St Leger Festival Doncaster - Wednesday and Thursday Selections

The St Leger is the oldest classic in British Horse Racing, and happens at Doncaster next Saturday, with Sir Michael Stoute having the hot favourite Sea Moon, aiming to give the trainer his second Leger win after Conduit breaking his duck in 2008. The festival kicks off on Wednesday with a seven race card, and the cards getting better with everyday leading up the big day on Saturday.

Wednesday starts off with an interesting card, focused on the older horses, including a listed race, conditions races and a group two race for older fillies and mares.

The Group Two race, the Park Hill Stakes, looks a strong renewal, with recent listed winner Motrice for Seb Sanders and Sir Mark Prescott making a quick turnaround, and the consistent mare of Clive Cox Polly’s Mark providing stiff competition. That being said the best horse on ratings, and the proven stayer is David Lanigan’s star filly MEEZNAH, who bounced back to form in a big way when winning the Lillie Langtry Stakes (Group 3) at the recent Goodwood Festival. Meeznah had the beating of both Motrice and Polly’s Mark that day, and looked an out and out stayer, grinding out a win under Frankie Dettori, who keeps the ride once more. Although she disappointed last time out when finishing seventh in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury, she was giving a stone away to the three year olds, and was never going well, and was very much eased by Frankie. This race looks far easier than the recent group three behind Leger fancies Brown Panther and Census and she can bounce back to form at Doncaster on Wednesday.

JET AWAY is a horse who seemed to have a very bright future when building on his

three year old career, and coming out on her first start as a four year old, beating decent yardstick Sri Putra, who has form in the book such as finishing second behind Twice Over in an Eclipse, and third behind multiple group one winners Rewilding and So You Think in the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was unlucky to finish second behind Passion for Gold in a listed race at Goodwood, when finding little after coming up cruising. Dropped down to 10f from 12f should suit, and given the colt’s pedigree, there could be bags of improvement to come from this son of Cape Cross, and he looks to have some star quality in a fairly modest conditions race.

HAMISH MCGONAGALL is one of the most resilient sprinters in training, and goes for the ever popular Easterby yard when running in the Scarborough Stakes (Class 1) on Wednesday, and looks to have a very strong chance in a competitive listed race. He took a while to get into the swing of things this year, after a promising conditions stakes victory, finishing down the field in two group two races, although not beaten by any greater than 6 lengths. He then finished well in group races in Chantilly and at the Curragh, before a good second to Margot Did in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York just three weeks ago. That form has improved by Hoof It running an excellent race in the Haydock Sprint Cup, finishing a head behind group one sprinters Dream Ahead and Bated Breath. His form is rock solid, and streets ahead of his rivals. The only threats appear to be Dinkum Diamond and Medicean Man, who will need to improve further to get anywhere near the impressive six year old.

3.00 Doncaster (Thursday) – Meeznah (Nap)

3.10 Doncaster (Wednesday) – Hamish McGonagall

4.20 Doncaster (Wednesday) – Jet Away

The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner