We enter day three of the Doncaster St Leger Festival on Friday and there’s more TV racing for armchair punters to take in. We give our Doncaster ITV Racing tips for the day’s televised schedule.
The ITV Racing cameras continue to roll on Friday with coverage of the third day or racing at the Doncaster St Leger Festival which features two Group Two contests on the card with both the Flying Childers Stakes and the Doncaster Cup Stakes spearheading the day’s racing action on Town Moor.
Ed Chamberlain and the team will be on hand once more to offer up their usual expert racing tips, insights and post-race analysis on each of the races, while we give our Doncaster ITV Racing tips for the day’s televised schedule.
DONCASTER ITV RACING TIPS – FRIDAY’S LIVE TV SELECTIONS
1:40 Doncaster – bet365 Mallard Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 1m6½f
SLEEPING LION took this prize twelve months ago and reunited with Jamie Spencer for the first time since then the Teofilo gelding can successfully defend his title.
James Fanshawe’s charge ran out a one length winner that day, beating Charles Kingsley and he’s largely been in good heart since his return to action, building on a much needed reappearance to twice make the frame over two miles including at Ascot last time behind Island Brave.
The slow pace that day may not have helped and he can do better back at this trip although his current mark looks about right and there may not be too much room for him to manoeuvre. However, with Jamie Spencer back in the saddle for the first time since their win in the race last term he can go well and no surprise to see him in the mix.
Sleeping Lion can double up in the Mallard Handicap on Friday.
2:10 Doncaster – bet365 Handicap Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 6½f
MUSICALITY is still relatively unexposed after just four starts and Roger Varian’s charge has yet to finish out of the first two home, winning twice with his latest success coming last time out at Newmarket last month.
The Kyllachy gelding ran out a one length winner over Man Of Promise in that outing, scoring a shade readily having been outpaced but finishing strongly to get up close home and there may be better yet to come from this progressive sort who can improve again.
A 7lbs rise in the ratings will demand a shade more from him, but this stiff extended six furlongs should suit on the evidence of his last outing and he’s expected to go well so every chance he can make his presence felt with the potential for more to come.
2:40 Doncaster – Bombardier Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (2yo) 5f
STEEL BULL had excuses for his below par effort at the Curragh last month, hitting his head in the stalls and losing two teeth in the process having become worked up. Michael O’Callaghan’s charge though is given another chance to build on his earlier impressive performances which included winning the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The Clodovil gelding was winning for the second time and maintaining his unbeaten record when taking that Group Three prize, scoring a shade cosily from a field that included a next-time winner. His latest start is forgiven and he was trying six furlongs for the first time but may prove a different proposition back at the minimum trip.
He had looked a classy prospect prior to that disappointing run latest where he finished behind the reopposing The Lir Jet, but given the circumstances into that outing he is well worth another chance to put things right and he can go well under Jim Crowley.
3:15 Doncaster – bet365 Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series) Cl1 (3yo+) 2m2f
Progressive Revolver could well take this step up in class in his stride as he bids for a seventh straight success, but SPANISH MISSION gets the vote having won well last time in a Listed contest at Chester and the Noble Mission colt can follow up here.
He had proved a very smart sort for David Simcock previously, winning twice which included in a valuable contest at Belmont Park and he has won at Group Three level when beating Dashing Willoughby at Sandown in July to take the Henry II Stakes.
No match for Stradivarius at Goodwood next time, he moved to Andrew Balding and made an instant impact for his new handler with that success on the Roodeye where he beat the reopposing Selino comfortably in the Listed Chester Stakes.
His form just about sets the standard in this contest and he should see out the longer trip in what looks a fairly weak renewal of this Group Two prize so ought to make his presence felt and no surprise to see him come home in front.
Andrew Balding saddles one of our Doncaster ITV Racing tips when his Spanish Mission contests the Doncaster Cup.
3:45 Doncaster – bet365 Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (2yo) 7f
SPYCATCHER has shown enough in his two starts to date to suggest he’s well up to winning races and Karl Burke’s charge can get off the mark here.
The Vadamos colt shaped really well despite a nightmare debut at Redcar, eventually finishing fourth although plenty went wrong for him that day; he stepped up considerably on that first experience when beaten only a half-length by Gear Up in the Acomb Stakes latest, travelling like the best horse in the race but he was worn down late by the winner with the front two pulling clear.
He had a couple of these rivals behind him and further improvement ought to see him uphold that form where he can open his win account at the third attempt in a slightly easier grade and he could prove to be a smart individual so is taken to get off the mark.