2023 Friday Doncaster Leger Meeting Preview – DS
2023 Friday Doncaster Leger Meeting Tips
It proved to be slim pickings for us on Day 1 at Donny. Misemerald was first off the bridle and the first beaten, a great start. Grey Cuban actually ran alright, he was just denied a clear run at a crucial moment and that may have cost him the place. Our NAP Les Bleus ran on for third but of course, only seven ran. She wasn’t suited by how the race was run, she needs a far stronger pace. At least things can’t get any worse on Day 2, 2023 Friday Doncaster Leger meeting tips are below.
1.50 – Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed)
Four of the ten runners here have soft ground form in the book. War Room is the 5/2 favourite and he is one of them. The once raced son of Churchill won a novice by 4.5L over today’s C&D on soft back in July.
The 2nd and 4th have both run well without winning since and they are probably low to mid 80s horses. War Rooms will need to improve to win this but on just his second start, that is possible. Should stay further than this in time given his sire.
Dancing Gemini is another who should get further than this next year. By Camelot and out of an Australia dam who won over a mile, Roger Teal waxed lyrical about this horse after his win at Newbury. That was his first start on good to soft, he ran well on good to firm on debut but proper soft ground is an unknown.
Lively Outsider
The one I’ll take a chance on now returned to an easier surface is Power Mode. Trained by Alice Haynes, this son of Speightstown was last sighted at York in the Gimcrack. It was good to firm ground that day and it didn’t suit this horse. Oisin Murphy wasn’t hard on him once the race was gone and I think he’ll be far more comfortable on today’s ground.
Power Mode was a taking winner on debut at Yarmouth (6f gd/sft). It was admittedly a modest affair but he won under a hands and heels ride and he won with a lot in hand. Next time on similar ground in Deauville (6f sft) Haynes’ colt ran a cracker in a G3, 4th beat 3.5L by Elite Status.
He got tapped for toe in that contest but he galloped all the way to the line and he should more comfortable now upped to 7f. His dam was placed in a Moyglare on soft and Speightstown has produced a couple of decent soft ground performers. I would argue that his Deauville form is the strongest in the race and now that Power Mode is back on easier ground, he is worth chancing e/w at 40/1.
2023 Friday Doncaster Leger Meeting Tips: Power Mode e/w @ 40/1 NB
2.25 – Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2)
These 2yos are still babies in relative terms and it is a lot more difficult to read these juvenile sprints in comparison to sprints for older horses. Big Evs has already competed against the big boys and he came up well short in the Nunthorpe.
That was always going to be a massive ask against older, far more experienced sprinters and he is back in calmer waters today. However, he wasn’t as impressive on soft ground at Goodwood as he was when winning on good to firm at Ascot and he might prefer a sounder surface.
Amo Racing run two here and on this ground, you’d have to prefer Graceful Thunder. He has form figures of 1113 on ground with soft in the description and he was only beat 0.5L in a G3 in France last time. Adrian Murray also runs Valiant Force, a shock winner at Ascot. He would prefer firmer underhoof conditions.
Soft Ground to suit malc?
However, the one I’ll take a chance on is Malc. He has raced solely on good to firm to date. An easy debut win at Carlisle (5f) was followed a month later by a massive run behind Valiant Force in the Norfolk. Last time out he ran just okay behind Jasour in the July Stakes when the 6f trip possibly stretched him.
My main reason for chancing this colt is his pedigree. Calyx, a first season sire, has had seven runners on soft ground and four have won. His sole runner on heavy ground won too. Malc’s half-brother, also trained by Richard Fahey, won twice on soft and his dam’s full brother won a G1 on soft.
Everything points towards Malc loving soft ground and while there are no guarantees in racing, odds of 14/1 are just about big enough to chance that he relishes it.
2023 Friday Doncaster Leger Meeting Tips: Malc e/w @ 14/1 (4 Places)
3.00 – Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2)
Just five runners in this marathon. The teak tough Coltrane is odds on and he beat Trueshan by a neck in this last season. The ground should be a tad softer today and that could play into Trueshan’s hands.
However, the fact he has had a wind op at this stage in his career suggests that connections are clutching at straws in a bid to get him back to his best. Alan King has not been shy in saying that he thinks he may not be quite the horse he was and we’ll find out for sure today.
Sweet William is a solid stayer and he lost no caste in defeat in the Ebor. He’s won on soft and it’ll be interesting to see if he stays. On ratings Broome is overpriced at 9s but he is a real boom or bust sort. On a going day he’d have a solid chance but those days are becoming few and far between.
A race best watched. No bet.
2023 Friday Doncaster Leger Meeting Tips: No bet
3.35 – Betfred Mallard Handicap (Class 2)
A pretty poor turnout for what is a valuable 14f handicap. With trip, track and ground all to suit, Rhythmic Intent is the sensible e/w play here. Long time followers might remember me putting this horse up in the November Handicap (14f sft) back in 2020 when he just failed behind On To Victory off 94 at odds of 28/1.
In 2021 he went one better in the Mallard on much faster ground off a mark of 95. He subsequently struggled off 97 in the November Handicap later that season and surprisingly, this will be his first trip back to Donny since.
We have already backed him this season, when he somehow missed a place despite being beat just 1.75L at Ascot (12f sft). Since then he’s been shaping well on good and good to soft ground, reaching the frame but not getting his head in front.
The handicapper has been slow to relent but he is back at Doncaster now off 88, 7lbs lower than he was when winning this race two years ago. He was off 93 the day we backed him at Ascot so he still retains plenty of ability and surely, Stuart Williams has long had this race in mind. At odds of 12/1, Rhythmic Intent is the e/w selection.
