St Leger Festival Day 4 Tips: Three big priced selections at Doncaster on Saturday

It's St Leger day at Doncaster on Saturday afternoon, and we preview all the action on Town Moor and pick out three big-priced selections across the seven-race card, as the final Classic of the season takes place...

13:45 Doncaster - Portland Handicap

One of the toughest betting heats on St Leger day is the Portland Handicap, which is off at 13:45 and it will see 22 runners head to the 5f 143y start to contest the valuable sprint prize. Progressive speedster Hurricane Ivor heads the betting, at the time of writing, and he was last seen finishing third in a similar York event, but off top weight he could prove vulnerable to a couple of rivals further down the handicap.

Jawwaal and Mondammej both head into the event in excellent form and have to be respected, while last year's winner Stone Of Destiny is bidding to retain his sprint crown and is of interest. However, there's a fascinating double-figured price contender in the shape of Mick Appleby's Boundless Power, who lines up off a mark of 88 and has shaped like he could be better than that figure.

Heading to Appleby's yard after a winless career in Ireland, BOUNDLESS POWER showed when winning a Nottingham handicap off 86 that he can perform to a decent level, and while he finished in the mid-division in the Stewards' Cup consolation race, he shaped with promise at Windsor last time out. Lining up in a Racing League event, Boundless Power was always chasing the field that day, as having been out the rear for the early stages he was then unable to get a clear run when it mattered. Staying on to grab fourth inside the final furlong, he looked like he would've got a lot closer with a clear path, so lining up off the same figure today he has to be considered, and while traffic problems may occur again, if he can find a clear path to the front then he can claim the win.

15:00 Doncaster - Cazoo Park Stakes

Second in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, Danyah went one better on his return to Ascot by landing glory in the International Stakes and that in-form performer will step up to Group 2 company on Saturday to compete in the Park Stakes. Sure to be a leading contender he will have to get the better of Laneqash, who was last seen chasing home Sacred in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes, while Criterion Stakes winner Glorious Journey will be another notable player in a fascinating renewal.

However, the forgotten horse of the race is the proven Group 2 winner D'bai, who was seen failing to land any sort of blow in the aforementioned Hungerford Stakes at Newbury, but Charlie Appleby's raider is a lot better than that. Making his first start for six months in that Newbury event, D'BAI certainly shaped like he needed the run, and he's sure to improve significantly for that outing, and he arguably has the strongest record of the sextet, so at double-figured odds is a cracking bet.

A Group 2 winner in Meydan back in February, D'bai also has some decent form in this race, as he was a gallant runner-up in the 2018 renewal of this Park Stakes. His last victory on British shores came in a conditions event at Kempton Park last July, and he will need to improve on that effort, but with a lack of proven strength in depth in this year's renewal of the Park Stakes, D'bai can defy his ageing seven years and past the post first.

15:35 Doncaster - Cazoo St Leger Stakes

It could prove to be a very successful day for the Charlie Appleby yard, as following on from D'bai's run in the Park Stakes the Godolphin handler will saddle the red-hot favourite Hurricane Lane in the St Leger at 15:35. A runaway winner of the Irish Derby earlier in the season, the Frankel colt then dominated the Grand Prix De Paris in France, and is now bidding for a third Group 1 win on the bounce. Stepping up in trip for the final Classic of the season, Hurricane Lane has looked like the 1m 6f of the Leger won't pose any stamina problems, and if he can turn up at his best then he will claim glory.

But, at odds-on he's not a punting proposition and that lies with the Aidan O'Brien-trained INTERPRETATION, who is hovering around the 14/1-16/1 mark at the moment and looks to be a really progressive stayer for the Ballydoyle team. A winner of the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown last time out, the son of Galileo was racking up his third win on the bounce, and he was one that appeared the staying trips would bring out the best in him.

That Vinnie Roe success came over 1m 6f so the Leger distance will be ideal for him, and with Hollie Doyle a fascinating jockey booking the O'Brien charge can at least make the first three and is a cracking each-way bet. While the likes of High Definition and Sir Lucan have questions over whether they are good enough for this level, Interpretation is the likely improver of the O'Brien quartet and he can provide a profitable each-way bet by making the frame.