This weekend promises a packed schedule of horse racing, kicking off with the third day of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster today, featuring the milestone 250th running of Britain’s oldest Classic race.
ITV’s broadcast today is based at the Town Moor, where viewers can watch five live races. Additionally, two races from Chester and the Group 1 Matron Stakes from the first day of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown are also on air. For those interested in betting at Leopardstown, Ron Wood offers his tips for the five Group races taking place there.
Below, you’ll find my predictions for all eight free-to-air races today along with detailed race analysis.
Saturday ITV Racing Tips – Further Analysis below
Here are my top three picks:
Odds provided by Sky Bet and accurate at the time of writing.
Harry Reynolds’ Top Selections
Provided by Sky Bet
- 2:05pm Chester: Spirit Mixer ⭐⭐⭐ at 4/1
- 3:35pm Doncaster: Pierre Bonnard ⭐⭐⭐ at 7/2
- 3:55pm Leopardstown: Blue Bolt (nap) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ at 5/4
1:30pm Chester – Listed Stand Cup Stakes (1m 4½f)
Dubai Honour, despite being a beaten favorite in his first race after a four-month break at Newbury in August, showed a respectable performance. Trained by William Haggas, this eight-year-old gelding has dropped from Group 3 to Listed class today and carries a significant weight advantage of over 11 pounds compared to his rivals. The longer distance—about a mile and a half—is expected to suit him better, and with over £5 million earned in his career, he should be a tough contender to beat.
Pick: 1:30pm Chester – Dubai Honour ⭐⭐⭐
1:45pm Doncaster – Group 2 Champagne Stakes (7f)
Aidan O’Brien, last year’s winner with Puerto Rico, looks to defend his title with Sergei Diaghilev. This Wootton Bassett colt has won twice from three starts, his only setback at Royal Ascot. He recently won comfortably in a Listed race over a mile, and dropping back to seven furlongs should not be an issue. The form was strengthened when the fourth-placed horse from that race, Sea Of Rain, went on to win a Group 3 at the end of August.
Betting Caution: Godolphin’s Contender
Despite the impressive debut by Desert Castle at Newmarket, he is still unproven beyond that single run. Historically, 11 of the last 12 Champagne Stakes winners had at least two race starts prior. Given that recent Doncaster performance by Musical Times, it might be risky to back this short-priced Godolphin juvenile.
Pick: 1:45pm Doncaster – Sergei Diaghilev ⭐⭐
2:05pm Chester – Class 2 Watergate Cup Heritage Handicap (2m)
Spirit Mixer, the two-time defending winner of this race, dropped to a favorable handicap rating after a challenging season. Rated now at 92, a pound lower than when he last won here, the veteran eight-year-old has a strong record at Chester, winning 50% of his races there so far. Trainer Andrew Balding also holds an excellent record at Chester, making Spirit Mixer a compelling bet to secure a third consecutive victory.
Pick: 2:05pm Chester – Spirit Mixer ⭐⭐⭐
2:20pm Doncaster – Class 2 Portland Handicap (5½f)
This is a highly competitive handicap, but The Strikin Viking stands out at an appealing price. Once a top juvenile who placed twice in Group 2 races and won a Group 3 on soft ground in Germany, he has since struggled. Now rated 98, the drop to five and a half furlongs combined with his preferred pace style might give him a chance to finish in the frame.
Pick: 2:20pm Doncaster – The Strikin Viking ⭐⭐
2:55pm Doncaster – Group 2 Park Stakes (7f)
More Thunder remains a frustrating yet intriguing contender. Although moving up to a mile didn’t produce wins, dropping back to seven furlongs—a distance where he has already achieved two victories—could suit him better. Given the similarity in track style to Newbury, where he thrived, and dropping in class to Group 2, he might outperform the field.
Pick: 2:55pm Doncaster – More Thunder ⭐⭐⭐
3:35pm Doncaster – Group 1 St Leger Stakes (1m 6½f)
My ante-post preview remains confident in this being a three-horse contest, with Pierre Bonnard still my choice. Jockey Wayne Lordan, Ballydoyle’s number two rider, has opted for Pierre Bonnard over Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day, further backing this selection. Although winless this season, the extended trip should suit him perfectly.
Pick: 3:35pm Doncaster – Pierre Bonnard ⭐⭐⭐
3:55pm Leopardstown – Group 1 Matron Stakes (1m)
Blue Bolt, my nap of the day, appears poised to claim a third Group 1 victory this season. This daughter of Blue Point has progressed impressively with four consecutive wins and has beaten high-class rivals like Precise twice. Versatile on all ground and adaptable in racing tactics, Blue Bolt looks superior to her rivals, including 1,000 Guineas winner True Love and former champ Fallen Angel.
Pick: 3:55pm Leopardstown – Blue Bolt (nap) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4:15pm Doncaster – Class 2 Handicap (1m)
Bullet Point has recently returned to form, finishing second twice despite some frustration. Although he was penalized 2lbs following his runner-up spot at the Ebor Festival, his 103 rating remains within range. The race quality was reinforced when the winner, Lost King, narrowly missed winning a Group 3 last weekend.
Pick: 4:15pm Doncaster – Bullet Point ⭐⭐⭐
Quick Summary of Harry Reynolds’ ITV Tips for Saturday
- 1:30 Chester – Dubai Honour
- 1:45 Doncaster – Sergei Diaghilev
- 2:05 Chester – Spirit Mixer
- 2:20 Doncaster – The Strikin Viking
- 2:55 Doncaster – More Thunder
- 3:35 Doncaster – Pierre Bonnard
- 3:55 Leopardstown – Blue Bolt (nap)
- 4:15 Doncaster – Bullet Point
Saturday, September 12 – UK & Irish Racing Fixtures
Flat Racing:
- Doncaster (1:10pm–4:48pm, Sky Sports Racing)
- Bath (1:20pm–5:37pm, Sky Sports Racing)
- Chester (1:30pm–5:42pm, Sky Sports Racing)
- Leopardstown (1:35pm–6:10pm, Racing TV)
- Lingfield (1:38pm–6:17pm, Sky Sports Racing)
- Musselburgh (4:07pm–7:20pm, Racing TV)
Free-to-View Broadcasts
- ITV4 (9:30am–10:30am): The Opening Show
- ITV1 (1:15pm–4:30pm): Live racing from Doncaster, Leopardstown, and Chester
Star Ratings Explained
Stars indicate the level of confidence in each selection (maximum of five). Odds are sourced from Sky Bet and were accurate at the time of writing.
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Confident selection
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Strong fancy
- ⭐⭐⭐ Fair claims
- ⭐⭐ Tentative choice
- ⭐ Minimum confidence
- 🚨 Group 1 race
Fan Take:
This weekend’s races, highlighted by the prestigious 250th St Leger, offer thrilling opportunities for horse racing enthusiasts to witness top-tier competition and exciting betting prospects. The event not only celebrates the sport’s rich history but also showcases emerging talents and stalwarts, keeping the thrill and tradition of horse racing alive.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
