Preview of this weekend’s racing with Farringdon: September 12-13

Including races at Doncaster and Leopardstown

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FIRST raced for in 1776, the St Leger is the oldest of the five flat racing classics and the longest to boot, run over a mile and three-quarters, or for those of you who like your distances in new money, 2.921 metres. It is a good test of stamina for a three-year-old.

Aidan O’Brien has dominated the South Yorkshire feature with five wins in the last nine years and is set to saddle four of the 11 runners, including this year’s Derby hero Christmas Day.

I think that the Epsom winner will relish the extra yardage Saturday afternoon, but I was somewhat put off by his awkward head carriage when he finished a one-paced third behind Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at the York Ebor meeting.

His son Joseph will saddle the likely favourite in the form of the progressive Enceladus and he has taken a popular route to this famous classic by landing a three-year-old handicap at Royal Ascot, followed by a success in that solid Leger trial, the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He has cheek pieces on for the first time in his career and I make him the biggest danger to my fancy, the Andrew Balding-trained HATTEEN (3.35) who has taken to cause a big upset.

The son of Lope De Vega has a mountain to climb on the ratings, but along with Highwayman he looks hugely progressive. He was only beaten a head by Infraad in the big three-year-old handicap at Goodwood off 88 and that horse has since gone on to win the Melrose Handicap at York off a mark of 97, which would mean my tip would probably need to improve at least 10lbs to be competitive here. But the combination of this extra distance and this being only his seventh career start could see a large part of that gap bridged.

The Portland Handicap is the big betting race of the afternoon and with a maximum field of 22 runners set to fly down the five and a half furlongs of the home stretch, it is always a huge speed spectacle. Apollo One has been runner-up for the past couple of years and arrives here off a much lower mark of 90 and his chance has to be massively respected, while favourite Getreadytorumble, Twilight Calls and last year’s winner Eternal Sunshine all have obvious claims. 

However, I thought that the value call in the race could well be last year’s third ROSARIO (2.20), who has a mighty pull in the weights with the winner compared to 12 months ago. He comes here in cracking form having won over five furlongs at Sandown Park last time out and despite a 3lbs penalty, remains on a very good mark. Stall number 13 looks perfect as it means Rossa Ryan can have a choice of routes and anything around the 10/1 mark looks a very solid play.

The other big handicap on the card at Doncaster is the one mile at 4.15, with 17 runners declared for this class two event. Bullet Point looks the right favourite here having been runner-up on his last two starts in similar races at Ascot and York, while the Britannia Handicap winner, Moonfall, looks unexposed as a lightly raced three-year-old. He may well be a better horse at his beloved Ascot, but surely hasn’t finished improving yet.

The above three rivals are all viable plays for this valuable event, but at a much bigger price, I am going to have an each-way play on PINATUBO’S LEGACY. This four-year-old has only visited the race track on four occasions, but took a nice step forward when a strong finishing fifth of 10 at Newmarket behind Arctic Dawn. This step up to a mile for the first time in his career should suit and although this is a very deep race, the compensation is that we should get at least 33/1 about his chance with enhanced place terms.

As far as the rest of the card is concerned, DESERT CASTLE (1.45) should retain his 100 per cent record in the Group Two Champagne Stakes on route to the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, while I also fancy a huge run from TONY MONTANA (4.48) in the concluding extended mile-and-a-quarter handicap.

The last-named wasn’t suited by the softened ground at Goodwood last time out when tailed off, but granted a good surface here, he looks sure to run his race from off the pace.

The Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown features the first, second and third from the International Stakes at York in the form of Item, Almaqam and Constitution River. The last-named was compromised somewhat in that race by stumbling at the start and racing very freely, and I think he will gain his revenge on those two rivals. However, with Lambourn and Hawk Mountain set to be used as pacemakers, even though Aidan O’Brien won’t admit it, this should be very strongly run and should suit the trainer’s HOTAZHELL (5.00).

Jessie Harrington’s charge ran well when third behind the fast improving Purview in the International Stakes in June and then got back to winning ways when seeing off nine rivals in a Group One in Munich at the back end of July. Fourth in this race 12 months ago when they didn’t go quick enough for him, this year’s make-up should suit him so much better and he is worth an each-way play if the dead eight go to post at around 20/1.

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