St Leger Festival: Preview and tips for Friday's meeting at Doncaster

The opening race gets underway at 1.10pm with the finale at 4.15pm. Friday’s action boasts two Group races on the card, but will take place behind closed doors following the decision by the council to run the remainder of the meeting in this manner earlier this week. We have previewed all of the action with stats and analysis.

The £80,000 Group Two Doncaster Cup (3.15pm) is the feature race of the day live on ITV. Revolver has been one of the success stories of the season having won all six of his starts this term for Sir Mark Prescott. He has rocketed up the rankings from a win at Pontefract in June to now be contesting a Group event. However, his trainer believes he is more than capable of dining at the top-table in this event over two miles and two furlongs.

His chief market rivals include Eagles By Day who was fourth to Stradivarius in the Goodwood Cup earlier this season, having previously won on his first start for David O’Meara at York. He does however need to prove that he relishes this trip. Old stalwart Red Verdon is now a seven-year-old but has been in good form this season. He won a Listed event at Doncaster in June and was successful with Frankie Dettori aboard in a Longchamp Group Two earlier this summer. The pair are reunited for this assignment.

Spanish Mission recorded a smooth success in Listed company last time out and remains an exciting prospect for David Simcock given there is seemingly more to come from the lightly-raced four-year-old. He defeated Selino on that occasion who is set to be partnered by rising star Cieren Fallon on Town Moor.

The £60,000 Group two Flying Childers Stakes (2.40pm) is another fascinating event live on ITV. The standard setter is The Lir Jet who recorded a smart win in the Norfolk Stakes and was second on his latest start in the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Steel Bull was a fine winner of the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and can be forgiven for his latest start when he banged his head in the stalls in the Phoenix Stakes. The return to five furlongs should also suit.

Ubettabelieveit was a smart winner of a Listed event at Sandown in July, but needs to step up on a disappointing effort in the Gimcrack Stakes last time out, whilst Ventura Tormentara landed the Prix Robert Papin on his penultimate start, but was well-beaten in the Phoenix Stakes.

Frenetic is an exciting prospect and was a smart winner of a Listed event recently. She looks sure to play a leading role for Irish trainer Ger Lyons. However, Sacred could be the one the field all have to beat. She followed up a second in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot with another runner-up effort in the Lowther Stakes at York. The drop back to five furlongs will suit and she is of serious interest.

Elsewhere, Almareekh looks more than capable of completing the four-timer in the opening contest at 1:10pm and looks the best bet of the afternoon.

Doncaster Friday Selections

1:10pm: Almareekh

1:40pm: Calculation

2:10pm: Ghalyoon

2:40pm: Steel Bull

3:15pm: Revolver

3:45: Apollo One

4:15: Muay Thai

Tips and analysis via BettingExpert