With such high class racing taking place at Doncaster it would be churlish of us to ignore Friday in favour of Saturday and so we have four value bets which can hopefully boost our betting bank ahead of the St Leger and the Irish Champion Stakes the following day.
Lord Lloyd-Webber will be hoping to get a good tune out of his very well bred filly in the big race itself while another speedy Kingman colt could be about to show us what he can do during what should be an exhilarating weekend of racing.
Usual suspects John Gosden and Sir Michael Stoute feature in our selections as the powerful Newmarket stables send their big guns to Donny and Leopardstown to fight for massive money and it’s in Yorkshire we start with a good looking Group Three for the fillies on Friday afternoon.
Friday 14th September 2018
Embed from Getty Images1.50 Doncaster (Sceptre Stakes – Group 3) – LAUGH ALOUD
We thought she just might win on her belated return for John Gosden but alas she had to settle for third place behind the well fancied Veracious, albeit not beaten very far.
This lightly raced 4yo should be able to take a big step up in performance level now which would be enough to see her triumph over the likes of Anna Nerium and Dancing Star.
2.25 Doncaster (Flying Childers Stakes – Group 2) – LEGENDS OF WAR
Mr Gosden could indeed be off to a flying start on Friday with his Legends Of War fancied to go one better than when running a blinder at big odds in the Gimcrack Stakes at York last month.
The son of Scat Daddy has arguably taken longer to come to himself that we all thought, but boy is he doing that now and he can defy once again his odds to beat hot favourite Rumble Inthejungle who has been sold off to Cheveley Park Stud this week for a pretty penny.
3.35 Doncaster (Doncaster Cup – Group 2) – SHEIKHZAYEDROAD
There’s a potential hotpot here in the shape of Willie Mullins’ Thomas Hobson who may yet prove hard to beat following his easy preparation and his fine second in this race last year, though I can’t quite shake off David Simcock’s veteran Sheikhzayedroad.
He hasn’t won a race since October 2016 on Champion’s Day but he’s remained in good form the whole time, running into the likes of Vazirabad and Stradivarius along the way. Having been out of action since Royal Ascot he comes here nice and fresh and ready to run a big race with his best form for me good enough to see this lot off.
Don’t rule out Willie Mullins’ other runner Max Dynamite at a nice price but this could be a much deserved big race win for jockey Martin Harley.
4.05 Doncaster (Flying Scotsman Stakes – Listed Race) – SANGARIUS
Sir Michael Stoute doesn’t usually rush them along but when a precocious type comes his way he’s not afraid to set them loose, just like Expert Eye last season and in the same colours we could see another big performance from this Kingman colt Sangarius.
The sire has started well with the likes of Calyx and is already making a name for himself, this one being bound to add to the list. True, this is only a Listed race but make no mistake the Newmarket stable have designs on winning either the Dewhurst or the Racing Post Trophy with him depending on what trip he prefers so this should be taken en route.
Athmad is another to have made a nice debut and can give the favourite most to do, though I’d be surprised if Ryan Moore’s mount did not get home in front with a little authority.
Saturday 15th September 2018
Embed from Getty Images2.25 Doncaster (Park Stakes – Group 2) – D’BAI
We’ve spoken in glowing terms on these pages before about Sir Michael Stoute’s 5yo Mustashry and as such it’s hard to go against him when he is now seemingly expected to win, however Godolphin’s first choice D’bai is hard to get away from on all known evidence.
Tried on various surfaces over various trips against some exalted company, the 4yo could do with going up against this sort of (admittedly high quality) field and may find things to his liking this time.
He’s had plenty of goes but as a 4yo by Dubawi we cannot believe we have yet seen the very best of him so a career best is still a possibility in this race.
3.35 Doncaster (St Leger Stakes – Group 1) – LAH TI DAR
John Gosden’s super filly created a massive impression when coming back from injury to win at York by 10 lengths on only her third career start and is now a shortish price for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe itself, meaning the world’s oldest classic won’t even be her hardest assignment before the year is out.
Instead of running her in a trial over in France, she has been rerouted here and it’s easy to see why for as long as she stays the mile-and-three-quarter trip OK she really should have too much for this field and rates a fairly confident bet under Frankie Dettori.
Kew Gardens has held favouritism for this race for some time but has looked a little too short in the betting for my money with Derby second Dee Ex Bee at least as good as him at many times the price, though they are both usurped as second choice in this race by Charlie Appleby’s Old Persian who may yet land his Group 1 if things fall his way and he gets the trip.
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