ITV Saturday Doncaster, Leopardstown and Chester Racing Preview

The Portland Handicap over 5 1/2f sees a big field going to post and with that in mind we have picked out an each way player.

The William Haggas trained Hurricane Ivor who has been knocking on the door in races like this all season and can now finally get his head in front.

The four year old came over to Haggas this season from France and needed his debut at York when last of 12 on slow ground.

However, he bounced back to form in a big way when winning a decent handicap over 5f at Sandown next time out and he backed that up at Ascot when a close second behind the dual course winner Significantly.

Haggas entered him into the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood and the soft ground scuppered his chances, but he put that behind him last time out when a close third in a competitive handicap at the Yorkshire Ebor meeting.

Both horses ahead of him that day have ran well since and he will be sure to run his race again.

The first race of the day from Chester on ITV is the Stand Cup Listed Stakes over 1m4f and the horse that takes the eye is the King Power owned Alounak.

The six year old son of Camelot has had a revival in form towards the back end of this season getting back to his best at Haydock three starts ago when landing the Old Newton Cup in taking style.

He then went to Glorious Goodwood and was a good third up in grade behind some nice types at this trip and last time out stepping up in trip for the Ebor he was a superb third of 20 horses.

Dropping back to 1m4f will suit and on figures and overall form in this event he should go close.

Handles both good and soft so won't mind what the weather does.

The first big race of the day is the Group Two Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs and we can't look past the favourite Reach For The Moon for John & Thady Gosden.

The son of Sea The Stars made a superb debut at Yarmouth in May when a good second behind the highly talented New Science.

He the went to Royal Ascot and took Point Lonsdale all the way to the line in the Listed Chesham Stakes just being done on the nod.The colt finally got off the mark next time out in a good Novice Stakes at Newbury, with the second since landing a hat-trick of victories.

Reach For The Moon made it back to back wins last time out in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown, winning by four lengths and although needing to progress again against the second favourite, he looks the one to beat.

The Class 3 Handicap Homeserve Handicap over 1m6f sees a fair field of stayers heading to post and the one we are keen on is the Mark Johnston trained Hochfeld.

The top weighted seven year old is joined by handy 7lb claimer Jonny Peate who makes him competitive in this field taking that weight off.

Although being below par of late the gelding is known for acting at this track, finishing third in the Chester Cup off the same mark back in May.

Dropping down the handicap, having added weight taken off and doing his best work at this course are three things in his favour and at an each way price he looks interesting.

Stall 10 not ideal but has plenty of time to overcome it.

The feature race of the afternoon in Ireland is the Group One Irish Champion Stakes and although only four runners take to post it sees a whole host of talent.

The horse we can't get away from is the three time Group One winning colt St Mark's Basilica for Aidan O'Brien, with this three year old being arguably the horse of the season.

At the end of his juvenile career he truly showed just how good he can be when taking the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, having finished a close third in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes before.

This season he picked up from where he left off by taking the Group One French 2000 Guineas on seasonal debut and then at the start of June on his first try at an extended trip he took to it superbly to land the French Derby.

Staying at 1m2f he took on superstars Addeybb and Mishriff in the Coral Eclipse and blew them away, taking the Group One by close to four lengths.

The form of that race has taken a big upgrade and if improving like he has all season he could be tough to catch.

Another nice event on the Doncaster card is the Group Two Park Stakes over seven furlongs and Laneqash for Roger Varian was a big eye-catcher on seasonal debut.

The son of Cable Bay was a £175,000 purchase as a yearling and last year was seen three times, winning smartly on debut at Ascot by three lengths and then backing that up in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Town Moor when a head second to New Mandate.

He was next seen on heavy ground at Newbury in October in a Group Three event, where the conditions ruined any chance he has, so the less rain the better for him.

The now three year old had not been seen since then, but returned for his first run of the season in the Group Two Hungerford Stakes where he was only beaten by the smart Sacred for William Haggas.

That was a superb run after a fair amount of time off and showing he still holds plenty of ability and potential for what he could be this season he looks tough to beat.

The big race of the day is the Group One St Leger and the favourite Hurricane Lane looks to be on a completely different level to this field.

The three year old son of Frankel made his debut last term at Newmarket in a decent Novice Stakes over a mile on heavy ground and he ran out an easy winner.Saved for this season, he was stepped up in trip on seasonal debut in a good Conditions Stakes over 10f and again ran out a good winner, doing his best work near the finish.

The form of that race does not look bad with the second since placing in a better event and the fourth placed runner since winning.

He also backed up this form line last time out when landing the Group Two Dante Stakes at York, staying the 10.5 furlongs well.

He saw off smart runners Megallan and High Definition that day and was sure to head to the Derby having plenty of stamina in his family.

The colt managed to finish a good third in the Classic event behind Adayar and Mojo Star, with the form of those runners working out and he also lost two shoes in running that day.

With plenty of scope for improvement from that run he then went into the Irish Derby at The Curragh we he chased down Lone Eagle late in the day to get up on the line.

Looking to land back to back Group One events in the Grand Prix de Paris, he slipped clear of the field and took the event by six lengths.

He will be sure to get the trip and will have to seriously underperform to not go close here.