Find all previous Seymour Biz racing previews in his weekly column: Saturday Horse Racing Tips.
It’s St Leger Day at Doncaster on ITV Racing this Saturday, but after six handicaps on last week’s cards, there are only two from the seven races this week.
There are four races being shown from Town Moor, three of which are Stakes races, including the Group 1 St Leger. The Portland Handicap is the other contest on the Doncaster card.
There are two races being shown from Chester, a Listed race and a two-mile handicap. Added to these, ITV are crossing the Irish Sea to Leopardstown to cover the Irish Champion Stakes, where Aidan O’Brien has a massive hand with half of the eight runners, including the enigmatic Auguste Rodin.
So I have trawled through the seven races looking for value, and here are my thoughts and this week’s Lucky Fifteen.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.05 Chester. Al Qareem
2.40 Chester. Roberto Escobarr
2.25 Doncaster. Shagraan
3.00 Doncaster. Poet Master
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Beginning at Chester with the 2.05 the Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes a Class 1 Listed race run over 1m 4 1/2f. The current favourite here is William Haggas’s La Yenkel, who easily won a handicap at Hamilton last month. But he seems nothing better than a good handicapper and does not justify his short price. Added to that, he has the widest draw.
David O’Meara’s Iron Lion has had a fine season winning on three occasions but he ran poorly at York last month and would need to improve substantially to feature here.
One of the two Irish raiders is John Nallen’s Cristal Clare, who was second in a Listed race at Roscommon in July. He was 4th in a handicap at Galway last time.
The other Irish runner is Adrian McGuinness’s Star Harbour, who won over 9 furlongs at Tipperary last month and ran second at Dundalk a week later. More is required.
The class horse in the race is last year’s winner, Al Qareem, trained by Karl Burke, who, after winning here, went on to win a Group 3 at Ascot last October. He has shown good form this season without success but his second in a Group 3 at Newbury last month shows he has lost none of his zest.
The Livescore Bet Watergate Cup is at 2.40, this is Class 2 handicap run over 2 miles which is twice around the Roodee course. Declan Carroll’s Emiyn has won three times around here but this is his first run since he was third at Haydock in May.
Top weight is Brian Ellison’s Tashkhan, who has run in Group company on the last couple of occasions without success. He drops back to handicaps, looking for his first win of the season.
Shanroe is trained in Ireland by Karl Thornton. He won a Listed race here at Chester 12 months ago but was well beaten here in a Group race a fortnight ago, but he is a 10-year-old now.
Gavin Cromwell’s Vera Verto has been well beaten in her last two handicaps despite being placed, this is tougher.
Andrew Balding’s Spirit Mixer won over this course and distance two weeks ago, but that was a lowly Class 4 contest. That was his only win in what has been a disappointing season.
You can never rule out a Willie Mullins horse, and he has one at the bottom of the handicap, Mr Escobar. He ran out at the first hurdle last month in a Killarney jumps meeting and is having his first run of the season on the flat.
But I am siding with an Ian Williams horse with Jim Crowley aboard, Roberto Escobarr. He won two Group 3s last season and moves back to handicap company for the first time in only his third run for his new trainer.
At Doncaster it is the big betting race of the day, the Betfred Portland Handicap is at 2.25, this is a Class 2 sprint run over 5 1/2 furlongs. The top weight here is Archie Watson’s Albasheer, a triple winner this season. He was only beaten a nose in a Listed race at Beverley at the end of last month. He has a good chance despite top weight.
Jonathan Portman’s Rumstar has been running well in some top class handicaps but seems to find one or two too good for him.
George Baker’s Get It has had a tremendous season, including winning the Stewards Cup at Goodwood. His latest run at Windsor was too bad to be true and can be discounted. However, he has gone up in the weights, which may hold him back.
The Charalambous and Clutterbuck horse Apollo One has contested all the big 5f races, including Group ones, but without success, he looks high enough in the handicap.
James Evans’s Dream Composer won at Pontefract in August, adding to his June win at Epsom. He can go close.
Michael Appleby’s Shagraan is my idea of the winner after winning at Goodwood in August and Haydock last week. He is a real battler for such a young horse and can go on to better things.
As a good outsider, I like Tim Easterby’s Manila Scouse, who can be backed each-way, especially if there’s juice in the ground.
The 3.00 is the Betfred Park Stakes a Group 2 contest run over 7 furlongs. Ralph Beckett’s Kinross is the favourite here after his fine third at Goodwood in July, he is sure to go close.
Richard Hannon’s Shouldvebeenaring moves up in trip after running down the field in the Sprint Cup at Haydock last week.
William Haggas’s Lake Forest was second in Group 1 at Royal Ascot, then found another too good at Newbury the following month.
John and Thady Gosden’s Lead Artist won a Group 3 at Goodwood beginning of August. He steps up in class but can go close.
Andrew Balding’s Al Shabab Storm won a Listed race at Chester in July and then ran second in a similar race at the same track. He then went to Germany and won a Group 3, but this is tougher.
My preference is for Karl Burke’s Poet Master, who went to the Curragh in July and routed the field in a top-class Group 2. He can go in again.
Saturday Lucky Fifteen
2.05 Chester. Al Qareem
2.40 Chester. Roberto Escobarr
2.25 Doncaster. Shagraan
3.00 Doncaster. Poet Master
Bet this lucky 15 now on Bet365
Related Reading