Day Four St Leger Meeting Preview 2021

The first race of the day at Doncaster on the final day of the St Leger meeting is the Class 2 Nursery Handicap over a mile and Thunder Legend for Hugo Palmer makes big appeal.

The two year old colt made his debut this season in July at Newmarket over seven furlongs finishing a good fourth behind the likes of Modern Games and Saga who have both won since.

Looking to frank the form himself at Beverley he finished a close up third over 7.5 furlongs, improving and learning on the job again.

Using the experience from his first two runs he then stepped up in trip to 8.5f and got off the mark in taking style, seeing off his rivals by close to five lengths.

The son of Night Of Thunder makes his handicap debut off a mark of 84 and in this field he looks weighted to go close once more.

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

The first runner is 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 infront.

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.

At a bigger price is the highly consistent Mondammej who finally got his head in front last time out and is only 3lb higher in the handicap for this race.

The four year old son of Lope De Vega has been heavily campaigned this term, needing his first few outings, but since June has been highly progressive.

Having finished a good fourth in the Epsom Dash at the Derby meeting, he was then a bright second at Newcastle behind a nice type.

Having a little blip at York in a competitive handicap, he got back to near his best at the Ebor meeting when a close up fifth of 22 in another big handicap.

Having been going up the handicap but only placing, he finally got off the mark at Haydock last time out when seeing off the inform Copper Knight and only 3lb higher he is a big each way player again.

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.

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.

At a bigger price and our each way selection in the Classic event is the Aidan O'Brien trained Sir Lucan, who should improve for the step up to the marathon trip.

Sir Lucan started his term in the Group Three race that featured Yibir at Sandown but only managed a remote eighth of 10 runners.

The trip of 10 furlongs looking far too sharp for him on reflection, moving up in trip brought out the best in him and he managed to overhaul Wordsworth at Navan in a Listed event over 1m5f

Having not been seen since May he returned at Goodwood in the Group Three Gordon Stakes when finishing 1/2 a length second to Ottoman Emperor for Johnny Murtagh.

He looked the winner 2f out and it was a surprise to not see him take the race, and for his run last time out at York he had the cheek-pieces added.

In the Group Two Great Voltigeur he could only finish fourth of eight but was only 2 lengths behind the winner and he will appreciate the extra trip on Saturday.

Seems to have been saved for an Autumn campaign and over staying trips this term he has been nothing short of progressive and 14/1 could be a big price.

One of our best bets of the day from us comes in the Class 2 Handicap over 1m4f and we can't see past Title for Roger Varian.

The three year old made one start as a juvenile last term and finished a good second behind a nice type at Newbury over a mile on heavy ground.

Saved for his three year old campaign, he was second again on seasonal debut when stepped up to 1m3f and off the back of that finally got off the mark at Yarmouth when beating a nice type for William Haggas.

Sent into Group Two company at Royal Ascot he was a credible third behind the smart Alenquer and then slightly disappointed last time out when only second in Listed company at Hamilton.

He has now been gelded which could make all the difference and he is respected in this field.

The final event of the St Leger meeting is the Class 2 Handicap over a mile and we like the second favourite Dance Fever for Clive Cox with him holding some decent form.

The four year old this term has been seen five times, needing his seasonal debut when being sent into a tough handicap at Royal Ascot, but then getting off the mark for the term at Leicester in a nice event.

Sent back to Ascot in July he was a bright third behind two smart types in Danyah and Star Of Orion and used that to go close once more at Doncaster behind the progressive Motawaajed.

Last time out the gelding was fourth in another quality event at Goodwood, with the winner Aratus being a bright spark for the same yard.

Dance Fever has been knocking on the door for most of this season and having run well of late of his mark of 100, he can do so again today.