After a small hiatus, the regular betting columns for Best Of Bets are back just in time for the start of the Doncaster St Leger meeting.
When we left this column in July, the P/L stood at +15.7 points after a disappointing final few weeks.
So, let’s dive into Day 1 of the Doncaster St Leger meeting.
3:00 Doncaster – January @ 6/1 with SkyBet – 1pt EW
Ryan Moore has chosen to ride Ecstatic in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes, but Aidan O’Brien’s other runner January makes the most appeal to me.
The two-year-old by Kingman has a smart pedigree as she is out of I Can Fly who finished a close second to Roaring Lion in the 2018 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
On debut, she ran a solid race behind stablemate Heavens Gate – who already had a race under her belt – which looks like good form as she has subsequently placed in two Group races and won the Ballyhane Stakes.
Two starts later, she put in another solid performance in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes, a race that has seen California Dreamer come out and finish behind the subsequent Group 1 winner Babouche in the Anglesey Stakes.
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January (Kingman) wins the Listed @coolmorestud Churchill Stakes in fine fashion to land a quick double for in-form Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien at @tipperaryraces 🟣⚪️ @Ballydoyle pic.twitter.com/5E4RpCWGTD
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 9, 2024
Having won by a comfortable four lengths over seven and a half furlongs at Tipperary last time out, trying a mile for the first time looks like a natural step.
Although this is her fifth race as a juvenile, I Can Fly was a highly-tried mare who continued to get better with age, so we probably won’t see the best of her until at least next season.
Despite that, her form looks good enough to take a chance on her here.
3:35 Doncaster – Night Sparkle @ 4/1 with BetVictor – 1pt Win
In what looks like a winnable Group 2 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes, Night Sparkle has a great chance to break her run of near misses.
Since moving to Andrew Baling from Michael O’Callaghan, she has run two solid races behind Term Of Endearment – the latest of which when finishing ahead of Ciaus Chorister who was second to Absurde at Chester recently – as well as two good runs against the boys over two miles.
The first of which occurred in the Listed Marathon Stakes at Sandown when second to Trueshan and the second was in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup behind Vauban, Al Nayyir, and Gregory.
Trueshan puts in an excellent staying performance in the Coral Marathon under a well executed ride by @HollieDoyle1 for the Alan King yard! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/n9hT79iok0
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) July 5, 2024
Both of those races look like good form and it looks as if 1m6f is the perfect distance for her.
As much as Sumo Sam, on her second start after a wind-op, is a danger at 12/1, I think Night Sparkle has the ability to show her class in this company.
4:40 Doncaster – Jorge Alvares @ 9/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win
Jorge Alvares was a horse that caught my eye after his run in the Harry’s Half Million By Goffs Premier Yearling Stakes at York, so I want to keep him onside on his handicap debut.
With a rating of 82 after a two-pound rise from his last run, the gelding by Cotai Glory came from the rear of the field on the wrong side of the pack to finish a good fourth.
Thrilling finish to the #HarrysHalfMillion By @GoffsUK Premier Yearling Stakes!
Arizona Blaze looks home but 22/1 chance Diligently has other ideas, snatching the £250,000 first prize on the line for @Rossaryan15 and Clive Cox 🥇 pic.twitter.com/6jW7gnPdYI
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 22, 2024
Arizona Blaze, who finished second, brought Group form into the race, so the form looks better than average.
Furthermore, from his debut run at York, Yah Mo Be There (second) has won a Listed race since and Andesite (first) was chucked straight into Group 2 company on his next run.
Having run well on good to soft and good to firm before, any ground is fine for him.
5:10 Doncaster – Defence Missile @ 9/2 with William Hill – 1pt Win
From one nursery handicap to another, Defence Missile looks like a worthy bet off a mark of 79 with the first-time cheekpieces applied.
On debut, he finished second to Mr Chaplin who has a rating of 96 having won a Class 2 handicap at Goodwood subsequently.
Mr Chaplin – a 120,000gns purchase as a yearling – scores in style in an intriguing maiden contest at @NewburyRacing for @Rossaryan15 and @RalphBeckett, with a few eyecatchers in behind… pic.twitter.com/XyaQ5fujXv
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 17, 2024
Two starts later, he was a good third in a Salisbury novice stakes when trying to make all, form that looks good as Royal Playwright ran well behind Field Of Gold in the Solario Stakes and Original Outlaw chased home Mr Chaplin in that handicap at Goodwood.
The son of Sottsass is a well-bred horse running in a 0-80, and with a run on the all-weather 22 days ago under his belt, he should be primed to go well here.
