Thursday 8th September 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

A big welcome to my St Leger Meeting Preview at Doncaster where I’ll be kicking things off with the 1.25 on Thursday which is a Class 2 Nursery Handicap that’s ridden over six and a half furlongs. I’ve taken a chance on Hi Clare at 17/2 here who’s the mount of Franny Norton and represents the Johnston’s. She’s a four race maiden who’s finished second on her last four outings, I actually think she’ll be better over further given how she kept on last time out at Hamilton, however, she gets weight off a lot of her market rivals here and if running her race as she’s done on her last three outings she’s every chance of going close again at a decent price.

The 2:00 is where I’ll be turning my attention next which is the Weatherby’s 2 Year-Old Stakes that’s the contested over six and a half furlongs. I’ve sided with Alpha Capture here who’s an 8/1 chance for the team of Tom Marquand and William Haggas. He’s a gelding by Cotai Glory who got off the mark at the second time of asking last time out when winning by over a length at Carlisle. He was a short priced favourite that day so won as he should’ve done, however, he was still green and gave the impression that there’s considerable progression yet to come from him. This will require a considerable step up from him but I think he could be up to the task.

Moving onto the 2:35 which is the first pattern race of the afternoon in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes over the straight mile for fillies. I think this is all about Dance In The Grass who’s the market leader at 5/4 for William Buick and the Johnston’s. She was the first stakes winner for Cracksman and hasn’t been seen since her impressive victory in the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown in July. On that day she got the better of smart Godolphin filly Fairy Cross who’s since come out and boosted the form by taking a Group 3 at Goodwood. Connections hold this filly in very high regard and I think she could well prove to be very exciting, if building on the Sandown run here she’ll be very hard to beat.

Concluding my preview for Thursday will be the 3:10 which is the Group 2 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes that’s ridden over a distance of a mile and six and a half furlongs. I think this can go to to Eshaada who’s currently trading at 13/8 for Jim Crowley and Roger Varian. She signed off by winning the Group 1 Fillies and Mares race on Champions Day last term and returned to form last time out in the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at Haydock when finishing third behind Free Wind. It’s likely that she’ll progress again from that effort with her best form coming at the end of the campaign, and if that’s the case she’s got to be considered as a serious player here.