Day Three St Leger Meeting Preview 2021

The first race of the day is the Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs and the Clive Cox trained Kingdom Come makes big appeal if improving for his debut.

With the field size huge and a lot of newcomers making their debuts we advise small stakes but the son of Kingman made a decent impression at Newbury when eighth of 14 in a decent event.

Having faded late on he lost places but he will sure to come on for that run and his pedigree suggests he could be a nice horse in the making.

The first big race of the day is the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes over seven furlongs and with a decent field heading to post we have two selections at an each way price.

The first is the Richard Hannon trained Razzle Dazzle who is a beautifully bred son of Muhaarar who has made a very good impression on both his starts to date.

Making his debut in August the juvenile was a good second behind the Expensive purchase Hafit for Godolphin and off the back of that he improved in a big way to land a Novice Stakes over the same course and distance at Newmarket by close to six lengths.

Stepping up to Listed company is the next logical step and if improving again could go close.

At a double figure price and looking like the value in the race is the Owen Burrows trained Alflaila, who ran a huge race at York last time out that should put him in the frame in this one.

The two year old son of Dark Angel has been a very consistent performer to date, making a winning debut at Salisbury in June and then backed that up with a close up fourth in a hot race at Yarmouth.

He then went to Newmarket and finished a good second over six furlongs, but at York took his form to a new level when staying on into second on handicap debut.

What made this horse an eye-catcher was the way he did everything wrong coming out the stalls and then stayed on in the latter stages to finish runner up behind a nice type.

He has key experience and if settling better at the start looks a big price.

The Group Two Flying Childers Stakes looks a very smart event with some standout juveniles taking to the course and we can't look past the favourite Armour.

The two year old son of No Nay Never has been seen four times during his career, seeming to progress nicely on all of his starts and now dropping back in class should go close.

Armor was first seen over course and distance at Town Moor winning a four runner Maiden in nice style and off the back of that went to Royal Ascot for the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes and ran on to finish a superb fifth of 25.

She was next seen at Goodwood in the Group Three Molecomb Stakes and gave one of his best runs to date when close to a four lengths winner.

Last time out he was stepped up to Group One company over in France and good to soft ground finished a good fourth behind some very smart youngsters.

Back in class and getting quick ground makes him the one to beat.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Group Two Doncaster Stakes and Stradivarius is looking to land the event for a second time.

The seven year old has been the poster boy for the UK staying division for the last four seasons landing 10 races in a row including winning a Weatherbys-sponsored £1million bonus in the last two seasons after landing the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup at York.

As mentioned, Stradivarius lost his unbeaten record that stretched back to May 2018, when being pipped in a photo finish on Champions Day 2019 in the Long Distance Cup.

He came back last season and had a prep run in the Group One Coronation Cup where he ran to a good standard finishing third and gave him the run he needed to go and win a third straight renewal of this event.

After joining the likes of Double Trigger and Yeats after landing the Gold Cup, he headed to Glorious Goodwood seeking a fourth win in the Goodwood Cup, which he went on to win.

He was dropped in trip after that in prep for the Arc, where the race did not suit him and that seemed to really mess him about with him only beating one home in the Long Distance Cup.

The mighty veteran came back this season for the Group Three Sagaro Stakes at Ascot and was a superb winner of the event over two miles.

It set him up perfectly for a crack at his fourth straight victory in the Ascot Gold Cup at the royal meeting but unfortunately it was not to be with him being left far too much to do when turning for home.

He got back to his best last time out when out staying Spanish Mission at York in the Lonsdale Cup and if getting his better ground should be the one to beat.

The Class 2 Mallard Handicap over 1 m6 1/2f sees a big field of stayers head to post and we like the look of two nags at decent each way prices.

The first is the Ian Williams trained Speedo Boy who has been in decent form of late and in his current mood would be foolish to take on.

Having been knocking on the door in June with two good seconds, he then went to Ascot off a mark of 87 and landed a decent handicap event by over two lengths.

Up 4lb for that win he went to Nottingham and was a nose second giving over a stone away and then backed that up at Newmarket last time out when a close third over 1m6f.

Racing in this off a mark of 92 keeps him very interesting, especially with the winner of his last race running a big race at Goodwood on Tuesday.

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Another at a double figure price of some interest is the Henry Candy trained Sovereign Duke who could go close with the added bonus of 5lb claimer Saffie Osbourne on board.

Having been running over hurdles last term the gelding was first seen this term at Kempton over 12f looking to need the run but last time out put up a superb performance when upped to 1m6f, finishing second behind a well handicapped horse.

Only up 1lb for that run Sovereign Duke should come one again and at this trip is worth taking a chance on.

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Class 2 Handicap over 6 1/2 furlongs and again with a big field on offer we have picked out two that could go well.

The first selection is the Rod Millman trained Able Kane who will be ridden by Oisin Murphy who could not be in better form and also rides a lot of winners for this handler.

The four year old has been frequently raced this season but has been going well consistently finishing in and around the frame on six of his seven starts this term.

Having won in May at Leicester off a mark of 80 he has then gone onto finishing second of 25 in the Stewards Cup Consolation Race at Glorious Goodwood.

Since that he was a good second two starts ago at Newmarket over 6f and then backed that up with another good third back at Goodwood behind a course specialist.

This slightly further trip might need more from him but he still looks feasibly treated off a mark of 86.

Another nice runner in the race is the David Bridgwater trained Kimifive who is now on a very dangerous mark, especially only having his third run for his new trainer.

Having been running below par, last time out he put up a superb effort to finish a good third at Epsom in a small runner handicap, being closed off up the rail which halted his progress.

Now 3lb lower than that mark he could be a huge player if running to a similar level and getting a clear run, also being last seen winning off a mark of 88, so essentially he is well in.

One to watch, having showed enough recently to see him land a big event like this.

The final event of the afternoon is the Premier Fillies' Stakes over 1m4f and the John & Thady Gosden trained Thousand Oaks looks to be one of our best bets of the day.

The three year old made her debut in May at Kempton, finishing a very smart third behind two nice types that have since gone on to win since.

She backed that up next time out when another good third behind two smart types at Haydock, that have also both gone onto win since and are both contesting in Group Two company this week.

Thousand Oaks franked the form herself last time out when a superb winner of a Novice Stakes at Newmarket over today's trip, seeing off Line Of Descent by close to five lengths and that Simon & Ed Crisford trained horse has since won well.

Form pick, that should be tough to beat if improving once more on her handicap debut.