We made a fine start to the William Hill St Leger Festival yesterday as we landed winners at 7/2, 7/2 and 5/1.
Today's card at Town Moor sees Group action take centre stage courtesy of the May and Park Hill Stakes. Here are Danny Archer's race-by-race selections for day one of the meeting on Town Moor.
I'll be placing my bets with Ladbrokes today to take advantage of their bet £5 and get £20 in free bets. The Magic Sign will also double your winnings in the 3.00 if your selections wins by 3 lengths or more. Full terms here.
1:20: Doncaster: Kenny The Captain 4/1 and Case Key 6/1 Each Way.
Kenny The Captain was a decisive winner at Thirsk last time and whilst he has been raised 7lb for that run, he was once rated 88 (currently 80), which gives cause for optimism that further improvement is still possible.
Michael Appleby's Case Key has the services of Josephine Gordon today and was a nose winner at Newmarket last time. He handles soft ground and should cope with a 2lb rise.
1:50: Doncaster: Clubbable 3/1.
This looks trappy but whilst Richard Fahey's charge remains a maiden after four runs, it was a good performance last time when second on her handicap debut and she offers value.
2:25: Doncaster: Laurens 7/2 and Sizzling 8/1.
Karl Burke's Laurens won a maiden at this track in July and improved against to finish second at Deauville in a G3 event last time. That is the strongest form on offer and the step up to a mile is also sure to help.
Sizzling is an interesting runner for the Master of Ballydoyle Aidan O'Brien. She finally landed her first victory at Tipperary last time when justifying odds on favouritism. The form is hard to gauge but she is probably better than that and I'm interested to see how she copes with the step up to Group company here.
3:00: Doncaster: Melodic Motion 4/1 and Dubka 9/2 Each Way.
Ralph Beckett's charge was a narrow third at Goodwood last time and is a three-year-old stayer on the up.
Dubka was a neck in front of Melodic Motion that day and she was very unlucky not to land the verdict that day. She wasn't suited by the Ebor at York last time and the softer ground is a major positive.
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3:35: Doncaster: Great Prospector 4/1 and Alba Power 15/2 Each Way.
Another really hard race to call but Richard Fahey's Great Prospector is closely linked with another of today's rivals Tangled, as he finished a neck behind that rival last time. However, the slight step up in trip should suit the two-year-old son of Elzaam and he is fancied to come out on top.
Hugo Palmer's Alba Power was fourth to Tangled at York last time as well and made steady headway in the closing stages, suggesting that the longer trip will also suit him.
4:05: Doncaster: Dark Red 9/4.
Another very tough race to call this as all four horses have a good shout. Ed Dunlop's Dark Red was disqualified at Goodwood in August after being first past the post before staying on well to finish third at York last time. Today's ground should also hold no fears here.
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William Haggas' charge was slowly away last time at Chester and then suffered interference throughout the race. However, she found plenty for pressure late on and fairly flew home to win quite decisively at the line. There is definitely more to come from this three-year-old daughter of Lope De Vega and ground conditions should suit.
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1:20: Doncaster: Kenny The Captain
3:00: Doncaster: Dubka
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