The Stayers take centre stage on Friday at Donny as the St. Leger Festival edges closer to the final Classic of 2024.
Familiar names abound in the stamina-sapping Doncaster Cup, whilst elsewhere, the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Flying Childers tailors to those with a need for speed. With a bumper eight races on offer, we pick out our three best bets on what promises to be a cracking card from Town Moor.
2:25 Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes, 7f, Listed
Our first selection comes in this Listed contest for juveniles. Just seven go to post, but all seven bring winning form to the table.
Charlie Appleby’s Symbol Of Honour tops the ratings, having gone down by only 1¼l in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. He hasn’t been seen since that June contest and will make his first start following a gelding operation here, and, having rallied well inside the final furlong of that 6f contest, the additional distance may suit. Appleby bagged the 2022 edition with Noble Truth and boasts solid claims with this son of Havana Grey.
Others to note include Amo Racing’s Benevento, who finished second in a similar event at Ripon last time; The Waco Kid, who paid for trying to live with next year’s 2000 Guineas favourite The Lion In Winter in the Acomb Stakes, and Tom Clover’s God Of War, who took a significant step forward when landing a Novice event at Doncaster last time.
Overall, this is a race well worth watching with an eye to the future, but we agree with the market in rating the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Jonquil as the most likely winner. Making his debut last time out at Sandown, this son of Lope De Vega did remarkably well to win, having been repeatedly blocked in his run before staying on relentlessly to get up close home.
Sure to improve for that first effort – as runners from this yard invariably do – this Juddmonte-owned colt can hand Stoute a notable success in his final year as a trainer.
Recommended Bet: Jonquil to win at 11/8 with BetVictor
3:00 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes, 5f, Group 2
Sticking with the youngsters, we drop down to the minimum trip for this fast and furious affair.
Mick Appleby’s Big Mojo and the Wathnan Racing runner Aesterius finished first and second in the Molecomb Stakes and bring the strongest form to the table. Separated by under a length that day, the pair are tough to split - particularly as Aesterius was hampered at a crucial stage in that Glorious Goodwood contest.
Moving further down the list, Kevin Ryan’s Ain’t Nobody disappointed over 6f in the July Stakes but is a perfect two from to over this trip. At around the 16/1 mark, he seems likely to prove a popular each-way option. Zayer is another to catch the eye for the Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle combo, having taken a big step forward at Ripon last time.
Sticking to the theme of backing a runner who endured a troubled passage last time, the one to be on here is the Ger Lyons representative Magnum Force.
Having broken his duck at Cork, this son of Mehmas caught the eye from the halfway mark in the Listed Julie Graves Roses Stakes at York. As the other riders began to ask their mounts for maximum effort, Colin Keane sat motionless in the saddle as Magnum Force began to scythe through the field from the rear. It looked like a matter of when, not if, the colt struck the front, only for the gaps to disappear as the leaders kicked for home. That he was able to get to within a neck of winner Tropical Storm at the line suggests he was a most unlucky loser and, granted a clear passage, he is worth backing to make amends here.
Recommended Bet: Magnum Force to win at 3/1 with bet365
3:35 Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes, 2m2f, Group 2
A small but select field of six goes to post in the feature event, including the past two winners of the 2m2f staying contest.
Second in 2022 and first in 2023, Alan King’s Trueshan returns to defend his crown. Now eight years old, he hasn’t been quite at his best this season but regularly hits form at this time of year – 2121 career form figures in the month of September. Having won at up to 2m4f, his stamina isn’t in doubt, and he rates a major threat to all.
Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale looked like a stayer to follow when winning the Ormonde Stakes at Chester in power-packed fashion but bombed out over 2m½f at York and needs to prove he stays this far.
2022 champ Coltrane has no concerns on that front but has been well below form the last twice and may find the younger legs catching up to him.
Overall, we fancy this can go to the John & Thady Gosden operation, with their duo, Gregory and Sweet William, our two for the shortlist.
Gregory has yet to truly deliver on his early promise but has improved in his past two outings. A repeat of his third-placed efforts in the Goodwood Cup and Yorkshire Cup would give him sound claims, but we prefer his stablemate.
Sweet William has clashed with Gregory twice this season and finished ahead each time. Having kept on for third in the 2m4f Ascot Gold Cup, we have few concerns regarding his stamina, and he found only Kyprios too good at Goodwood. With that Aidan O’Brien ace heading elsewhere, Sweet William can take his turn in the spotlight.
Recommended Bet: Sweet William to win at 2/1 with BetVictor
Paul Harrison
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
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