It is Doncaster St Leger week with the final Classic of the season going to post on Saturday. Between now and then though there is plenty of racing action taking place and we give our Monday racing best bets for the day’s fixtures.
All roads lead to Doncaster this week for the St Leger Festival which kicks off on Wednesday; but there is plenty of horse racing action taking place in the build up to the season’s final Classic and Monday takes in a quartet of fixtures from around the country.
Monday’s racing action takes in flat racing cards at Lingfield, Leicester and Windsor; while over the sticks there is a fixture at Perth for jumps fans to look forward to. We’ve taken a look at the day’s meetings and pick out our Monday racing best bets and racing tips as we go in search of winners to kick-start the week.
MONDAY RACING BEST BETS – LINGFIELD, LEICESTER, PERTH & WINDSOR TIPS
2:00 Lingfield – Betway Novice Median Auction Stakes Cl6 (3-5yo) 5f
BRENNER PASS can get off the mark at the sixth attempt and Richard Hughes’ charge sets a fair standard for his rivals to emulate.
The Raven’s Pass colt has progressed with every run, rounding off last season with a couple of placed efforts at Southwell and Windsor, and he shaped encouragingly on his return despite probably needing the run here last month where he finished two lengths’ third behind Summit Fever.
He gave up the second spot in the last strides, but this is an easier assignment dropping into a Class Six contest and he’s likely to be sharper with that recent return effort under his belt so every chance he can build on that run where he can get off the mark now.
2:40 Perth – Heineken UK Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl4 (4yo+ 0-110) 3m
WALKIN IN THE RAIN bumped into one who is potentially still ahead of his mark when finding only one too good here last time out, but Jim Goldie’s charge can go one better this time around.
The Darsi gelding was run down late that day by the winner with the front pair pulling five lengths’ clear of the rest which include a subsequent winner. It is possible he may just have found the trip too sharp on the quicker ground but this longer trip is no problem and he’s effective on this surface although the possibility of some rain to loosen the ground would be a positive.
Nevertheless, he can go well here with blinkers replacing cheekpieces and racing off the same mark as last time then he can go close for all this looks a slightly stronger affair.
Brian Hughes can get amongst the winners at Perth and give our Monday racing best bets a winner.
3:00 Lingfield – Betway Casino Handicap Cl6 (3yo+ 0-60) 7f
AL MANSOURA has just three starts to her name, but she’s shaped with promise each time and has yet to finish out of the first three in that trio of outings.
The Kheleyf filly latterly finished runner-up at Ayr last month, beaten only a neck by Equidae on her handicap debut and she has seen that form franked by the winner going in again; while the third horse home filled the runner-up berth on her next outing.
She’s been raised 2lbs for that effort but may well have more to offer and David O’Meara’s unexposed sort remains with scope for better still. It wouldn’t come as a surprise to see her find another chunk of progress to get off the mark despite her wide draw and she can post a big run here.
3:20 Leicester – Join Racing TV Now Handicap Cl3 (3yo+ 0-90) 7f
SHADY MCCOY is 2-3 this term, scoring wins in similar underfoot conditions to these at Haydock and Sandown latterly, beating Alfie Solomons by two lengths readily and Ian Williams’ veteran can continue in good form.
The English Channel gelding showed his earlier run at York where he was caught too far back to be one to forgive when scoring latest and a 4lbs penalty for that success leaves him still on a very winnable mark given his historic form.
Having won also on his seasonal reappearance, he has seen that form franked with the runner-up winning three of his next four, while the third has also won along with several others who were further back in the field.
The ten-year old has a win and a placed effort from his two outings at this venue and he looks to hold solid claims of another win despite his penalty. Assuming he can continue in similar form then he ought to be involved with William Buick – who has won on him before – back in the saddle.
Shady Mccoy can strike for our Monday racing best bets column.
3:40 Perth – Keep Your Social Distance Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4f
ROYAL VILLAGE progressed well last term to win twice and Ian Williams’ charge was thought good enough to have a crack at a big prize at the Cheltenham Festival although he was a faller behind Simply The Betts in that contest.
The Scorpion gelding was far from disgraced on his return from four months off the track, finishing sixth in the Summer Plate Chase at Market Rasen, shaping as if he needed the run. However he could prove a different proposition now with that outing under his belt and despite running below his best he did finish ahead of two subsequent winners.
A past course and distance winner he has been dropped 2lbs by the assessor in the wake of that last outing and likely to strip fitter this time around he can go well in a trappy and competitive contest.
5:00 Windsor – Chelsea Thoroughbreds Nursery Handicap Cl5 (2yo 0-75) 1m
JAZZI’O has shaped well on all three career starts, shaping better than the bare result latest at Lingfield behind Gordonstoun.
The Red Jazz filly has won the bronze medal on all three of those outings and she was arguably unlucky not to have finished closer latest having been restless in the stalls and then still looking a shade inexperienced under pressure where she wandered around and then met trouble in running.
Her debut here in June has seen both the front two winning since and there’s a suspicion there’s a better effort still to come from Clive Cox’s charge who can improve again as she gains more experience.
This extra furlong could prove to be in her favour and may unlock further progress so she is taken to win a trappy affair for her yard which is in decent fettle currently.