Sunday 11th September 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

Welcome along to my preview for St Leger Day at Doncaster, now taking place on Sunday. I’ll kick things off with the 1:00 which is the Cazoo Handicap that’s contested over six and a half furlongs. I’ve taken a chance on Able Kane here who’s currently an 11/2 chance for William Buick and Rod Millman. He’s a course and distance winner who was last seen finishing fourth at Goodwood, just over a length behind winner I’m A Gambler who went onto win a big handicap in Ireland this weekend. This is a solid form, and he’s remains on the same mark which I think makes him a big player here.

It’s the 1.35 up next which is the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes that takes place over five furlongs. I think this can go to Trillium at 13/8 for the team of Pat Dobbs and Richard Hannon. She’s a filly by No Nay Never and looks a very exciting proposition, on her most recent outing she won the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood on just her third start to date, in what was her first attempt in pattern company. It’s likely that she’ll progress further from that effort and if that is the case she could well prove very tough to beat here.

Moving onto the 2:10 which is the Portland Handicap that’s ridden over five and a half furlongs. An extremely competitive affair which a maximum field of 22 runners set to take their place, I’ve taken a chance on Makanah here at 15/2 for Paul Hanagan and Julie Camacho. He’s an ultra consistent sort who’s no stranger to a race of this nature, and often runs very well in them. He was last seen finishing just under two-lengths behind Bergerac at York when 5th of 22, that’s was another fine run and he’ll contest this off the same mark. He’s also won off a few pounds higer than his current mark, and if getting some luck there’s nothing to say he won’t be bang there again.

The penutimate race for me on Leger Day will be the 3:20 which is the Park Stakes, a Group 2 contest over seven furlongs. I think this is all about Kinross at 11/8 for Frankie Dettori and Ralph Beckett. He’s represented his stable in great style over the last few years, and he knotched up another success last time with victory in the Group 2 City Of York Stakes at the Ebor Meeting on the Knavesmire. I’d argue that this is a slightly weaker Group 2 than what he faced that day at York, and if turning up in the same kind of form he did on that occasion he has to be considered as a serious player.

Concluding my preview will be the big one itself at 3:55 which of course, is the St Leger. The final classic of the season which is contested over a mile and six and a half furlongs, with New London being all the rage at the top of the market. He obviously arrives here with a big chance, however, I’ve tried to take him on and I’ve done that with Hoo Ya Mal at 7/1 who represents David Probert and George Boughey. He’s had a fine campaign, having finished second in the Derby before placing in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. He got his head in-front though on his most recent outing, which also came in Group 3 company at Goodwood, and if coming into peak form now he’s every chance of closing the two-length deficit between him and New London from July.