St Leger Festival: Preview and tips for day one at Doncaster Racecourse

Read on for a preview of and tips for the Doncaster card, brought to you by BOYLE Sports, who have all the horse racing odds.

The Festival opens with an extended six-furlong fillies nursery handicap (13.15). Angel In My Heart has been good in her three starts so far, and makes plenty of appeal today, though is untested on softer going. The same can be said for Art Of Life, who has been promising and consistent until now. Rollthedicebaby could be slightly overlooked, though, given her ability on ground with cut.

Next, over the same trip, is the prestigious Weatherbys £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (13.50). Night In Vegas is the highest rated of those with a mark, and he was very good last time out in the Somerville Auction Stakes, justifying favouritism winning ahead of Super Sprint winner Zigazig Ah. He should be the headline here with few excuses, but this is a faster turnaround than he is used to. Dorigo looks worth considering after a solid run in Listed company at York last time.

Race three is a three-year-olds’ 10-furlong handicap (14.25). Knights Charge seeks a hat-trick here and looks a fair candidate for success here, while Runman is attractive too, even after a three-pound rise in the weights lately. Spyce could go better here, having recently had wind surgery, and is proven on ground like this from his juvenile season. Besieged was mightily impressive on soft ground last time out and has to enter calculations also.

Next is the first of our Group races; the mile and three-quarter Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (15.00). Fairy Glen, Danielle and Consent all jointly top the ratings and it’s hard to split them apart as they can all act on this ground. Consent’s present form is the least convincing, though. Fairy Glen comes back from a break here, while Danielle was below form last time at Goodwood. Wardaah is arguably more attractive, as she is slightly more consistent and has beaten Danielle at this level. She might be the one.

In the mile Group Two May Hill Stakes (15.35), Scommessa Sicura is the top rated and as been highly consistent this season so far. Softer ground is new to all of the runners here, after such a long, hot summer, but Sea Of Rain’s pedigree lends itself nicely to these new conditions. She looks handy from stall four.

A mile nursery handicap follows (16.10). Metamouse may take a step forward from last time, having been gelded, but has been plenty encouraging so far. He won't mind conditions and has been freshened up nicely. Al Wathba should be a leading contender but is high in the weights here and could be vulnerable.

Second to last is a seven-furlong nursery handicap (16.45). The Charlie Johnston-trained Love Rome has kept consistent but has also gradually improved in three starts, and he could be helped by the addition of cheekpieces here. Midgeham Man could pose a threat, though, after a greatly improved recent start at Chepstow, which saw the gelding win by 10 lengths.

Our final race on Thursday is the mile and a half handicap (17.20). Johnny Murtagh’s Mocking makes plenty of appeal here, having been freshened up since last running in June, and he is now at an attractive mark with good form on softened ground. Masterinthewoods could be in with a chance at a place too.

Doncaster selections - Thursday

13.15 - Rollthedicebaby e/w

13.50 - Night In Vegas

14.25 - Besieged

15.00 - Wardaah

15.35 - Sea Of Rain

16.20 - Metamouse

16.45 - Love Rome

17.20 - Mocking