Day Two of the 2022 St Leger Festival at Doncaster, and Thursday’s seven-race card is headlined by a brace of Group 2 contests in the May Hill Stakes at 2.40pm and the Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at 3.15pm.
They are part of a Doncaster offering that runs from 1.10pm-4.15pm on Thursday afternoon.
Here’s our race-by-race look ahead to day two of the Cazoo St Leger Festival at Doncaster.
St Leger Day 2 Betting Tips
Note: the tips below refer to the 2021 St Leger Festival; updated previews will be available on the week of the 2022 Festival.
1.10 – Silk Series Handicap (Pro-Am Female Jockeys, 6f)
Mountain Brave and Giogiobbo have won four C&D races this season between them – hat-trick for the latter – and are set to well-served by Nicola Currie and Hayley Turner respectively in this female jockeys contest, but LORD P is in a bit of a groove at the moment following convincing wins at Carlisle and Thirsk last month post wind surgery. This is tougher, but Fergal O’Brien has secured Hollie Doyle, and they look sure to go well from an increased mark.
Selection: Lord P @ 9/4
1.40 – British Stallion Studs EBF ‘Carrie Red’ Fillies’ Nursery (6½f)
DAIQUIRI FRANCAIS has won both starts around Windsor since a fair debut at Newbury in early July. Ralph Beckett’s Havana Gold filly made every yard under a penalty last time and scored well, despite the likelihood that heavy ground was less than ideal. That form has been advertised by the runner-up, winning both starts since. An opening mark of 78 looks workable. Dora Penny and Summers’s Day are the obvious dangers, while Allayaali was a winner on debut over C&D before coming up shy in Listed company since and could well do better back here.
Selection: Daiquiri Francais @ 5/1
2.10 – Weatherbys Scientific 200,000 2-Y-O Stakes (6½f)
The form of Ever Given’s win last month at York (6f, good) has been held up in a good light by the placed horses, both since making the frame in Listed/Group 3 events and Tom Dascombe’s colt looks a sure-fire contender to continue his excellent campaign. The hat-trick seeking Harrow was also victorious on the Knavesmire three weeks ago and should be ok dropped slightly in trip, but perhaps SPITTING FEATHERS can improve for Kevin Ryan, who has won this race twice in the last eight years. Last month’s Gimcrack was too hot for him (66/1), but the previous Carlisle scorer retains plenty of scope for better as an each-way contender here.
Selection: Spitting Feathers @ 14/1
2.40 – Cazoo May Hill Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2, 1m)
John & Thady Gosden’s INSPIRAL is already a popular shout for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket next spring, and the Frankel filly can further enhance her growing reputation by making it 3-3 now. She made the step up into Listed company a formality at Sandown (7f, good to firm) in July, with the placed horses both going well in a Group 3 afterwards, and she is hard to oppose her under Frankie Dettori. Once-raced Kempton winner Speak looks promising for Andrew Balding and could be quite smart herself, while Prosperous Village is also likely to get involved.
Selection: Inspiral @ 2/5
Latest Odds for the May Hill Stakes:
Event finished – Check out the latest markets
3.15 – Hippo Pro3 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Group 2, 1m6½f)
Free Wind looks progressive after her win at Deauville last month for the Gosden’s, and this step up in trip looks a positive for her. The only setback she has encountered in four runs on turf saw her finish second behind Golden Pass in the Aphrodite Fillies’ Stakes at Newmarket in July. That rival was held after making the running in Newbury’s Geoffrey Freer since and has stamina to prove. Tribal Craft was an excellent second in the Lillie Langtry at Glorious Goodwood and is a player, while Yesyes could have plenty more to offer. EILEENDOVER relished this trip in a Newmarket handicap last month and, while having something to find with Golden Pass and Free Wind on their July meeting at HQ, she’s not without place claims facing this more suitable stamina test.
Selection: Eileendover @ 14/1
3.45 – Cazoo Handicap (7f)
Modern News defied a 13-month absence with a smooth enough Newmarket (7f, good) victory in July for the Charlie Appleby team, and he’s lightly-raced and open to further progress up in grade from this 6lb higher mark. He heads the betting, but there are dangers aplenty. Run To Freedom and Motawaajed spearhead those but ATASER won 3-5 as a juvenile last season, including over C&D, and his comeback in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot in June isn’t hard to forgive. Terry Kent’s colt should be much more suited to this challenge.
Selection: Ataser @ 18/1
4.15 – Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Conditions Stakes (1m2f)
Only three contenders in the day two Doncaster finale and none are to be discounted. SINJAARI had his first start in 222 days last month at York and, after meeting more than his share of traffic woes in a big field, he flew home to finish a neck second on his first start for new trainer Roger Charlton. If he builds on that now, the Camelot gelding has a rock-solid claim with the booking of Ryan Moore a positive too.
Selection: Sinjaari @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing
Betting on St Leger Festival Day 2
Be sure to check out our blog for daily tipping advice from our racing experts and brand ambassador Hayley Turner on the St Leger Day 2 race card as well as racing from around the world.
