The legendary St Leger races start today – and your Daily Star will be there to report on all the action as it unfolds. It’s been hailed as the “most iconic race in the country” and is set to be extra special due to the fact it’s celebrating 250 years.
We’ll be bringing you all the best tips so that you can enjoy it every step of the way. You can feast your eyes below on today’s suggestions from our racing editor and chief tipster Jason Heavey, along with our Starform expert Mark Storey.
Jason Heavey’s tips
There is plenty to like about Prizeland (3.00) as she steps up to Group Two level in the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster today. Andrew Balding’s three-year-old has made steady progress since an eight-length rout on the all-weather at Lingfield.
She returned to the Surrey venue to finish runner-up in the Oaks Trial on the turf course in May, but possibly found the trip too short in the Group Two Premio Oaks d’Italia Tattersalls at San Siro and when runner-up in a Listed event at Hamilton during the summer.
But all that changed on her most recent start on softer ground in the 1m4f Galtres Stakes at the York Ebor meeting. She fairly trotted up and with plenty of give in the ground and two and half furlongs further to travel a strong run is expected.
Night In Vegas (1.50) looks a class above his rivals in the Weatherbys 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes. Fifth in the Coventry at Royal Ascot, the son of Lucky Vega was third in the Richmond at Goodwood, before grabbing the £170,000 first prize in a top sales event at Newmarket last month.
Downonmainstreet (1.15) can score a hat-trick following her Ffos Las nursery over today’s 6f trip two weeks ago. The best bet of the day is Knights Charge (2.25, nap) who is also on a hat-trick after a comfortable victory in a Nottingham novice event in May. He arrives fresh for his handicap debut.
Beguiled (3.35) can thwart the progress of hotly fancied Musical Times in the Group Two Betfred May Hill Stakes over a mile. John and Thady Gosden’s filly was a close third in a strong Glorious Goodwood maiden before scoring for the first time at Newmarket last month. More progress is expected.
Best bets for today’s racing from our StarForm expert Mark Storey
Waardah’s (3.00) best two pieces of form have come over 1m6f in Group 2s which makes Doncaster’s Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes an ideal fit today. She won the Lillie Langtry at Goodwood last year before a close third when aiming for a repeat last month.
Owen Burrows’ four-year-old was keen early on, which may have told in the last furlong after she had travelled smoothly to contest the lead. She wears a first-time hood today to help her settle which can make the difference.
The Group 2 Betfred May Hill Stakes is packed with fillies of potential but Sea of Rain (3.35) sets a high standard they all have to pass. She took her form to a higher level encountering a mile and a strong gallop for the first time in a Group 3 at the Curragh 12 days ago.
Sea Of Rain took charge from three furlongs out and stayed on powerfully to win by three-quarters of a length. Jim Bolger has nominated her as his Oaks filly and she can dent some tall reputations at a decent price.
After doing okay over the minimum trip Kodi Bear Light (1.15) improved when upped to 7f for the first time, winning on her handicap debut at Newmarket. It means Karl Burke’s filly looks nicely treated off just 2lb higher in the British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap over 6½f.
The third from her win has given the form a boost with a fine second in a Group 3 at Goodwood. There are some unexposed and well-bred colts in the Pertemps Network Handicap but it’s worth taking them on with the battle-hardened topweight Bourbon Blues (2.25).
He struggled in handicaps when Brian Meehan’s yard was out of form. But he’s been second and third in competitive races at Goodwood and York since and Ryan Moore rides today.