Day 1 of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival takes place on Thursday 11th September with some fascinating Group races sitting alongside some competitive handicaps. Our GG in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the action on Town Moor and has three picks for Thursday’s racing.
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3.00 Doncaster – SANTORINI STAR (1pt win – 13/2 bet365)
John & Thady Gosden’s Danielle is a classy filly, but has often found one or two too good during her career, so she has to be taken on in the Group 2 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at 3.00pm. On the contrary, the William Haggas-trained SANTORINI STAR has been a real revelation this season, winning three of her five racecourse starts last season, and she can continue her progression here. Last seen storming to victory in a stayers handicap at York, she will need to step up to sparkle in Group company here, but she has shown no real sign of stopping and could be a potential fly in the ointment for some more proven Group performers here.
3.35 Doncaster – DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (1pt win – 4/1 bet365)
Sent off an 80/1 shot for the Dante Stakes at York back in May, DEVIL’S ADVOCATE was certainly not disgraced when finishing fourth in that Group 2 event and while he struggled in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot next time out this is a much easier assignment. Fourth in the Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor on his last outing, John & Thady Gosden’s charge will drop into handicap company here and off of 104 looks more than capable of outclassing his rivals.
5.15 Doncaster – MARHABA THE CHAMP (1pt e/w – 25/1 bet365)
Second at Doncaster two starts ago on his last outing for Kevin Ryan, MARHABA THE CHAMP was shaping with promise on his first start for Sophie Leech last time out at York, before he was hampered when making his challenge. He could only finish seventh that day, but a return to Doncaster could see him deliver the goods with a bit more luck in running. He is a little hit-and-miss at times, so he will need to show he’s on a going day, but he’s 3lbs lower than his last winning mark, so has to be respected as an each-way contender in the final race of the afternoon.
St Leger Festival Day 1 Tips
3.00 Doncaster – SANTORINI STAR (1pt win – 13/2 bet365)