St Leger Festival Day 2 Tips 2023: Friday's Top Tips At Doncaster

After a brilliant day 1 at the St Leger Festival at Doncaster on Thursday, Friday's action promises to be even better and there will be four races taking place in front of the ITV Racing cameras. With Steve Chambers taking a well earned day off Billy Grimshaw is on hand to provide his best bet in each of the races in the hope of continuing his good tipping form after two winners at the Racing League finale on Wednesday night...

13:50 Doncaster - Flying Scotsman Stakes

Kicking off Friday's coverage on terrestrial television is a two year old listed race over seven furlongs in which nine of the ten entrants come into the race off the back of wins last time out. It remains to be seen how strong any of these races were but the competitive nature of the race is factored into the pricing and I thought one that looked a shade too big was BATTLE CRY for Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien.

Last seen winning what looked a good maiden at York at the Ebor Festival, I loved the way he battled (pardon the pun) away in the closing stages and the way he pulled clear in the very final strides looked to me like a horse who had learned his job at the exact right time. Moore is riding sensationally this season, arguably at his best level ever, and so everything that has him on their back has its chance increased, but I was surprised to see his maiden win on the Knavesmire seemingly being dismissed by odds compilers and the carrot of 7/1 dangling.

War Rooms is the obvious danger and is a worthy favourite on both breeding (by Churchill) and his C&D win here on soft back in July, but I'm convinced Battle Cry is even better than he has already shown and the price difference is just plain wrong. Back him each-way if that is your style but I will be punting win only.

14:25 Doncaster - Flying Childers Stakes

This is a seriously deep race. Kylian and Big Evs renew hostilities in another big two year old sprinting clash here at Doncaster, with massive priced Norfolk winner Valiant King thrown in the mix for good measure. Inquisitively has looked a horse going places and after finishing behind Big Evs at Royal Ascot ran out a brilliant winner at York last time out. The worry with him is his connections have seemed to save him for good or better ground, so any cut could negate him. Flora Of Bermuda is another that has outstanding claims now returning to softer ground and she can put behind her the flop in the Lowther. 

Of those five mentioned my preference would be for Kylian to come out on top, as I'm not convinced the Nunthorpe blowout won't have scarred Big Evs. A strong pace to aim at will be ideal for Kylian if his storming finishes are anything to go by, so the presence of ZOULU CHIEF certainly plays to his strengths. However, it is the speedster that should lead them all along that I'm keen to have onside. The flagbearer for Heather Main is certainly no back number here and I think at 14/1 he looks a smidge overpriced in here. There is a case to be made that all of the big hitters in the market could be over the top after long seasons and while this could also be true for Zoulu Chief, I think he is being underestimated by the market due to his run style. Front runners such as this are often described as fluke winners, but I'm not convinced and think this is just a very good horse.

Gina Mangan gets on well with the Zoustar colt and Doncaster is a good track for prominent racers, so I'm hoping the more high profile rivals get caught up in a battle of their own and forget about Zoulu Chief blitzing off in front. He is dropping back in trip which could be risky if attempting to bag the lead again, however if Mangan can break alertly and nab the front position he will take some catching with stamina assured. The drying forecast is another positive as the trainer is convinced he doesn't want it soft. While that may be optimistic, I do think a few of the more fancied runners will bomb out while we are getting double figures over this tough trailblazer so an each-way play, with extra places on offer, looks a knocking bet.

15:00 Doncaster - Doncaster Cup

Earlier in the week I penned a preview for this race and with all five still standing their ground my thoughts haven't changed. Yes Coltrane sets the standard as the defending champion and on the back of his Lonsdale Cup win and yes, Trueshan if back to his very best will probably take this if there is any juice left in the ground by Friday afternoon. However, I am always an optimist when an up and comer emerges in the staying ranks and I do believe SWEET WILLIAM (and indeed most of the horses who finished around him in the Ebor) are graded class animals and can make their presence felt in races like this.

Sweet William only lost out to a brilliant Frankie ride on Willie Mullins's Absurde and I'm convinced he has plenty of improvement left in him. He has proven himself tactically versatile as well as adept in big or small field races, so with a course win already to his name and coming in here battle hardened from that Ebor heartbreak, I think he still represents fair value to usurp the old stagers and claim glory. Feel free to give my full race preview a read here...

15:35 Doncaster - Mallard Handicap

This race could well revolve around if The Goat finds the ground testing enough to fully show himself to best effect. Much like his daddy Cracksman, he showed himself to be a few notches better on heavy than on more standard good ground at Glorious Goodwood in a scarcely believable display. He was brought back to earth with a thump next time out in the Melrose on a quick York surface, however, and it remains to be seen whether he will always need a muddy slog to be seen at his optimum. Maybe the ground will go his way and I'll look foolish for turning him away but at 5/2 and shorter I'm happy to swerve for a bigger price in a race with plenty of contenders.

Real Dream was my long term fancy for the Ebor and although on the bare form he ran a poor race, watching the contest back I was perplexed at what Richard Kingscote was trying to achieve by being so prominent. Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle which is obviously an upgrade and he will probably win due to the well known law of sod now I am deserting him.

BAGUE D'OR is fragile but classy on his day and produced an encouraging reappearance from 13 months off when third at York a few weeks back. He will enjoy this step back in trip and I'm convinced connections wouldn't be running him again so soon if they weren't sure he was bouncing. Back in the 2022 season he was a model of consistency finishing first twice and second twice from four starts, all in races stronger than this. There are dangers aplenty and it would be tough to rule any out with conviction, but with the ground drying I'd expect The Goat to drift and both Real Dream and our pick to shorten so I'd advise backing him as early as possible to hopefully round off the day with the perfect ending; a winner.