Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
This week we have the last of this season’s Classics with St Leger being the main feature on a card that tops off this year’s Doncaster Race Week. ITV are covering three races from Town Moor beside the Leger, including the Champagne Stakes where the Queen’s Derby hope for next June, Reach For The Moon, looks to rubber-stamp his credentials to win the Blue Riband race in what will be the Monarch’s Platinum Jubilee year.
Also televised is a 5-furlong sprint, the Portland Handicap, and a 7-furlong Group 2 on what promises to be a very exciting day’s racing to round off Race Week. All this is backed up by a couple of races around the turns of Chester, a Listed race and a Class 3 handicap. So here are my thoughts as to where the best value can be found for this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.00 Chester. Invite
2.35 Chester. Hochfeld
1.45 Doncaster. Hurricane Ivor
3.35 Doncaster. Mojo Star
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Chester with the 2.00 the tote+ Stand Cup Stakes which is run at just over 1m 4f around the bends of the RooDee. I always think at Chester that horses that have previously been victorious at the track are usually worth following and last year’s winner of this race returns to try and repeat that feat. That horse is Sir Michael Stoute’s Alignak who returns to the course for his first outing of the season which I find rather concerning, has he had his problems? He is likely to go off at a short price and I think there may be better value in the race.
Alfred Boucher trained by Henry Candy battled his way to victory at Ascot in July then found traffic problems at Windsor last month. He has had a consistent season and may be placed here.
Kevin Ryan’s Throne Hall was just held at York last month and is expected to go well. But I am looking at the only 3-year-old in the race, Andrew Balding’s Invite who won at Doncaster in May before going to Milan for the Italian Oaks where she ran fifth. This is her first run since then and she benefits from the age and fillies allowance, that Doncaster form would see her go very close.
The Homeserve Handicap is at 2.35 run over a distance of 1m 6f and this looks like an even contest. The top weight is Hochfeld trained by Mark Johnson. He is having his 15th run of the season with one win back in April. He has Chester form having won twice here back in 2017 but though he looks high enough in the weights he is dropping down in class here and was not disgraced in a hot contest last week at Haydock.
Kevin Ryan’s Arrow Of Gold is the likely favourite after his second to a hot favourite at Thirsk in June. He cost 450,000gns as a yearling but is very lightly raced and is best watched.
Richard Fahey’s Gabriel The One usually turns up on the card here at Chester and won here back in 2019. He has been racing in better company than this and maybe placed here.
Mancini from Ian Williams’s yard was a fine second here last time in August and drops back down in trip to try and get off the mark for the year but he may have to settle for a place behind the selection Hochfeld.
The big betting race of the day is at 1.45 in Doncaster, the Portland Handicap, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint. The top weight and favourite is William Haggas’s Hurricane Ivor, who was second in a similar race at York last month. He was beaten that day by Tim Easterby’s Copper Knight but Hurricane Ivor is 4lb better off here.
Copper Knight ran second last week at Haydock beaten just a head by Antony Brittain’s Mondammej with Michael Dods’ Jawwaal in fourth place in a close finish. Last year’s winner of this race Stone Of Destiny was fifth in that Haydock race and he returns here to try and repeat that victory but his form this season has not been up to last year’s.
John Quinn’s Mr Wagyu is having a great season for his trainer with five victories, the latest of which was at Goodwood in July but he is dropping back in trip here.
Michael Appleby’s King Of Stars is worth a mention after his Pontefract victory last week, he can be placed here.
Paul Midgley has a couple at the bottom of the handicap the best of which could be Mid Winster who won at Doncaster in July. He could be placed at a big price. But I am between Hurricane Ivor and Mondammej and just give Haggas’ horse the nod.
At 3.35, we have the oldest of the classics, the Cazoo St Leger Stakes run over a tad further than 1m 6f. Aidan O’Brien has four runners in this, including the hot favourite Hurricane Lane who has won the Irish Derby and the Grand Prix De Paris so his chance is without question but will he be suited by the extra distance.
J P Murtagh sends over Ottoman Emperor again after his fine victory at Goodwood beating Sir Lucan and Youth Spirit. He should confirm those placings and should himself be placed here.
Richard Hannon’s Mojo Star was second in the Derby and won well at Newbury last month where he looked like he will have no problem getting the extra distance, he will go close.
As an outsider, I like the look of another of O’Brien’s horses, that is, The Mediterranean who has been used as a pacemaker. He is better than that and should get the distance. He can be placed at a nice price.
So in looking for one that will get the distance and trouble the favourite I will side with Hannon’s Mojo Star to go one better than his Derby run.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.00 Chester. Invite
2.35 Chester. Hochfeld
1.45 Doncaster. Hurricane Ivor
3.35 Doncaster. Mojo Star
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Related Reading