Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from UK Racing at Doncaster and Chester on Saturday 14 September. This includes feature race analysis on the St Leger, which takes place at 16:35 at Doncaster. View this and more here.
Doncaster Feature Race Analysis
William Hill St Leger (Group 1)
Doncaster
Race 4 – 16:35
The completion of a ‘nap hand’ of victories seems the most likely scenario in the Final Classic with unbeaten LOGICIAN rightly dominating the betting market.
The John Gosden-trained grey might not have experienced a completely conventional route to the race but his decisive success in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes stamps him as the one the others have to beat.
He could be named the winner a long way out in that York trial and looked good value for his length and threequarters triumph over Constantinople.
SIR DRAGONET looks the main arrow being fired by Coolmore which has three of the eight-strong field. He’s a lightly-raced individual whose two defeats in just four starts included a fifth placing in what was a blanket finish to the Investec Derby. Heavy ground might have caught out the Chester Vase winner when he disappointed in a Group 3 over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh last month and it’s surely significant that Donnacha O’Brien is in the irons.
That jockey could have opted for IL PARADISO or WESTERN AUSTRALIA although the first-named colt has a stronger profile after getting to a length and a quarter of Stradivarius in the Lonsdale Cup at York, an effort that rubber stamps his ability to see out this trip.
SIR RON PRIESTLEY is an improving grinder who refused to be denied in a Group 3 at Goodwood but needs to step up, while Queen’s Vase winner DASHING WILLOUGHBY is another without stamina issues who needs to show he has the pace to be competetive on much quicker ground than he experienced at Royal Ascot.
Prediction
3 – 1 – 2 – 6 – 5
1st – LOGICIAN (3)
2nd – Dashing Willoughby (1)
3rd – Il Paradiso (2)
4th – Sir Ron Priestley (6)
5th – Sir Dragonet (5)
Doncaster Undercard Best Bets
Race 1: JUSTANOTHERBOTTLE (7)
Trainer: Declan Carroll
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
From what could turn out to be a plum draw close to the stands rail JUSTANOTHERBOTTLE can show that he’s a well-treated sprinter with victory in the Portland Handicap. He displayed blistering speed to go clear of his foes and hold on in determined fashion in a Class 3 at Sandown and with Dettori in the irons the prospects of a repeat are enhanced.
Race 3: THREAT (1)
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Pat Dobbs
Moving up to seven furlongs under a 3lb penalty shouldn’t get in the way of THREAT proving a worthy favourite for the Group 2 Champagne Stakes. This has gone to some top notchers over the years, including Too Darn Hot 12 months ago, and Threat can boost his profile as a serious challenger for next year’s 2,000 Guineas. He ran out an impressive winner of the Gimcrack Stakes at York and should prove even better over this longer trip.
Chester Best Bets Saturday
Race 2: BEN VRACKIE (1)
Trainer: John Gosden
Jockey: Rab Havlin
The way BEN VRACKIE travelled through the Ebor before finishing seventh to Mustajeer strongly suggests he will enjoy winging round these tight turns. Dropping back to a mile and a half should also suit him, and this classy individual can prove hard to catch.
Race 7: BIT OF A QUIRKE(12)
Trainer: Mark Walford
Jockey: Andrew Mullen
Course and distance winner BIT OF A QUIRKE suffered a rare blip at Pontefract last time but this most consistent of performers can bounce back from a favourable draw in a race where the certainty of a good gallop from the start should play to his strengths.
Written by Neil Morrice for Hollywoodbets
