Doncaster Leger Festival Friday Tips by Dave Stevos
Doncaster Leger Festival Friday Tips
We had to make do with a solitary place on Thursday. Prism, our e/w Nap, ran a very good race to finish 3rd at 16/1. Spitting Feathers got hampered at the start and the game was up after that. Rolling The Dice drifted like a barge to 80s but she ran a cracker, finishing just 1.75L behind the runner up. She pulled hard early and she is capable of landing a pattern race at some point. Urban Artist was bitterly disappointing but I thought Ataser ran well. He only finished 5th but he’ll come on bundles for that and he’ll be worth a bet next time. Let’s hope for a better day tomorrow, check out our Doncaster Leger Festival Friday preview below.
1.40 Doncaster – Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed)
Harrow powered to victory in the big sales race here yesterday and that bodes well for Alflaila in this Listed heat. Owen Burrows trains this son of Dark Angel. He finished just 1.5L behind Harrow in a York (7f gd) nursery last time out. He was conceding 3lbs to the winner and after today’s result, he probably deserves a slightly higher rating than 94.
This colt won his debut at Salisbury (6f gd/fm) and the runner up won a Listed heat next time out. The 4th and 5th have both won races since too so it is solid form. Next time at Yarmouth Alflaila could only manage 4th under a penalty. He got crowded out 1.5f out and the undulations didn’t suit him. That race has worked out well though. Considering he was giving 6lbs to the first three, it wasn’t a bad effort at all.
His next run at Newmarket in a Novice was another excellent effort. He finished 1.25L behind Majestic Glory (conceding 10lbs) and that filly beat Wild Beauty in a Listed heat on her next run. She is now rated 100. The top two in the market step out of maiden company after winning and they could be anything. However, I think Alflaila’s form is much better than it looks at first glance. So, at odds of 12/1, he is the each way selection.
Doncaster Leger Festival Friday: Alflaila e/w @ 12/1 NAP
2.10 Doncaster – Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2)
Another one for the Juveniles, this time a 5f Group2 Sprint. The one that looks massively overpriced in this heat is Bond Chairman. Trained by Bryan Smart, this horse is best on a fast surface. He looked a promising sort when winning on debut at Musselburgh back in April. Connections went straight up into Listed company next time out at Sandown. While he wasn’t disgraced in 5th behind Ebro River, the ground was just too soft for him.
On the back of that effort he was sent off at 66s for the Listed Windsor Castle at Ascot. After getting outpaced early he absolutely rattled home and he was only 2.75L behind Chipotle at the finish. Last time out he disappointed but he was keen early and he didn’t see out the 6f trip. I believe a line can be put through that run and if he was coming here straight after Ascot, there is no way he would be a 33/1 shot.
This race should be run at a good clip and that should play to Bond Chairman’s strengths. Hopefully Graham Lee can drop him in behind the early pace, settle him and come with a late run. The drop back in trip is a plus and so is the lack of rain. The faster the ground is, the better this son of Kodiac’s chance will be. At odds of 33/1, he has more than enough natural ability to warrant an each way interest.
Doncaster Leger Festival Friday: Bond Chairman e/w @ 33/1 NB (4 places)
2.40 Doncaster – Doncaster Cup (Group 2)
Stradivarius won this race in 2019 and he is back for another shot at the title. The old warrior is obviously not as dominant as he used to be in the staying division but he has still managed to win two of his three starts this season. Frankie rides as per usual and as we saw on Thursday, John and Thady Gosden’s horses are running extremely well. The ground is ideal for Stradivarius too and he has a lot in his favour.
His main market rival is Trueshan and his connections will be doing rain dances. He is an absolute weapon on soft ground but he just isn’t as effective when conditions are quick. He will find it hard conceding 2lbs to Stradivarius on this type of a surface. Nayef Road looks to have lost his confidence somewhat but he would pose a threat on a going day. However, he has been bitterly disappointing since chasing home Stradivarius on his seasonal return. If he can get back to that form he’d have a place chance but it is hard to have any confidence that will happen.
