Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 1 Tips
Doncaster's St Leger meeting is back on Thursday afternoon with a cracking eight-race card in store.
The action features two Group 2 contests, the May Hill and Park Hill Stakes as well as competitive handicaps and a big sales race.
We have selections and analysis for all eight races on Thursday's card, including a value play at double-figure odds.
13:15 – Doncaster - Fillies' Nursery Handicap
An opening mark of 82 looks workable for Rogue Temptation, a filly that has shown plenty of ability in three runs so far.
The daughter of Mehmas looked green on debut at York but gained compensation in emphatic style at Haydock second time out.
She was then only narrowly denied at Ripon, leaving the impression that this stiffer test could yield improvement.
Selection: Rogue Temptation
13:50 – Doncaster - 2-Y-O Stakes
Jel Pepper gets weight from the majority of his rivals in the big sales race of the day and with a high draw (16) likely to be beneficial with a lot of the pace drawn in the double digits, there's an argument to say he should be the outright favourite for this.
He was drawn on the wrong side in the Ballyhane last time out but "won" the race on his side and given he's proven on slow ground, he makes plenty of appeal at the early prices.
Selection: Jel Pepper
14:25 – Doncaster - May Hill Stakes
Having proven herself in testing conditions, Aylin looks worth chancing at the early prices.
This daughter of St Mark's Basilica won on testing ground at Goodwood second time out before running a creditable third in a Group 3 contest over the same course and distance.
She gave the impression that she would relish the step up to this distance on that occasion and a return to slower ground may help her get her head back in front.
Selection: Aylin
15:00 – Doncaster - Park Hill Fillies' Stakes
Danielle looks like one of the stronger favourites on day one of this year's St Leger meeting.
The daughter of Cracksman hasn't won since her novice success at Wetherby when hugely impressive but she's kept some smart company since, including when narrowly denied by Estrange at the end of her three-year-old campaign.
Expect her to come on for her narrow defeat at Goodwood on return and there could be more to come at this sort of distance.
Selection: Danielle
15:35 – Doncaster - Handicap
A wide open handicap for the three-year-olds with a chance taken on Hopewell Rock.
He showed he was capable of smart form when winning on testing ground at Bath last season and he was entitled to need his return when a respectable third at Newbury on his belated reappearance.
Selection: Hopewell Rock
16:10 – Doncaster - Nursery Handicap
You Sexy Thing is one of the few runners in this nursery with soft ground form to his name.
With the Spencer yard flying, running at a 30% strike-rate in recent weeks, this son of Dark Angel is taken to follow up his recent Sandown success with just a 4lb higher mark to work with.
Selection: You Sexy Thing
16:43 – Doncaster - Nursery Handicap
Another competitive nursery with a chance taken on another George Boughey runner, McMurray.
He's progressed with every run so far this term, getting off the mark in a Ffos Las maiden last time out and he was good value for the winning margin that day.
Selection: McMurray
17:15 – Doncaster - Handicap
Explode ran with credit in a trio of all-weather starts but took his form to a new level when successful on his turf debut at Salisbury.
The slower ground here could play to his strengths, given that he's a son of Sottsass and he looks capable of sending favourite backers home with a winner in the finale.
Selection: Explode
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
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