The final British Classic of the season takes place at Doncaster on Saturday 10th September 2022 and the St Leger remains the ultimate test of stamina for the three-year-old class.
St Leger Day 4 Tips & Predictions
It’s the main event at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon as four days of thrilling action on Town Moor comes to a head with the Cazoo St Leger Stakes at 3.35pm.
Britain’s final Classic of the year is the ultimate test of stamina for the 3YO class and Charlie Appleby aims to win for the first time with strong favourite Hurricane Lane.
Note: the tips below refer to the 2021 St Leger Festival; updated previews will be available on the week of the 2022 Festival.
1.15 – Vertem Nursery (1m)
A competitive starter with five contenders in this nursery and all of them holding solid claims. Fall Of Rome sets the standard and could do better in first-time cheekpieces, while Thunder Legend looked good at Hamilton two weeks ago. The Richard Hannon yard has won this three times in the last decade and saddles Magic Warrior and Desert Angel but preference is for LA PULGA.
Roger Charlton’s colt was a Sandown scorer on debut in June and arrives here having been awarded his most start at Carlisle in the stewards’ room. Prior to that he was a close third behind Fall Of Rome at Newmarket and, now 8lb better off, he may avenge that under the champion jockey Oisin Murphy.
Selection: La Pulga @ 5/2
1.45 – Portland Handicap (5½f)
Hurricane Ivor is thriving since arriving with William Haggas from France and should go well again, while Glorious Goodwood winner Mr Wagyu should rebound from a lesser effort at Ripon since, with a better draw and this track more favourable. COUNT D’ORSAY may need some luck in the run but he was a good fifth in a Sandown Group 3 in July and is getting relief from the assessor now. He acts on faster ground and is not without each-way claims in a tough Portland Handicap.
Selection: Count D’Orsay @ 22/1
Latest Odds for the Portland Handicap:
2.20 – Champagne Stakes (Group 2, 7f)
The Richard Hannon-trained Gimcrack winner Lusail sets the standard on form and has won 4-5 starts already. He is going to be a tough nut to crack but he has to concede 3lb to a very exciting colt in REACH FOR THE MOON in the Royal silks for John & Thady Gosden. The Sea The Stars colt found only Point Lonsdale too strong at Royal Ascot in June and his subsequent Newbury novice win is working out exceedingly well. He easily won a Sandown Group 3 last time and is fancied to continue along his progressive path now by accounting for a smart opponent.
Selection: Reach For The Moon @ 4/5
3.00 – Cazoo Park Stakes (Group 2, 7f)
The Shadwell team have a strong chance in the Park Stakes, with Laneqash likely to go off favourite after finishing second to Sacred in the Hungerford Stakes last month on his seasonal bow. Roger Varian’s charge is a big player. D’Bai and Glorious Journey are others with chances but Owen Burrows’ runner DANYAH might do well upped into this company for the first time. Winner of the International Stakes at Ascot from the front seven weeks ago, he could be a hard nut to crack under Dane O’Neill.
Selection: Danyah @ 5/2
3.35 – Cazoo St Leger Stakes (Group 1, 1m6½f)
His sole defeat came in the Epsom Derby in June and HURRICANE LANE has since won the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix De Paris. He was gutsy to go and get Lone Eagle at the Curragh after Frankie Dettori attempted to pinch the race and he was simply far too good in France. With stamina set to be a forte, he should give Charlie Appleby’s in-form team a first St Leger success.
Aidan O’Brien saddles four and while High Definition was supplemented into this for £50k and is partnered by Frankie Dettori, the improving Interpretation could offer much more value in the market under Hollie Doyle, with his stamina assured.
Selection: Hurricane Lane @ 4/5
4.05 – Hippo Pro 3 Handicap (1m4f)
TYSON FURY was a debut winner over C&D last summer before turning up on this day to compete in the St Leger on only his second outing. He was outclassed there but won a 1m4f Ascot novice the following month. He’s again faced some tough assignments this season in Group 3/Listed races early on, but his recent return from a break at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) was a positive effort and, eased 2lb, he may do well back on Town Moor for Richard Spencer and Adam Kirby.
Selection: Tyson Fury @ SP
5.10 – Vermantia Handicap (1m)
Royal Fleet was 3-3 prior to running fifth at York (1m, good to firm) last month in a race that developed tactically up front. He could rebound for Charlie Appleby and William Buick in what threatens to be a big day for them. RAADOBARG was also 3-3 this season and progressing before finishing eighth at Royal Ascot in the Britannia Stakes. It’s hard to categorise that as a backwards step and, after a break, Roger Varian’s Night Of Thunder colt should go well here.
Selection: Raadobarg @ SP
All odds correct at time of writing
Betting on St Leger Festival Day 4
Aidan O’Brien’s Irish Derby winner Santiago has been popular in the ante-post betting to give the trainer a third St Leger success in four years, while bargain purchase Pyledriver could give trainer William Muir a big chance of Classic success on the back of his impressive Great Voltigeur win at York.
B sure to check out the racing section of our blog for daily tipping advice from our racing experts and brand ambassador Hayley Turner on the St Leger Day 4 racecard.
