St. Leger Festival Day Two

The St. Leger festival got underway yesterday with a low-key start, but with two Group races and TV cameras at Doncaster today, the meeting really hots up. The official going is good, but with a going stick reading suggesting it is slightly firmer.

1.25 Class 2 Nursery – 6f110y

Besito heads the market at 9/2 with Sportingbet after a 3.5 length victory in a Newmarket maiden. That race hasn’t worked out well, with the vanquished all still maidens. Second favourite Responsive also looks vulnerable at 5/1 having come up short when tried in good company in his last two runs. A quietly progressive horse like Elusive Flame at 17/2 (Victor Chandler) looks well handicapped. A winner last time, she is held in high regard by trainer David Elsworth.

1.55 Sceptre Stakes Group 3 – 7f

Dever Dream returns to defend her title at 15/2 (Sportingbet). Having done not a lot wrong this year, she should put up a good defense. John Oxx sadles the favourite Alanza at 3/1 with Bet365. A winner of two listed race in Ireland, the form is hard to judge. Chachamaidee has won her last two races over seven furlongs, beating Dever Dream along the way, at 7/2 (Bet365) she looks the best bet.

2.25 Weatherbys Insurance Stakes - 6f110y

A valuable two-year-old sales race that has attracted a big field, as you would expect with £300,000 up for grabs. Bogart at 14/5 (Sportingbet) is set up for another big pay day after taking a comparable race at York last month. The progressive Top Cop could be the dark horse at 14/1 with Bet365. He won a novices’ event at Bath despite the small field and sluggish pace. With today’s conditions more to his liking he could go much better.

3.00 Park Hill Stakes Group 2 – 1m6f132y

A stamina test concludes the televised racing with Set To Music 5/2 (Boylesports) to win her fifth race on the bounce. Having started the season rated 70 she has progressed rapidly, taking a listed race on her last start. There could be even more to come. Meeznah is the obvious danger at 10/3 (Victor Chandler) if you forgive her last run, which was too bad to be true.