The final Classic of the year, the St Leger, takes place on Saturday and ITV will be televising the big race alongside four other races from Doncaster and two from Chester.
- 1:15 Doncaster: PJ Towey Construction Handicap – Hawksbill @ 7/1
- 1:50 Doncaster: Betfred Champagne Stakes – Gewan @ 7/4
- 2:05 Chester: Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes – Hamish @ 10/11
- 2:25 Doncaster: Betfred Portland – Trefor @ 7/1
- 2:40 Chester: Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Watergate Cup – Spirit Mixer @ 11/2
- 3:00 Doncaster: Betfred Park Stakes – Shadow Of Light @ 7/4
- 3:40 Doncaster: Betfred St Leger Stakes – Carmers @ 5/1
Live ITV racing on Saturday begins at Doncaster with the 1m PJ Towey Construction Handicap which has Simon and Ed Crisford’s Treble Tree as favourite having been narrowly beaten into second place in both his outings in August. Second favourite, Hawksbill, may prove to be better value following a second place finish at a valuable handicap at Chester a fortnight ago.
The ITV cameras stay at Doncaster for the Group 2 Champagne Stakes for two-year-olds. John and Thady Gosden’s Oxagon was very impressive when winning a novice race at Sandown in July but may find Acomb Stakes winner Gewan too strong at Doncaster.
The first of two races from Chester follows in the Listed Stand Cup Stakes which sees Hamish and Military academy clash again after finishing first and second respectively at Goodwood’s Tapster Stakes back in June.
Next on ITV will be the 5½f Portland Handicap which looks as competitive as ever with the maximum 22 runners set to line up. Another handicap follows in Chester’s 2m Watergate Cup which has Gordon Elliott’s Ndaawi, Andrew Balding’s Spirit Mixer and Charlie Johnston’s Artisan Dancer at the top of the market currently.
The Group 2 Park Stakes is the penultimate live race on Saturday. Race favourite Shadow Of Light had a stellar 2YO campaign, winning the Middle Park Stakes and the Dewhurst but is still awaiting his first win aged three. Charlie Appleby’s runner did finish third in the 2000 Guineas, fifth in the Commonwealth Cup and was fourth in a very strong looking Prix Jean Prat in July.
The St Leger is the final televised race of the day, which has seven runners set to compete for the last chance of British Classic glory this season. Aidan O’Brien trains the first two in the betting with Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia and dual English and Irish Derby winner Lambourn. Paddy Twomey’s Queen’s Vase winner Carmers is next ahead of the final O’Brien entrant, Stay True. Andrew Balding’s Furthur and Tarriance and Roger Varian’s Rahiebb complete the lineup.