There’s a quality day’s racing on Saturday afternoon in front of the ITV racing cameras and our value tipster Matthew Sutcliffe picks out his best bets for the day. It’s day three of the St Leger festival at Doncaster and he picks some selections from Town Moor, while he picks out a 2pt win selection from Chester…
1:15 Doncaster – PJ Towey Construction Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+) – Supido 14/1 1pt EW 4 places
The majority of this field including most of those to the fore of the market have struggled to get their heads in front of late whether that be bumping into one or being toward the hill of the handicapper, and while that could apply to SUPIDO, the Blue Point gelding is relatively unexposed for his new connections and on the balance of his overall form he can be given a chance.
He was purchased for 90,000 euros at the Arqana Arc Sale last Autumn and made a promising debut for Ian Williams at Chester in 0-105 company, beaten a length off top-weight when typically unsuited by racing in rear. He then ran a stormer in the Britannia to be beaten a length into fifth, just behind Fearnot who’s franked that form since to be rated 8lbs higher and finishing ahead of Fifth Column who’s now rated 10lbs higher after taking a valuable handicap at the Ebor meeting.
Both those rivals reversed the form with Supido in two separate events since, though Supido was unsuited by racing in the centre at Ascot behind Fearnot as the first three home came up the near-side rail and Supido was eased off by Jason Hart at York once bumped in running and losing his chance for all he was only beaten five lengths.
The return to a straight track on an easier surface can suit in a race that lacks stand out quality.
2:05 Chester – Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Mount Atlas 13/2 2pt WIN
Andrew Balding took this prize in 2017 and 2021 and MOUNT ATLAS can return to the winner’s enclosure after a brainless ride at York’s Ebor meeting. The Masar gelding’s best form has come from off the pace so it was a huge shock to see him make all at a break neck pace early on at York and I’m more than happy to draw a line through that.
Prior to that, he landed a 0-105 at Ascot off top-weight in a comfortable manner giving 16lbs to the second who was well backed to win a Shergar Cup contest net time out, and he fared best of those to come off the pace behind the Ebor winner Ethical Diamond in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot.
His fifth here behind Illinois, Al Qareem and Absurde reads strong form, so the return here with the three pace angles of Sir Dinadan, Grey Cuban and Champagne Prince can see him pounce late from off the pace with Hamish looking unsuited by the forecast good ground.
2:25 Doncaster – Betfred Portland (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Apollo One 12/1 1pt EW 5 places
This doesn’t look an overly strong renewal of the Portland and last year’s second APOLLO ONE is unlikely to bump into anything of the calibre he did when just touched off by a nose.
He split American Affair and JM Jungle there giving that pair 11lbs who have since gone on to win the G1 King Charles III Stakes and the G2 King George Qatar Stakes respectively, with multiple G3 winner Rumstar in fourth. Apollo One backed that effort up when landing the G3 Bengough Stakes next time out, fending off progressive 3yo Jarraaf.
A revised mark of 109 made things tough for him this term, beaten five lengths in the Abernant on seasonal debut but he was far from disgraced off top-weight in the Wokingham when beaten three lengths by Get It, perhaps paying the price for trying to chase that leader. He ran a credible race in the listed York Stakes and another in the Stewards Cup, for all his progress halted when last in the listed Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket though he hasn’t shown any form there since winning on debut five years ago.
If putting that latest effort behind him, then he looks to have a strong chance to go one better than last years second from a pound lower, particularly if returning to that Wokingham form from 7lbs higher in June.
3:00 Doncaster – Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Room Service 8/1 1pt WIN
Shadow Of Light is the obvious choice in here with his Prix Jean Prat form being franked all over, but at the prices ROOM SERVICE makes large appeal with the first time cheek-pieces equipped to sharpen him up mid race.
The Kodi Bear colt shaped in need of the run on seasonal debut behind Ten Bob Tony in May, then improved from that effort to finish second to runaway winner Quinault in the Criterion at York. Room Service was the first off the bridle a long way from home there, but stayed on remarkably well to clock the fastest final four individual furlongs. He suffered a blip at the Curragh but he wasn’t all that well positioned throughout there and it was his first time travelling, so perhaps we can draw a line through it.
He is 2/2 at Doncaster, landing the 300k sales race at this meeting two years ago before landing the listed Wentworth Stakes last season, so the return here with cheek-pieces equipped and the race ran to suit could see him topple the favourite.
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