St Leger Festival Day 1 Tips: Check out Wednesday's best bets from Doncaster
We are set for four fabulous days of top Flat action at Doncaster with the Group 1 St Leger taking centre stage on Saturday afternoon. The Leger festival kicks off on Wednesday with some competitive events and our man Steve Chambers is here with his best bets for a sparkling open day's action on Town Moor...
15:00 Doncaster - Ubettabelieveit Leger Legends Classified Stakes
Some legendary names from yesteryear will don the racing silks once again as the Leger Legends event will take place at 15:00 as the likes of Kieron Fallon, Adrian Nicholls and Grand National-winning jockey Mr Sam Waley-Cohen bid for glory. However, it could be a young jockey that has only recently retired that can claim victory in this race as the Megan Nicholls-ridden NURSECLAIRE can score for Alice Haynes.
Last seen finishing an eye-catching sixth at Doncaster last month, this three-year-old daughter of Ribchester hasn't tasted victory since her debut at Carlisle back in her two-year-old campaign, but with Nicholls on board she could well notch up a second success. Staying on well at the finish over seven furlongs last time out, Nurseclaire will enjoy the step up to one mile for this event, and if Nicholls can maintain a prominent position through the early stages then she could well land the spoils against her older, more experienced rivals.
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15:35 Doncaster - Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes
Richard Hannon's HEREDIA notched up a sparkling four-timer at the start of her career which culminated with a stunning victory in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot in June. She's failed to kick on from that victory, but she can bounce back to winning ways on Wednesday and claim Group 3 glory in the Sceptre Fillies' Stakes at 15:35. Sent off odds-on in Listed company following that Ascot win, she could only finish third at Sandown behind Grand Dame and Oscula, but the latter of that pair has boosted that form with a Group win at Deauville and Glorious Goodwood.
Last seen finishing eighth of 15 in the Oak Tree Stakes at Goodwood - a race won by Oscula - HEREDIA is on somewhat of a comeback mission in this event, but she has shown she can produce a high level of form, and she can duly bounce back to winning ways here. She showed a stunning turn of foot when winning the Sandringham and that has been lacking on her last two starts, but if she can recapture her best form in this event over seven furlongs then she could prove a cut above her rivals. The likes of the progressive Adaay In Asia (won last four) and Novemba are lively adversaries here, but if Heredia is on a going day then she should have too much class for her rivals.
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16:10 Doncaster - Cazoo Scarbrough Stakes
Charles Hills trained Khaadem to victory in this race 12 months ago and the handler will look to retain the crown in 2022 with Equilateral, who is a prominent figure in the betting for this event and will find this much easier than the Group 2 King George Stakes he contested last time out. Manaccan is another towards the head of the market and is a lively player, but the Mick Appleby-trained KING OF STARS is the standout contender here, as he attempts to return to the winner's enclosure on Wednesday afternoon.
Last seen finishing a very creditable third in the Beverley Bullet, the five-year-old had previously finished a fine second in an ultra-competitive handicap at York's Ebor Festival, so he will line up in excellent form. Yet to get his head in front this campaign, the son of Starspangledbanner notched up four wins last year which shows he's more than capable of bagging the gold medal and he can duly sit at the top of the podium in a wide open renewal of the Listed Scarbrough Stakes.