The horse racing broadcaster offers four selections for Saturday, including one in the big race at Doncaster, along with a stable tracker update.
The final Classic of the season, the St Leger, will be going head-to-head with the first of the two-day Irish Champions Festival from Leopardstown. It is a shame that a compromise to maximise TV exposure could not be reached, with the Irish Champion Stakes being moved forward to accommodate Japanese betting markets. A decent build-up to the main races in the calendar is a criticism ITV have tried to respond to, so the move by Leopardstown from 16:00 to 15:25, after the time slot had been agreed, makes doing that for Doncaster’s big race of the season impossible, factoring in the necessary commercial breaks and the potential for late running in Ireland. Recordings of both the Champion Stakes and Matron will be shown later during ITV’s programme.
The Leger looks highly likely to be heading back over the Irish Sea with the O’Brien trio looking to hold the aces. The big question for me is whether JAN BREUGHEL (15:40 Doncaster), who has looked a big, raw work in progress, is on the verge of a big step forward or whether it is a trait he may never grow out of. He is by far the most imposing in the field physically and given he saves so much for himself, looks certain to stay. Illinois looked more straightforward at York when second in the Voltigeur but has had his own quirks and is currently the shorter price of the pair. The third O’Brien runner Grosvenor Square is proven at the trip, should ensure a decent gallop and is certainly not to be underestimated, but Jan Breughel’s form was franked by Bellum Justum’s win in America and can hopefully apply himself fully when the chips are down.
The big handicap of the week is the Portland. There is a stable tracker horse running in Vintage Clarets (see below), but the ground may still be lively enough so preference on the day is for the ultra-consistent APOLLO ONE (14:25 Doncaster), who has placed in so many big handicaps in the past. He was undone by the draw at York but can bounce back here with Christophe Soumillon, an eye-catching booking.
Testing conditions will be the order of the day at Chester where AL QAREEM (14:05 Chester) can repeat his victory of last year in the Listed Stand Cup. He can dictate the pace here, and this is his first run back at this level having competed in Group races exclusively since.
Later on the card, ITHACA’S ARROW (17:15 Chester) can give the Ffrench Davis yard a family success in the first division of the Jump Jockeys handicap. He had his first run on the Flat for a while when 2nd at Goodwood on soft ground and looks well treated on the level given how he progressed over hurdles last season.
JOCKEYS FOR COURSES
Jockeys heading for tracks where they historically do well compared to market expectations.
Doncaster: Jamie Spencer 107/670, A/E 1.15
Lingfield: Paddy Bradley 42/341, A/E 1.32
Musselburgh: Shane Grey 25/204, A/E 1.34
STABLE TRACKER HORSES
Another quiet week with just one runner in Ultramarine (Unpl, 3/1), who followed two decent placed efforts with a well below par third run and is now removed.
There are two runners on Saturday:
VINTAGE CLARETS (14:25 Doncaster) runs in the Portland, which is a tough assignment but he has the assistance of Jamie Spencer. He was added after being hampered at the start at York and then being fastest for two of the five furlongs trying to recover. Any further rain would be a big plus as it was the prospect of late-season cut in the ground that made him appeal.
KINROSS (15:00 Doncaster) missed a good opportunity in the City of York due to the ground, but hopefully things will be fine here as he has an excellent 7f record and is likely to have been prepped for this time of the season. The field allowed the front pair far too much rope at Goodwood and he did well to finish as close as he did.
I’m working hard on the additions as this section is beginning to let the side down, so hopefully this duo can help turn the tide.
Veydari is taking his time to fulfil a lofty breeze-up price tag, but for the second time in a row shaped better than the bare form, this time racing closer to the speed than all of those that were involved in the finish. His Nottingham maiden third was franked by Hallasan this week and he is competitive in close to hand nurseries.
Promethean shaped well at Doncaster on Thursday. He was edgy beforehand and was dropped out to get him settled in what turned out to be the steadiest run race of the day. He had an impossible task from where he was but finished with a flourish and has twice now been undone by steady tempos.
Added: Veydari, Promethean
Removed: Ultramarine
COLUMN PERFORMANCE 2024 (Actual Winners/ Expected winners Par =1.00)
Selections: 48/48.69, A/E 0.99
Stable Tracker: 23/26.24, A/E 0.88
Jockeys For Courses: 49/48.77, A/E 1.00
Overall: 120/123.70, A/E 0.97
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