Sunday 13th September 2026
We go into the concluding day of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster with four more bets to go to war with, starting with a selection in the opener at 1.25, which is a Class 3 handicap over five furlongs. I’ve decided to give another chance to THE MAN here for Richard Spencer and St Leger heroine Saffie Osbourne. He was sent off favourite at York last time out, and was slightly underwhelming; however, the form of that race is working out well. He continues to look well-handicapped. Richard Spencer is one of the best around at winning these types of races, and I believe they’ll get a pot out of this four-year-old.
Hypnotised is a low-mileage sprinter, and comes into the race off the back of two seconds; he should be on the premises once again for Harry Charlton. A mention also has to go to Adrestia has fallen a long way in the weights since her progressive campaign last summer, and should start to be competitive again for Simon & Ed Crisford.
Selection: The Man – (15/2) (Each-Way) (5 places)
Shortlist: Hypnotised (7/2), Adrestia (7/1)
1.25 Doncaster
Attention turns to the 1.55 next, a Class 2 handicap contested over six and a half furlongs. I’m fairly strong on the chances of ASUKA here for the team of George Boughey and Hector Crouch. He’s an unexposed four-year-old who is a novice winner and also won on his handicap debut at Thirsk last month. He followed that run up with an excellent third-placed effort at Chester last time out when coming out of a wide draw, finishing just a length and three-quarters behind the eventual winner when short of room in the closing stages. The drop back down in distance here looks the correct move, and I think he could have a big say.
The more battle-hardened Completely Random has to enter calculations, he posted another big effort when fourth in the Stewards Cup at Goodwood last time out for Harry Charlton. Oliver Show ran well in this race last year and finished second at Goodwood last time out; he could outrun a big price and is another in the race for George Boughey.
Selection: Asuka – (5/1) (Each-Way) (4 places) (NB)
Shortlist: Completely Random (4/1), Oliver Show (12/1)
1.55 Doncaster
We move into Group 3 company at 3.05, with the Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes taking centre stage over seven furlongs. My best bet of the day runs here, and that’s TOULEEN for Owen Burrows and David Probert. She’s a high-class filly on her day, as she showed on her penultimate start when finishing second, a length and a half behind Precise in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. She wasn’t quite as good on her most recent start, which also came at Ascot, where she finished fourth in Group 3 company; however, her jockey on that occasion claimed she didn’t handle the fast surface. She should get slower ground here, and I think she’s the class act in the race.
Forty Years On is an obvious big player for George Scott; she’s been highly progressive within handicap company, including success over course and distance, and is well worth a place up in grade. Darnation was a very smart two-year-old and won the May Hill Stakes here; she could go well at a likely big price on her first start back under the care of Karl Burke.
Selection: Touleen – (11/4) (Win) (NAP)
Shortlist: Forty Years On (11/4), Darnation (20/1)
3.05 Doncaster
My fourth and final bet of the day, and the meeting, comes within the 4.15, a Class 4 handicap contested over a distance of five furlongs. I like TIVA here for David O’Meara, who’s the mount of five-pound claimer Conor Whitely. She’s a consistent filly who opened her account for the campaign at Musselburgh on her penultimate start, before following that run up with a solid fourth-placed effort at Newmarket, where she finished a length behind the eventual winner and kept on in the closing stages. She has to be of serious interest off these terms, with her rider taking five pounds off her back. Fantasy Master won this race a couple of years ago, and ran well in it again last year for Robert Cowell; he’s got every chance of another big run off his current mark.
Selection: Tiva – (10/3) (Win)
Shortlist: Fantasy Master (6/1)
4.15 Doncaster
