St Leger Festival Day 3 Tips: Check out Friday's best bets from Doncaster here
There's no doubting Trueshan is the star of the show on Friday afternoon at Doncaster as day three of the St Leger Festival takes centre stage, and our man Steve Chambers previews all the action on Town Moor here and picks out his best bets on the card, which will be shown live in front of the ITV racing cameras...
13:25 Doncaster - Coral Mallard Handicap
Alan King's INCHICORE has been in tremendous form all season and the Barbury Castle inmate can kick off a big day for the yard by claiming victory for the team in the Coral Mallard Handicap at 13:25. With Trueshan bidding for Doncaster Cup later on in the afternoon, Inchicore will look to hand King a winner in the first race on the card, and the hugely consistent five-year-old mare can outclass her rivals and land the spoils at 6/1 in the opener.
A winner at Goodwood back in May off a mark of 92, she then went and ran a career best when finishing a narrow fourth in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock Park back in July off a mark of 96 and if she can build on that effort here then she be very tough to beat. She's only been given a 1lb rise for that fine run two months ago, so a mark of 97 looks more than workable for a mare that has been producing solid efforts over staying trips all season, and she can prove to have too much for the likes of the top-weighted Mahrajaan and the hat-trick-seeking Wise Eagle.
14:35 Doncaster - Wainwright Flying Childers Stakes
Richard Fahey's The Platinum Queen put up a bold effort in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, but was reeled in by Highfield Princess and she will return to two-year-old company on Friday for the Flying Childers Stakes, where she will do battle with Richard Hannon's mightily-impressive Trillium who won the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Both top class sprinters, the pair dominate the betting and it would be no shock to see them battle it out for glory, but it could be worth looking elsewhere for an each-way alternative and the one that stands out is George Boughey's MALRESCIA.
The filly, who is 14/1, at the time of writing, won a couple of novice events earlier in the season before finishing second in a Listed event at Newmarket. Third at Deauville two starts ago, she then was last seen finishing an excellent third in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes, and while this is another step up in grade she is entitled to take her a chance. A real model of consistency, Boughey reaches for the tongue tie in Thursday's event and that could well aid her see out the closing stages better, and if the fancied pair were to flop then she could well make the frame at the very least.
15:45 Doncaster - Cazoo Handicap
Mick Appleby's Juan Les Pins has racked up four wins on the spin including one at Doncaster last time out, and that form raider will attempt to notch up win number five on Friday when lining up in an ultra-competitive renewal of the Cazoo Handicap at 15:45. The likes of Tanmawwy, Able Kane and Mums Tipple will be leading rivals, but the bottom-weighted MITROSONFIRE could shock a few at 14/1.
Unable to land a blow in this race 12 months ago, the William Muir & Chris Grassick-trained raider will line up off the same mark of 88 in the 2022 running, and if he can replicate his win at Newmarket a month ago off 85 then he has to be respected. He failed to fire on the all-weather last time out at Newcastle, but a return to turf should bring out notable improvement and with him sure to be doing all his best work at the finish then he can at least grab a place for connections.