The ITV cameras are back at Doncaster for the third day of the St Leger Festival, showing five of the key races on the card. The afternoon racing includes the two Group 2 races – the Flying Childers Stakes and the Doncaster Cup.
We talk you through our selections for each race in the afternoon, including some confident bets for the pattern races. Check those out below, alongside today’s best bets – which are free to view on-site now.
*Odds Correct at time of posting – 4:20pm Thursday 8th September*
HMS President (1:25 Doncaster) – 13/2
The opener looks like a tricky race to solve, but a chance is taken on HMS PRESIDENT to finally get back to winning ways. Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding has been difficult to win with, and has hit the post in the past three races, but he’s more than capable of winning this.
Having finished runner-up in this race last year, it’s been a similar story of late as he keeps finding one too good. He went agonisingly close to bucking the trend last time out, but just failed to catch Sam Cooke.
William Buick was on board when runner-up at Newmarket and it’s a huge boost to our selection to have him for the ride, especially with the red-hot form he’s in. Of the rest, Wise Eagle is chasing a hat-trick and will be a tough nut to crack, as will William Haggas’ Mahrajaan, but we’re confident HMS President can overcome seconditis and gain a deserved win!
Nostrum (2:00 Doncaster) – 8/11
The beautifully-bred Nostrum (Kingman) looks the part and this exciting prospect wins well on debut for Ryan Moore, Sir Michael Stoute and @JuddmonteFarms at @Sandownpark pic.twitter.com/6XQnLgxw4V
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 21, 2022
It was an eyecatching performance from Sir Michael Stoute’s NOSTRUM on debut, and we’ve been waiting for him to get back out on the course to prove he’s a serious talent. The Kingman colt bolted up at Sandown and it would be a shock if he doesn’t follow up here.
The bookies seem to have this as a two horse race between Nostrum and Desert Order, but there’s a crucial piece of form that makes that choice simple. Nostrum finished over three lengths clear of the Gosden runner Arrest in that debut victory (albeit Arrest was slowly away that day), but Desert Order got beat by him fair and square at Sandown, and he had already had a run under his belt.
That piece of form and the fact he was so eye-catching on debut is enough to convince us that Nostrum should be winning this and he should be making his presence known in group company in the not so distant future.
The Platinum Queen (2:35 Doncaster) – 13/8
It’s difficult to get away from THE PLATINUM QUEEN, who was so impressive in the Nunthorpe and a repeat of that performance should be enough to win this.
She only found Highfield Princess too good that day, and she’s a multiple Group 1 winner so there’s no shame in that. The third-placed Emaraaty Ana was runner-up in the Haydock Sprint Cup last weekend to further boost that form. Although she raced off bottom weight, it was a fantastic performance and this drop to Group 2 company should see her get back to winning ways.
The main danger will come from Molecomb Stakes winner Trilium, but the form of that race hasn’t worked out great, and we’re much more confident on the chances of Richard Fahey’s talented filly.
Trueshan (3:10 Doncaster) – 4/9
Providing the ground is soft enough and he actually runs, this really should be TRUESHAN’s for the taking. He is comfortably clear on official ratings, and is one of the best stayers of his generation, and with this race lacking any serious challengers he can land the Doncaster Cup at the first time of asking.
Only two horses have beaten him since July 2021, and both were in his most recent run. Kyrpios and Stradivarius gave him his first taste of defeat in over fourteen months in the Goodwood Cup, but they are probably the top two horses in the staying division so there’s no shame in that!
Before that, he made a winning return on seasonal reappearance in the Listed Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham, with Quickthorn three lengths back in second (who has since won the Lonsdale Cup), before putting in a monumental effort to win the Northumberland Plate off 10st 8lbs – a record winning weight in the race.
There is nothing of that quality in this race, with the likeliest danger being Coltrane, who finished behind him in the Goodwood Cup and we see no reason to see that form reversed. Trueshan should take the world of beating and can resume winning ways in comfortable fashion.
Mums Tipple (3:45 Doncaster) – 13/2
Richard Hannon’s MUMS TIPPLE has been back to somewhat near his best of late, and he was unlucky not to win off this mark at Ascot last week. This is a wide open race and we think he rates excellent value to strike whilst in form.
After winning a similar race at Newmarket in August, he went to York and was short of room when pushing to make his run, and was unable to recover from that. Next time out though, he got his run and only just failed to catch Lethal Nymph, who has made virtually all out in front. He had the beating of some talented horses that day, including Wokingham Stakes runner-up Popmaster.
Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride and that is usually a tip in itself. He has been on board for two of this horse’s three victories, and he can steer him to a second victory in as many months.