 2. Unsurprisingly, such a small field has produced a short odds favourite and it is going to be difficult for either Chaldean or Indestructible to get the better of Silver Knott.
This well-bred son of Lope De Vega has won two of his three starts for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. The most recent of those came at Sandown where a switch to patient tactics helped no end. He’ll probably have to run more prominently this time around but Silver Knott showed he could do that when picking up his first win at Kempton so a price of 5/6 looks about right.
1:35 Coral Flying Childers Stakes
Group 2, 5f
Eight high-level juvenile horses, five furlongs and about one minute of racing. The Coral Flying Childers Stakes is horse racing at its purest so it’s great news that it has been saved from the schedule to be run at Doncaster on Sunday.
The depth in quality of the field for this year’s Flying Childers suggests we could get a surprise if things pan out nicely for one of the outsiders. Malrescia’s draw in stall 2, coupled with her preference for running prominently means that she is worth backing to land that surprise at odds of 11/1. This drop back down to the minimum trip looks like a wise move from George Boughey as it gives Malrescia the chance to get out in front early and then hold on.
1:50 Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes
Group 2, 1m2f
Is the time right for the apple of Willie McCreery’s eye, Insinuendo, to claim another Group 2 victory? McCreery has always been a huge fan of this mare and was absolutely delighted when she won the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes at the Curragh last year and he has every reason to think she could go well at the track once more.
The Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes is over an extra furlong than when she last won but Insinuendo looked well matched to this trip when she missed out by just a neck to Luxembourg over 1m2f at the Curragh last time out. She’ll almost certainly need to be even better to get the better of La Petite Coco and Above The Curve but 5/1 is a big enough price for punters to find out.
2:10 Coral Portland Cup
Class 2, 5½f
It’s much more like it in terms of the number of runners in the next live ITV race at Doncaster. We’re scheduled to get a full field of 22 runners contesting the Coral Portland Cup, a valuable sprint which takes place over just over the minimum distance.
As you would expect, there are a host of potential winners in the field but none quite holds the appeal of Chipstead at odds of 11/2. Connections felt that they had a very good two year old on their hands a couple of years ago but had to remain patient before he went on a run of wins at the back end of his three year old campaign. Now four, there is still room for improvement in Chipstead and having returned to winning ways last time out he can take this step up in class in his stride.
2:25 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes
Group 1, 5f
Training thoroughbred racehorses is a complicated business. Trainers work very hard to make sure they cover all the angles but sometimes things take a surprising turn for no particular reason. As the saying goes, one should never look a gift horse in the mouth so John Quinn didn’t question why Highfield Princess took such a big step forward earlier this year. He’s just been enjoying the ride which could well include another win on Sunday.
It’s been some time since Highfield Princess has been underestimated. She is the firm 7/4 favourite for the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes even though she faces 18 opponents for this Group 1. Top of whichever ratings you care to use, Highfield Princess sets the standard and should secure another win.
2:45 Coral Doncaster Cup Stakes
Group 2, 2m2f
For one year only, the Doncaster Cup is run on the same day as the St Leger. That means a collection of the staying stars of the future will run on the same card as Trueshan, one of the very best older stayers around.
Trueshan’s connections have been frustrated throughout the long dry spell. He is a horse who simply cannot give his best on good ground, as we saw when he finished third in the Goodwood Cup behind Kyprios and Stradivarius. Trueshan is a much better horse with cut in the ground so he should have no trouble whatsoever living up to his billing as the firmest of favourites on his first run at Doncaster.
3:00 Moyglare Stud Stakes
Group 1, 7f
Racing fans tuning in on Sunday who are used to watching British action may be a bit surprised by the size of the fields and the calibre of the racing that Irish racing fans are used to. There’s another great example of this in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes. The size of the field could be what decides the outcome of this race as it is likely to go to a horse who can travel just off the pace before picking up inside the last furlong to score.
That’s not the plan for Meditate who prefers to run prominently so consider avoiding the bookies’ favourite. Thornbrook looks like much better value at odds of 12/1. The Joseph O’Brien inmate was 1 length behind Meditate when they met just a few weeks ago but is open to lots of improvement and judging on his breeding may enjoy the yielding ground at the Curragh.
3:20 Cazoo Park Stakes
Group 2, 7f
It wasn’t overly difficult for Doncaster to decide which races to save from their Friday and Saturday cards. The Group 2 Cazoo Park Stakes was always going to be run if at all possible and connections of Garrus could be happiest that the effort was made to keep the race going.
As a six year old there are no surprises about what Garrus can do. That said, it was a bit of a surprise to see the quality of his last two runs at Deauville. The form of his third place in the Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest has worked out nicely and if he builds on that, Garrus should be able to get the better of Kinross at odds of 11/2.
3:35 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes
Group 1, 7f
The Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes is the second Group 1 for two year olds of the day at the Curragh. Although open to both colts and fillies, there’s a much smaller field compared to the Moyglare Stud Stakes with just six runners. The race also features a strong favourite in Aesop’s Fables who is well fancied to keep his unbeaten run going.
After suffering a setback following his debut win, nobody was quite sure how well Aesop’s Fables would kick on over the course of his juvenile campaign. The way that he saw off the challengers in the Futurity Stakes confirmed the early suggestion that he’s one to keep a close eye on. A third win of the campaign would have Aesop’s Fables firmly on the radar for Classic success next year.
3:55 Cazoo St Leger Stakes
Group 1, 1m6½f
The presence of a 10/11 favourite suggests that the 2022 St Leger won’t be much of a race. This is one of those occasions where it could well pay to go against the grain though.
First, it’s important to say that New London is the right favourite. Charlie Appleby has always been a big admirer of his colt and back-to-back wins at Newmarket and Goodwood set the standard in terms of the form. However, New London faces some very strong opposition while the rain that has fallen – and will continue to fall – at Doncaster makes things interesting.
The softer the ground gets, the greater a test of stamina the St Leger becomes. That is good news for George Boughey and all connections of Hoo Ya Mal. His pedigree suggests that soft ground is right up his street while he is such a quality stayer that plans are afoot to send him to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. Hoo Ya Mal at 13/2 looks the best bet for the final Classic of the year.
4:10 Comer Group International Irish St. Leger
Group 1, 1m6
If the favourite in the St Leger at Doncaster could well get beaten then Kyprios will surely get one on the board for favourite backers in the Irish equivalent. The four year old has very much confirmed himself as the premier stayer in training currently having won the Ascot Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup this season.
With all due respect to the horses he faces at the Curragh, he’s beaten stronger fields already this season and it would be a major upset were Kyprios to get turned over at odds of 8/13.