The penultimate afternoon of the St Leger Festival is ‘Gentleman’s Day’ on Town Moor and it features the Doncaster Cup, the oldest race currently run under the Rules of Horse Racing taking centre-stage.
On a high-class seven-race card punters can also look forward to the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes and the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes either side of the long-distance race of the day.
St Leger Day 3 Betting Tips & Predictions
Doncaster’s Cazoo St Leger Festival passes the halfway stage on Friday afternoon, with day three of four on Town Moor’s most significant week in the calendar.
The Doncaster Cup (2.40pm) is one of a pair of Group 2s on the card, alongside the Flying Childers Stakes (2.10pm).
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 – Coopers Marquees Maiden Stakes (7f)
The market will be a key aid here, with likely-looking newcomers from the big yards in the form of Bay Of Honour, Geopolitic, Kennet and Thundermax. Each commands close scrutiny on first appearance.
We’ve already had a glance at KINGDOM COME however and he may do well following his Newbury debut four weeks ago.
He was green there, but showed flashes of his ability no less. The £500,000 son of Kingman is entered in the Dewhurst/Futurity Stakes and looks a key player for Clive Cox and Adam Kirby.
Selection: Kingdom Come @ SP
1.40 – Cazoo Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed, 7f)
This looks an up-to-scratch renewal of the Listed Flying Scotsman on paper. Eldrickjones ran a respectable fifth in last month’s Gimcrack at York and drops in class, while the likes of Noble Means and Razzle Dazzle have scope for further improvement.
Marcus Tregoning’s Ribhi delivered a taking first start when scoring at Salisbury last month and is feared, but HOO YA MAL was a convincing winner of what is typically a strong York maiden (7f, good to firm) at the Ebor Meeting and Andrew Balding’s colt was very much on top late on.
He merits this class-rise under the champion jockey.
Selection: Hoo Ya Mal @ 4/1
2.10 – Wainwright Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2, 5f)
ARMOR was a stylish winner of the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in July and Richard Hannon’s charge isn’t too harshly judged having run fourth since in the Group 1 Prix Morny over 6f at Deauville.
The No Nay Never colt is dropped in class/trip here and will be fancied to make it 3-3 when teaming up with Ryan Moore. They have the standout claims on form.
The filly Corazon won a French Group 3 just eight days ago and should go well if the this sharp turnaround isn’t a problem, while Attagirl is another to note and Chipotle should find this more manageable compared to last month’s Nunthorpe.
Selection: Armor @ 7/4
2.40 – Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2, 2m2f)
The ground is a major worry for Trueshan, Alan King’s Goodwood Cup winner having twice missed engagements this summer owing to fast conditions.
His participation must therefore be a major doubt and, if he’s absent, this looks a straightforward assignment for STRADIVARIUS.
He’s not the dominant force of days gone by, but he admirably got up to deny Spanish Mission at York (2m½f, good to firm) last time and this extra yardage looks a positive in his quest for a second Doncaster Cup win.
Selection: Stradivarius @ 8/13
Latest Odds for the 2021 Doncaster Stakes:
Event finished - Check out the latest markets3.15 – racehorselotto.com Mallard Handicap (1m6½f)
Sevenna Star is a notable contender for Emmet Mullins having shaped well in a couple of recent Flat starts in Ireland.
A first-time hood is deployed, with Dylan McMonagle taking 3lb off, and this young trainer has been able to land some big prizes in raids to Britain since taking out his license.
Prince Alex is very solid at this trip and is 4lb higher than when making a winning start for his new trainer at Glorious Goodwood, he is a player again.
LUCKY DEAL is lurking on a very workable mark, as his Newmarket second recently suggests, and the Mark Johnston inmate could run a big race here at a decent price with that in mind.
Selection: Lucky Deal @ 16/1
3.45 – Cazoo Handicap (6½f)
The addition of a first-time hood certainly appeared a help for Raatea as he registered a first success since joining Julie Camacho at Newmarket four weeks ago.
He’s 5lb higher in a better race now but could have another good run in him if the headgear works again.
CHAIRMANOFTHEBOARD has been toying with the idea of a big run in this sort of contest all summer. Mick Channon’s charge didn’t get much luck in running at Thirsk last time and retains scope from this mark for a big effort.
Selection: Chairmanoftheboard @ 8/1
4.20 – British Ebf Premier Fillies’ Handicap (1m4f)
John & Thady Gosden’s Kingman filly THOUSAND OAKS had a pair of next-time-out scorers in behind when running out a clear-cut winner of a Newmarket novice (1m4f, good to firm) in July and could take some pegging back under the champion jockey, now making her move into handicaps in Friday’s Doncaster finale.
She looks to have plenty scope from this opening mark.
Sea Le Rosa has posted figures of 212 in handicaps thus far and is re-united here with 5lb claimer Adam Farragher, who steered her to success at Redcar last month. She’s the principle threat.
Selection: Thousand Oaks @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing
St Leger Day 4 Picks and Previews
