Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
As we move into Autumn, “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”, we have the last Classic of the year, the St Leger at Doncaster. I know we have Champions Day at Ascot to come, plus the Arc meeting and the Breeders Cup, but this feels like the flat season is drawing to a close with the first of the jump racing winter fixtures in just two weeks’ time.
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ITV Racing are covering five races from Doncaster this Saturday, including the Group 1 St Leger, two Group 2s, and two Class 2 handicaps. This fine card is backed up by a couple of races from Chester, featuring a Listed contest and a Class 2 handicap, to make up the ITV 7.
Here are my thoughts for the main betting races and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday E/W Lucky Fifteen
2.20 Doncaster. Trefor
3.35 Doncaster. Pierre Bonnard
4.15 Doncaster. Fifth Column
2.05 Chester. Cranachan
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
Beginning at Doncaster with the 2.20, the Betfred Portland, this is a Class 2 sprint handicap run over 5 1/2f. On paper, this looks a great sprint handicap. These horses have raced against each other several times this season, and it is very difficult to see an obvious winner. Jack Channon’s Getreadytorumble was last seen at Ascot in July when he finished second. He is a past Doncaster winner but has plenty of weight.
Geoff Oldroyd’s Air Force One won at York in August but ran out of the places at the same course later in the month, having risen in the weights.
David O’Meara’s Toca Madera won here at Doncaster in June. He has been very busy since, but his second at Goodwood last month shows he retains his form.
Richard Spencer’s saddles one of the favourites with Twilight Calls, who has won on three of his last four outings, latterly at Goodwood in July. He looks sure to be competitive.
Charalambous and Clutterbuck’s Apollo One has finished behind Air Force One on his last two outings, and I cannot see him reversing those placings.
Jim Goldie’s Eternal Sunshine won this last year but has 12lbs more to carry this time around. However, she won at Hamilton last month in a Class 3 in preparation for this.
I am going with Charles Hills Trefor, who won at Windsor last month, then ran with a penalty at York and was upset after being reshod. The booking of Billy Loughnane is noted.
The Group 1 Betfred St Leger is at 3.35. This final Classic of the season is run over 1m 6 1/2 f. The race is dominated by Irish runners, with Aidan O’Brien having four runners and his son Joseph O’Brien two.
Aidan’s best chance seems to be Christmas Day, who won the Derby. Since then, he has been placed at both the Curragh and York, while one of his other runners is Pierre Bonnard, who finished 7th in the Derby. His latest run was last month at York, where he was second over 2 lengths in front of Christmas Day.
Joseph O’Brien’s main chance is Enceladus, who is unbeaten this season having won the King George and the Gordon Stakes at Ascot and Goodwood respectively, top honours indeed.
Joseph’s other runner is Highwayman, who is not without a chance after winning at Killarney in July, then winning a Listed race over this distance at Leopardstown a fortnight ago.
The UK runners cannot match the form of their Irish opponents, and perhaps the best of them is Andrew Balding’s Hatteen, who won a Class 2 contest here at Doncaster in July. He then ran second in a handicap at Goodwood later in the month, hardly Classic form. I side with Pierre Bonnard, with Highwayman placed in what looks to be a father-and-son battle for honours.
Finally, we come to the 4.15, the Pertemps Network Handicap; this is a Class 2 race run over 1 mile on the straight course. Top weight and the current favourite is William Haggas’s Bullet Point, who was runner-up twice last month at Ascot and York. His weight may tell.
Muir and Grassick’s Ebt’s Guard has disappointed this season. He has finished 4th on his last two outings and perhaps needs to drop down the weights.
Jack Channon’s Mezcala won the Spring Mile here at Doncaster in March, then the Buckingham Palace at Royal Ascot, but he disappointed at Ascot in July when he finished down the field, but is expected to go close here.
Clive Cox’s Blue Courvoisier was placed at Goodwood in early August, then won at York later in the month. He is another for the frame.
George Boughey’s Moonfall won the Britannia at Royal Ascot then proved his liking for the straight course when finishing runner-up there earlier this month.
Karl Burke’s Inspired has won three of his last four races but is upped in class here.
I take John and Thady Gosden’s Fifth Column to spring a surprise. He ran a fine second at Newmarket in May, then wasn’t beaten far from a poor draw in the Royal Hunt Cup. He has been kept back since for this.
For the final leg it’s the 2.05 at Chester, the Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Watergate Cup. This is a Class 2 handicap run over 2 miles. Top weight is Holy See, trained in Ireland by William Durkan, who was last seen when runner-up at Galway in July. A bold run is expected.
Andrew Balding’s Spirit Mixer is a Chester specialist, having won here four times, including this race last year. He has 2lbs more than last year, and his form this year has been poor.
Ian Williams’s Dancing In Paris won at Ascot last month and has climbed up the handicap.
I was impressed with Pole Star’s run last week at Haydock for trainer Charlie Johnson. He can go close here at a big price.
Llewellyn and Williams’s Shipshape won here at Chester in June but was beaten out of sight at Carlisle last month.
Ralph Beckett’s Cranachan looks to have a good chance after winning here last month. He had previously run second at Newmarket, and although he needs to step up in class, his previous victory stands him in good stead.
Saturday E/W Lucky Fifteen
2.20 Doncaster. Trefor
3.35 Doncaster. Pierre Bonnard
4.15 Doncaster. Fifth Column
2.05 Chester. Cranachan
Bet this lucky 15 on Bet365
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