Diaz Should Stay
Rodrigo Diaz is 13/2 and he is a consistent horse. He ran well over 13.5f last time and this step back up in trip will suit him well. He has yet to race beyond 2 miles but judging how he finished off over that distance on his penultimate start at Newbury, he should have no issues stamina wise. Jamie Spencer’s mount is a former course winner too on quick ground (over 12f) and that is another positive. The question is whether he is up to this level. The Grand Visir is a grand old horse and he too is a former course winner. He usually just comes up short at this level though. While he should run his race, he makes no appeal.
Eagles At A Price
The only 3yo filly in the race is Alerta Roja. She won a 16f heat at Ascot on her penultimate start. Last time in Germany she ran a massive race in a Listed heat over 14f. However, this is a huge ask considering that win at Ascot came in a handicap off 79. Of the outsiders, Eagles By Day makes most appeal. He bombed out in the Ebor but he is a better horse than that on his day.
He is having just his third start of the season here so he will be fresher than most and he was sent off at 9/2 for this race last season. David O’Meara’s charge was disappointing but the fact he is wearing a tongue tie today is interesting. Hopefully, it will spark him back to form. When he won at York last July he looked a stayer to follow but so far, he hasn’t delivered on that promise. If he produces his best he is capable of running to 115 and that could be enough to get 2nd. At odds of 40/1, I am playing Eagles By Day for small stakes e/w.
Doncaster Leger Festival Friday: Eagles By Day e/w @ 40/1
3.15 Doncaster – Mallard Handicap (Class 2)
He may well be a 9yo now and it may be a long time since his last win, but on the quick ground at Doncaster I think Sir Chauvelin could surprise a few with a big run here. Jim Goldie loves targeting these valuable handicaps and this horse seems to save his best for the big day. His last flat win came at Goodwood in the Summer Handicap in August 2018. That victory came off a mark of 98 and after a poor run at Newcastle last time, he is finally back down below his last winning mark (97).
That was his first run back after a year off so he should improve plenty for it. Just three runs ago he ran a blinder off 101 at Newcastle (16.5f), finishing a close 3rd behind Smart Champion and Carnwennan. Two runs before that he was winning a very nice pot over hurdles at Musselburgh off 129 so while it seems like he has been out of form for ages, he has really only had two poor efforts spaced widely apart.
On turf his best form has come at between 12f and 14f so today’s distance looks ideal. Good to firm ground is what he wants on the flat too. His trainer, Jim Goldie is in great form and as we have seen with Euchen Glen, he is more than capable of getting one right after a layoff. Quite a few of his rivals would like a drop of rain, including Rhythmic Intent, Sevenna Star, Prince Alex, HMS President, Nuis St Georges and Future Investment. Clearly, this is not a max bet given Sir Chauvelin’s profile but if he retains even 80% of his old ability, he could sneak into the frame at 50/1.
Doncaster Leger Festival Friday: Sir Chauvelin e/w @ 50/1 (5 Places)
3.45 Doncaster – Cazoo Handicap (Class 2)
Kimifive let us down badly at Goodwood but then he nearly won next time out. The booking of William Buick suggests that connections mean business and he ran well on unsuitably soft ground on his only previous visit to Doncaster. He’s 1lb below his last winning mark and I’ll be sick if he wins but today, I am going to give him a miss. Instead, I am going to bank on the good to firm ground bringing the best out of Raatea for Julie Camacho and Dane O’Neill. This relatively lightly raced 4yo has plenty of ability, he just needs rattling quick ground to show it.
Formerly trained by Marcus Tregoning, his win last month was his first for Camacho. It came off 84 at Newmarket (6f gd/fm) and it is no coincidence that it came on his first try on fast ground for her. I thought he won with a bit up his sleeve as he was a shade keen early and the form looks decent. The runner up went close off 2lbs higher next time and the 3rd, Able Kane, was narrowly beaten in a Class 2 handicap at Goodwood.
Able Kane is admittedly 5lbs better off with Raatea today for that 1.25L defeat but will that be enough for him to reverse the form? The Camacho horse is relatively unexposed on good to firm ground and the son of Invincible Spirit could have more to come. The first time hood worn last time is retained and he has career form figures of 331 on quick ground. Once he doesn’t give them too much of a head start from the gates, Raatea can give e/w players a good run for their money at 9/1.
