It’s day one of the St Leger festival at Doncaster on Thursday 11th September and our value tipster Matthew Sutcliffe has picked out his best bets for the action on Town Moor. Check out his three selections, which includes a 2pt win the 3.35pm race.
1:50 Doncaster – Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2yo) – Rising Empire 14/1 1pt EW 4 places
Andrew Balding has won two of the last six renewals of this valuable contest and his sole entrant RISING EMPIRE can be chanced despite having something to find on the figures with the principals.
Bangkok’s first crop haven’t been particularly well supported for all the 2021 York Stakes winner was unlikely to have many forward two-year-olds, but Rising Empire has proved something of an anomaly thus far. The 17,000gns purchase debuted in a valuable Leicester Maiden over five furlongs, staying on strongly from rear and having been short of room throughout, he made remarkable late progress to clock the fastest final furlong, beaten only two lengths by the subsequent G2 Coventry third and G2 Richmond winner Coppull.
He then backed that promise up under a prominent ride at Windsor, travelling well in behind the front runners and fending off the rallying Dapper Charm in game fashion, who won cosily next time out. That form’s worked out in places elsewhere with the fourth winning next time out, the fifth is now rated 84 having won cosily next time out and both the seventh and eighth landed their next outings.
Rising Empire then went to the Woodcote at Epsom and looked all at sea on that track, breaking slowly and dropped to rear early on before having to challenge wide on the course, rarely looking comfortable at any stage in the race. He still finished off strongly under hands and heels and the second, Havana Hurricane, has franked that form since to land the Windsor Castle and finishing second in both the Newbury 2yo Stakes and the Richmond, with the sixth also franking the form having landed the Ripon 2yo Trophy last time out.
He has enough form in the book to suggest a mark of 84 underestimates him which would heighten the confidence here given they’ve opted to skip nurseries, and hopefully they’ve trained him to peak for this now returning from a 97 day layoff.
3:00 Doncaster – Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Floresta 14/1 1pt EW 3 places
Very few of these makes appeal with the majority already coming up short at this level (or weaker), but I was seriously taken by the effort of Waldgeist filly FLORESTA who bolted up in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes last month, which was a successful path for Pista when landing the Park Hill next time out in 2020.
She was dropped out by Ben Coen and settled well, before making a huge move just before the turn down the back straight to circle the field and hit the front two furlongs out, comfortably putting the race to bed. The leaders went very quick early on, but she still managed to post a finishing speed percentage of 101.55% in a race that was the only one quicker than standard on the day.
She’s often shaped like a filly who needs a trip and given how strongly she stayed on over her first attempt at 1m6f, a repeat performance would bode well here at a track she’ll be able to kick early on and open up her large stride against a fairly modest bunch of fillies.
3:35 Doncaster – Oddschecker Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105) – Hopewell Rock 6/1 2pt WIN
Given HOPEWELL ROCK had entries in the Derby (yard’s sole entrant), Fielden, Dante and Blue Riband, we can only a presume a slight setback has kept him off the track but on the other hand it tells you the regard they hold him in and it was pleasing to see him a solid return to action at Newbury last month when not only a drifter, but looking very much like he was still carrying plenty of condition.
The 235,000gns son of New Bay was two from two last seasons, landing a Newbury Maiden on debut was supposedly needing the run in a race that has worked out strongly. The second is now rated 95 and latterly finished a length behind subsequent Gordon Stakes winner Merchant. The third won next time out and is now in the hands of Wathnan rated 91, and the fourth is rated 103 having landed a competitive Newmarket handicap last time out.
Hopewell Rock then landed a competitive Bath Novice Stakes under a 6lbs penalty on heavy ground next time out travelling through the race in the manner of one head and shoulders above his rivals with the front two pulling five lengths clear of the field and the second bolting up ten lengths next time out.
His five lengths third on seasonal debut last month is better than first glance, as he was dropped in rear early on and took a seriously strong hold throughout the contest so while he did come there travelling strongly on the outside, it was no surprise to see him blow up late on on account of both keenness and race fitness against match fit rivals, with the winner coming off the back of a third in a valuable handicap at the Goodwood festival.
With that run under his belt, it’ll be no surprise to see him finish off his race stronger this time out particularly on an easier surface and a mark of 94 can easily underestimate this well touted colt providing any early season issues are a distant memory.
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