It’s the final classic of the year, the St Leger Festival at Doncaster. This Festival allows us to not only crown the winner of the oldest classic, but also to watch out for the future with plenty two-year-old action too. Today on day two, more two-year-old in Flying Scotsman and Flying Childers Stakes. And the stayers are out in force for the Group Two Doncaster Cup.
Successive Winner
1:50 – Betfred Mallard Handicap – Subsequent @ 9/4 (Betfred)
When you’ve had three wins in your debut season, people will notice. Subsequent is looking for win number four and is impressing with every run. His latest victory at Newmarket showed he’s progressing incredibly well, and handling the steps up in trip equally well. It’s only a four pound rise, which looks fair and gives him a fighting chance.
However, only two three-year-olds have won this race in the previous 10 runnings which means that older horses do have a slight advantage. Shadow Dance looks a particular threat after his impressive victory at York, when he switched inside and outside before turning on the burners to just overpower Lieber Power by a neck. With that much switching, and the power inside the half furlong to win, the step up in trip should be interesting. 7/2 (William Hill).
Two Good To Be True?
2:25 – Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed) – Jonquil @ 11/10 (BetVictor, Boylesports)
Jonquil was incredibly impressive on debut, and showed more maturity than you would see in most two-year-old debutants. His ability to keep the power going when switched to the outside really caught the eye. However, more experienced horses do win this race more often than not.
However the last time a one raced horse won the Flying Scotsman was Sangarius. Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, ridden by Ryan Moore and owned and bred by Juddmonte. Lightning can strike twice.
Mr Chaplin is a likeable horse and certainly has the credentials to win this race. He looks to have more of a preference to good ground, rather than good-to-firm ground after being well found out in the Acomb last time out. But with preferred ground and a win over the distance, he can certainly hit the frame. 12/1 (General).
If Carlsberg did Two-Year-Old races…
3:00 – Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2) – Big Mojo @ 3/1 (BetVictor, Boylesports)
An extremely electric race, with pace galore, it’s all about going on form. Big Mojo was disappointing at York last time out. However, with both Symbol of Strength and Camille Pissaro franking the form, Big Mojo should go a bit better. Trainer Michael Appleby says the ground is fine for him, and he’s top rated out of the field. There’s a lot of reasons to side with him in this fierce competition.
Tropical Storm has good each-way claims. He beat current favourite, Magnum Force, by a neck last time out at York (even if Magnum Force was denied a clear run). The form from the Roses Stakes hasn’t been tested a lot, but he came from the best two-year-old of Royal Ascot which has paid dividends since. Forget his Goodwood run and he should be up there again. 9/1 (BetVictor).
Another Michael Appleby horse that is forgotten about is Mr Lightside. Since winning impressively at Nottingham, he’s finished within a length and half of the winner in his two subsequent runs. His impressive third at Goodwood is the form to latch onto and if he can match his Nottingham win, plus the impressive run at Goodwood, he should outrun odds of 20/1 (BetVictor).
Pair Of Kings
3:35 – Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) – Sweet William @ 15/8 (General)
The Gosden pair of Sweet William and Gregory look to be the one-two here, but is it that simple. I have major doubts about Gregory’s ability, with the best result this season third, three lengths behind Vauban last time out. Plus with the Doncaster Cup two miles and two furlongs, he may struggle as he did last year.
Therefore, Sweet William has to be the pick. He was the nearest challenger to Kyprios at Goodwood last time out and did finish second in this race last year. Without the might of Kyprios and Vauban in this race, Sweet William has the potential to properly join the conversation in the stayers’ league.
The very best of luck!
