Friday 13th September 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (@jordan_yates_)
St Leger Festival
1.50: Betfred Mallard Handicap: Day Two of the Leger Meeting kicks off with competitive handicap action over a mile and six and a half furlongs. I’ve come down on Quantum Leap here for the team of Ed Bethell and P J McDonald. He’s been knocking on the door off the same mark all season, notably, on his most recent start where he finished fourth of sixteen in a competitive handicap at the Ebor Festival. There’ll likely be more cut in the ground here which could see him to best effect and I believe he can go well. Quantum Leap – 10/1 (Each-Way)
2.25: Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes: Next up it’s Listed action in the Flying Scotsman Stakes over seven furlongs. I had success with the Godolphin runners on the opening day of the meeting and it’s another one of theirs I like here in the form of Symbol Of Honour. He’s another representative for the team of Charlie Appleby and William Buick and I think he’s got significant potential. He was an impressive maiden winner before finishing sixth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and hasn’t been seen since. He’s been gelded since that Ascot effort and if he’s ready to go for this assignment I make him a big player. Symbol Of Honour – 7/2 (Win)
3.00: Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes: The third race of the afternoon is the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes which is ridden over five furlongs. I’ve sided with the proven form of Aesterius here for Archie Watson and James Doyle. Most recently he added a French Group 3 to his CV which already included a Listed success and a narrow defeat in in the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He’s versatile ground-wise and at his price, I think he’s a cracking each-way bet as if he runs to form he should be bang there. Aesterius – 5/1 (Each-Way) (NB)
3.35: Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes: We move onto the feature race of the day now which is the Group 2 Doncaster Cup over two miles and two furlongs. The Gosden’s are no strangers to success in this particular affair, and I think they can add another victory to their tally with Sweet William who’s the mount of Rob Havlin. He’s run well in both the Ascot Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup this term and I think he’s the one they have to beat here. It would be disappointing should he not avenge his defeat in the race last year when finishing second to Trueshan. Sweet William – 15/8 (Win) (NAP)
4.10: British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap: My concluding selection of the day comes in the 4.10 which is a Premier Fillies’s Handicap over a mile and four furlongs. I like the chances of Beatrice Shilling here for Peter Chapple-Hyam and Kieran O’Neil. She posted a solid effort on her handicap debut at Salisbury last month when finishing fourth and doing her best work late in the race. If she builds on that run here she should be having a serious say at the business end of things. Beatrice Shilling – 11/2 (Each-Way) (3 places – Several Firms)
