Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five racing tips at Doncaster and Chester on Saturday. View selections below.
GROSVENOR SQUARE (3.40) can utilise his raking stride to maximum effect in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster.
Aidan O’Brien’s colt powered to an eye-catching 20 lengths victory in the St Leger Trial at the Curragh, cementing the form of his excellent second to Tower Of London in the Curragh Cup. This stamina-sapping 1m 6f trip will sort out the weak finishers.
Continuous provided O’Brien with his seventh St Leger scalp 12 months ago and the stable traditionally fields a very strong team on Town Moor.
Today’s market leader Illinois ran Los Angeles to a neck in the Great Voltigeur at York and found one too good in the Grand Prix de Paris.
That sets a high benchmark and the Ballydoyle brigade is further strengthened by the participation of unbeaten Jan Brueghel.
Ralph Beckett tasted success with Simple Verse back in 2015 and has supplemented You Got To Me, the recipient of a 5lb sex allowance.
The booking of Christophe Soumillon for Irish Derby runner-up Sunway will give that horse’s backers a boost.
There are only seven runners but some firms are offering three places each-way.
POET MASTER (3.00) concedes upwards of 3lb to all nine rivals but looks up to the task in the 7f Betfred Park Stakes.
Karl Burke’s gelding ran away with a competitive handicap on this card last year and his improvement has continued this season, most notably when travelling all over his rivals before drawing clear in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh in July.
Main market opponent Kinross scooped this prize in 2022 and was caught out of his ground before staying on into third behind Audience and Art Power at Glorious Goodwood.
Testing ground is forecast at Chester where AL QAREEM (2.05) bids to supplement last year’s success in the 1m 4f Virgin Bet Stand Cup.
The classy five-year-old has yet to strike this season but has been competing in much stronger events, his most recent outing coming last month at Newbury when chasing home Al Aasy.
Al Qareem has winning form on heavy ground, as does his William Haggas-trained opponent La Yakel, a comfortable Hamilton scorer last month.
Andrew Balding returns CITY STREAK (4.05) from a break and the top weight can further enhance his 2-1-1 career record around the Roodee in this 1m 2f handicap.
City Streak turned in a rare poor performance on his last start on the all-weather at Newcastle in late July but will prove much more at home back on turf.
There are several other confirmed mudlarks lurking in opposition, notably Maghlaak, Zarabanda and Paddy The Squire, in what promises to be a lively betting affair.
Jump jockeys get the rare opportunity to test their skills around the tight Chester turns in the final two 1m 4f handicaps and dual course and distance winner GREY FABLE (5.15) can complete his hat-trick under Danny McMenamin.
Oman, another course and distance scorer, should give Jonjo O’Neill junior a good spin.
Tally Ho
Alan
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NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
