THE St Leger at Doncaster was first run in 1776 and is the oldest three-year-old classic run over a distance of one mile and six and a half furlongs.
Scandinavia is favourite at Unibet 11/8 on the back of his Bahrain Trophy success at Newmarket and his Goodwood Cup victory, although he was only fifth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot behind the winner Carmers, with Furthur in second and Rahiebb third.
Lambourn, the Epsom Derby winner, was marked up in my Unibet blog ahead of winning the Irish Derby, whilst at York he ran no race at all in the Great Voltigeur.
It might be that Scandinavia continues on his upward trajectory and justifies favouritism, whilst Lambourn if reproducing his Epsom form, could run a big race but I prefer to take the option of Carmers at Unibet 9/2.
In the Portland Handicap at Doncaster, I have deserted the 2024 runner-up Apollo One for the first time since he finished second in the 2023 Wokingham! He has such a great attitude, and he is one of my favourites.
Instead, in addition to my two other selections in the Portland, I am going to have a small each way wager on Atomic Force Unibet 25/1, who is having his first start in England since his juvenile career in 2021. He has returned from Hong Kong, where he won three times over the minimum trip and is clearly hard to assess, though an interesting runner.
There is top-class group action at Leopardstown, and the Royal Bahrain Irish Champions Stakes Group 1 looks like a thriller.
Enjoy whether at Doncaster and Leopardstown or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
2.25 Doncaster – Portland Heritage Handicap (5½f)
Trefor was tipped up for the big handicap at York on day one of the Ebor Festival over this distance when you could see he was going to be involved in the finish from two furlongs out, and he beat The Man by a head. It is worth noting that the yard was not in good form and Trefor was a welcome winner.
Trefor certainly knows how to battle as he had showed when winning by a short head from First Folio in June at Ripon.
At the time of writing on Friday morning, the forecast is for a dry day with temperatures up to 17 degrees, which will hopefully ensure there is at least good ground on Saturday. Trefor has won on good ground or quicker and, with the right conditions, has a strong chance of following up his York success.
Diablo Rojo was a very impressive second to the subsequent Haydock Sprint Cup winner Big Mojo at Ascot in a Group 3 back in April on his penultimate start and then headed to the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot as an outsider. He finished last that day, though it was found that he was lame afterwards and he looks sure to be ready to run a big race on his first appearance since June. This three-year-old is having his seventh career start and has each way claims.
3:00 Doncaster – Park Stakes Group 2 (7f)
Ten Bob Tony (nap) won on his first start after being gelded in the John Of Gaunt Stakes Group 3 at Haydock in May, when delivering a career-best performance to beat the admirable Kinross, who carried a five-pound penalty, by a head.
This has turned out to be his sole appearance of 2025 so far, as the going has been too quick for him, and he will appreciate this cut in the ground.
It is not a concern that he hasn’t run since May, with his record after breaks of 100+ days reading 121, so coming to the race fresh is obviously a positive, and he can improve again.
3:40 Doncaster – St Leger Stakes Group 1 (1m 6½f)
Carmers is the selection on the back of his success in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot when he clearly relished that trip and had Furthur, Rahiebb, and Scandinavia behind him that day.
He dropped down in distance to one mile four furlongs in the Great Voltigeur ay York and was doing all his best work late on when second to Prince Of Arras.
Carmers can continue his improvement, and the step back up in distance is all in his favour, whilst the pretty much dry forecast is a positive.
4:50 Doncaster – Mastiff Manor Handicap (1m2f)
Botancial had an excellent 2024 season with form figures of 1022, which included a second to the well-handicapped Enfijaar in the John Smith’s Cup Handicap at York and then ran with credit in Listed company after. This season he hasn’t hit that same level as yet, and he never looked happy at Epsom when sent off as the favourite last time out with the cheekpieces doing nothing for him.
There are positives here, though, as this is certainly not a strong 0-105 handicap, and Botanical goes well after a break with his record reading 123, whilst the ground and distance suit too.
He really should have the class to be too good for this field.
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