This Saturday’s ITV Racing broadcast serves up seven races including two from Chester and five from Doncaster, where the final Classic of the campaign, the St Leger (3.40) is the highlight.
In the injury-enforced absence of Aidan O’Brien’s stable jockey Ryan Moore we’re taking on the Ballydoyle triumvirate in the feature.
Take on market leaders with Beckett colt in the Champagne
Gewan and Oxagon look set to battle it out for favouritism in the Champagne Stakes (1.50). The former was a good winner of the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York in August, while the latter hugely improved to demolish a Sandown Novice field by eight lengths at the end of July, with the second winning since.
However, the duo are taken on with Ralph Beckett’s CAPE ORATOR, who looked nicely progressive when easily landing a valuable Deauville sales race by three-and-a-half lengths a month ago.
The second and fourth on that occasion both went on to score in handicap company on their next starts to add substance to the form and suggest he may have been underestimated by the market.
1.50 Doncaster - Cape Orator
@ 9/2
Last year’s Portland Handicap second weighted to go well again
The Portland Handicap (2.25) honour roll features more than one horse that’s gone on to score in Group 1 company inside the last 10 runnings with 2019 winner Oxted going on to win a July Cup and a King’s Stand and more recently 2024 victor American Affair progressing to land the same Ascot contest.
Addison Grey and Trefor both appeal as types with the potential to go on to bigger and better things but a chance is taken on last year’s second APOLLO ONE, who only went down by a nose 12 months ago.
The seven-year-old must be forgiven a poor run at Newmarket last time out, but has never ran well at HQ and returns off a 1lb lower mark than he had for last year’s race.
Prior to Newmarket he’d been running better than the form figures suggest and it would no surprise if he returns to something like his best on Town Moor with crack Irish pilot Colin Keane booked for the job.
2.25 Doncaster - Apollo One
@ 12/1
Queen’s Vase winner to resume progression back at 1m6f
The 2025 St Leger looks a fascinating edition and features both the Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia and his Derby winning stablemate Lambourn.
Both, particularly the former, must have outstanding chances but the only colt in the field to have actually won at the 1m6f trip is Paddy Twomey’s CARMERS, who arrives at the race with form figures of 1112.
The son of Wootton Bassett lost his unbeaten record in the Great Voltigeur, but finished ahead of the opposing Lambourn and Stay True in that York affair, staying on strongly despite being outpaced and first off the bridle in the 1m4f contest.
Back up 2f in trip he’s expected be able to move more comfortably into the contest and should that be the case it’s unlikely any will be staying on as strongly over the last couple of furlongs.
3.40 Doncaster - Carmers
@ 9/2
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