It’s St Leger day at Doncaster on Saturday 12th September, with the final Classic of the season taking place at 3.35pm. Steve Chambers delves through the form and picks out his best bets for Saturday, with four tips to make up a Lucky 15 on a sparkling day’s racing at the Yorkshire track.
Doncaster Racing Tips (Saturday 12th September)
Eight races take place across the afternoon at Doncaster, with it all getting under way at 1.10pm. Here are the best bets for day 3 of the St Leger Festival.
2.55 Doncaster – More Thunder (1pt win – 5/4)
Winless all season, More Thunder has been competed in some top notch mile races this season. Runner-up in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the William Haggas-trained star was last seen finishing fifth in the Prix Jacques Le Marois in France. Arguably at his best over seven furlongs, he has the perfect chance to get back to winning ways in the Park Stakes at 2.55pm. Undoubtedly, the best horse in the race, if he can find a good position off the pace then he can unleash his spectacular late pace to storm to the front in the final furlong.
3.35 Doncaster – Pierre Bonnard (1pt win – 7/2)
Christmas Day and Enceladus are battling it out for favouritism in the St Leger, but the pair could fall down to Pierre Bonnard, who can deliver the goods for Aidan O’Brien. Impressive in the Derby, Christmas Day has failed to follow that up and he could be one that would relish a bit more ease in the ground. Enceladuus is hugely progressive, but this is another step up in class. Pierre Bonnard finished over two lengths ahead of Christmas Day in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York and a repeat of that should see him frank that form. He was no match for Maltese Cross that day, but that contender has gone on to be a star, so it’s the strongest recent form line and Pierre Bonnard is the way to go.
4.15 Doncaster – Blue Courvoisier (1pt win – 13/2)
Third in a hot handicap at Glorious Goodwood, Clive Cox’s Blue Courvoisier then went and rocketed to an impressive victory at York’s Ebor Festival.The progressive son of Sea The Stars will now look to kick on from that and land another success at a big meeting. He was given a whopping 8lbs rise for that win, but he certainly looks capable of improving again and a mark of 100 certainly looks attractive. In a really tough contest, Cox’s charge could just be the most progressive in the line-up.
4.48 Doncaster – City Of Poets (1pt win – 10/1)
Given a 6lbs rise for a comfortable win at Windsor last time out, City Of Poets will be looking to replicate that performance in the 4.48pm at Doncaster. This is a notable step up in grade, so he will need to improve, but with two wins in his last three outings showing he’s in top form then he looks more than capable of delivering the goods for James Tate and Rossa Ryan.
