WE can look forward to a cracking day of racing at Doncaster on the last day of the 2020 St Leger Festival, with the feature the St Leger Stakes, the last and oldest of our three – year – old classics, having been established in 1776. This is a fascinating renewal, which certainly looks more open than the 2019’ St Leger, won by the very good Logician, who won here on Thursday on seasonal debut. All eyes will be on William Muir’s charge Pyledriver, who cost just 10,000 Guineas and who is currently joint favourite here with Santiago after his Great Voltiguer success at York. The big question is will he stay? If he wins this would be a fantastic story and we know that Martin Dwyer and William Muir would give some top post race interviews!

A special mention to all the team associated with Doncaster Racecourse, who have worked so hard and have experienced downs and ups this week. Let’s see the 2020 Doncaster St Leger Festival finish with a top Saturday and great stories. 

Cheers

The Wine Tipster.

1.50 Doncaster – Champagne Stakes Group 2 (7f)

Chindit for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon can make it three from three career starts and give Richard another winner of this prestigious race as Threat won in 2019.

Both of Chindit’s successes have come over this trip, after winning on debut here in July and then following up in fine style at Ascot later in that month in a Listed Race. There was plenty to like about his Ascot performance in the way he travelled so smoothly throughout and went to the front in fine style. The credentials of this race are there to see with three subsequent winners chasing him home and two, Cobh and Saint Lawrence, going on to win Listed contests.

Unibet 11/4 win

2.25 Doncaster – Handicap (5½f)

Soldier’s Minute finished second over this trip at York to my Unibet selection Acclaim The Nation, with Tarboosh third (won here on Wednesday) and my other selection Arecibo in fourth. Soldier’s Minute came with a storming late run at York, has season figures of 42032, is ground versatile, has won on quick going and has a very favourably draw in stall 22.

Unibet 7/1 each way

Arecibo has been given a first-rate chance to score here. Record at 5½f reads 143444, all in big-field handicaps, never beaten far, is 7lb lower than when beaten a length in this by Oxted last year (possibly not well drawn then either) and drying ground a major plus. Drawn is stall 14 works as the likely pace is up the middle/high and if he can track it near side, might be in the best place to challenge late. 

Unibet 10/1 each way

3.00 Doncaster – Park Stakes Group 2 (7f)

Molatham beat Wichita in the Flying Scotsman here last year and whilst Wichita’s season has flattened out, Molatham might appreciate having had a break since not being at his best in the Group 1 Jean Prat last time when fifth behind Pinatubo (still a decent effort). The followed his Jersey Stakes Group 2 success at Royal Ascot on seasonal debut when he and the second Monarch Of Egypt drew clear over the final furlong. This looks sure to be run at a good pace with both Marie’s Diamond and Shine So Bright in the field and Molatham can take it late.

Unibet 5/1 win

3.35 Doncaster – St Leger Stakes Group 1 (1m6f)

Santiago (nap) can take the St Leger for Aidan O’Brien, with Frankie Dettori taking the ride. This looks the ideal distance for Santiago and he can outstay his main challenger Pyledriver. He showed when winning the Queen’s Vase in really good style at Royal Ascot, beating another of today’s rivals Berkshire Rocco, that this trip is ideal. He showed plenty of determination to beat Tiger Moth in the Irish Derby when they both drew clear and then at Goodwood he was third over two miles to the brilliant Stradivarius , when the extra two furlongs didn’t suit at this stage of his career.

Unibet 11/4 win

Mohican Heights has to be the big price play here as he is clearly the overlooked runner in this classic. It is worth remembering he panned Subjectivist at Salisbury last year in a Listed contest and he’s twice the price of Mark Johnston’s charge here. Mohican Heights was given far too much to do in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot but finished best of all to finish within 4l of Pyledriver and the Derby was over at the start when stumbled on leaving the stalls. Remember he finished one place behind Pyledriver at Epsom. Unibet Ambassador Jamie Spencer is ideal for this waiting ride and today’s extra two furlongs should really suit (related to two solid stayers). 

Unibet 33/1 each way