Doncaster Racecourse

The recent heatwave across Britain is due to break today with the prospect of thundery showers at Doncaster for Day 2 of the St Leger meeting.

The opening race is a 6f sprint for female jockeys and Hollie Doyle’s mount Lord P heads the market as he chases a hat-trick following wins at Carlisle and Thirsk under the promising Fern O’Brien. The 4-y-old has been raised 16lbs for those wins although he can race from a mark 2lbs lower from the weekend following a reassessment. I am sure the trainer would have wanted his daughter to keep the ride, but Doyle is more than an adequate replacement.

The vote, however, goes to Call Me Ginger (1.10) who had been knocking on the door prior to his recent Hamilton success from a 4lbs lower mark which is offset by the claim of Amie Waugh. The selection – 4s with MansionBet – finished runner up in a better race than todays at this meeting 12 months ago from a 3lbs higher mark. Trainer Jim Goldie has his string in excellent form, and I hope his good run continues in south Yorkshire.

The first of the Group 2 contests is the May Hill Stakes and I have made no secret of how highly I rate Inspiral who can maintain her unbeaten record but is not a betting proposition at the forecast odds of ½. Her Sandown success in listed company last time was as good a juvenile fillies’ performance as I have seen this term and she can take this en route to the Filles’ Mile at Newmarket next month.

Free Wind heads the market in the Park Hill after her fluent Deauville win last time over the extended 12f and she has the beating of Save A Forest on a line through Godolphin’s Sayyidah. She must go close, but I thought Yesyes (3.15) looked an ideal candidate for today’s race after she scored at Chester last time over today’s trip. The filly – 11/2 with William Hill – is the second lowest rated horse in the race, but she has only had four career starts and is taken to reverse previous Newmarket form with Save A Forest over the additional distance. A bit of rain would suit too.

Atasar won at this corresponding meeting 12 months ago from a 4lbs lower mark but has only seen the track once since when down the field in the Britannia at Royal Ascot. A market move would be worth noting.

Motawaajed (3.45) is on a hat-trick and looked good when winning over C&D last time and a 2lbs rise is fair. The William Haggas trained gelding has only lost once on turf and that was over a mile. Today’s 7f trip is ideal and he can give a pound to Modern News who is 6lbs higher than making a winning return from a lengthy lay-off at Newmarket last month. The selection is 11/4 at the time of writing with Boylesports – with the Godolphin runner 5/4. I would be disappointed if he didn’t run a big race.

Edinburgh Castle (2.55) has been called a few rude names over jumps of late, but I thought he ran well in defeat when second behind Percy’s Word – winner again since – at Stratford last time and he can land the Jump Jockey’s Derby at Epsom. The ew selection – 4s with William Hill 4 places – did win on his sole previous visit to the track – albeit on heavy ground – and he has a decent draw in stall three under Tom Scudamore.  

Dartington did us a favour when scoring at Brighton last time and a 5lbs rise is fair given he has improved for the step up to 10f in recent outings. He looks the one to beat but I like the booking of Tom Marquand for Knowing (3.25) who won the 3-y-old handicap on this card 12 months ago from a 5lbs higher mark.

The gelding has not been at his best so far this term, but we know he handles the track, represents an inform stable and the jockey booking is certainly a plus. Somehow there was 7s with William Hill on Wednesday but he is a best price of 4/1 with 10Bet at the time of posting.

The handicapper has hit Curtiz (3.55) with a 10lbs rise for scoring over C&D last week although he can race under just a 5lbs penalty this afternoon. Marquand takes over in the saddle and he can gain a fifth win of the year.The 10/11 at Boylesports looks about right.

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