Doncaster St Leger Festival Day Two Preview - 10/09/20

A fiercely competitive contest is the Fillies' Nursery Handicap over 6 1/2 furlongs and Charlie Appleby has the smart Sky Angel, who has got better with every run this term.

The daughter of Dark Angel has been seen three times in her career all times at Newmarket, racing over six furlongs on debut when needing the run but progressing in her next two runs.

She finished a fair third on her second start over seven furlongs and then last time out gave her best performance to date when a narrow second over the same course and distance.

More progression seems to be on the agenda and this race looks a great opportunity to get off the mark.

The first big race on the card is the Group Two May Hill Stakes and the favourite Zabeel Queen will take some beating off the back of her debut run.

The daughter of Frankel made a smart debut at Ascot when seeing off nine other runners with ease to break her maiden tag.

She will be sure to improve for that run and although this is a tougher contest the step up to a mile will be sure to suit and she looks to have perfect ground conditions.

One of the tightest races across the weeks racing is the Weatherbys Racing Bank £200,000 2-Y-O Stakes and at a decent price Cairn Island for Kevin Ryan looks highly progressive.

The two year old has shown clear improvement in every run to date and on speed figures has been one to follow, quickening away nicely in the back end of his races.

On his first two starts at Haydock he showed glimpses of ability but on his third start finally got off the mark at Ayr in a Class 5.

He stepped up to Class 2 company at the York Ebor meeting in a Nursery Handicap and rallied really well late on to take the contest.

Bidding for a hat-trick today he should give another solid run and looks over-priced.

The Group Two Park Hill Stakes over the marathon trip sees a fair field of smart fillies go to post but Sir Michael Stoute's Vivionn looks the one to side with.

This 4-y-o filly stayed on strongly behind Gold Wand last time out shaping as though the step up in trip would suit. Sir Michael is a master at finding improvement from theses horses as they get older so she is still open to progression and she is proven around the track having won here last season.

She has form on rattling fast ground so the dry forecast is no concern and Jim Crowley is a positive jockey booking.

The penultimate race of the day is the seven furlong Class 2 Handicap and at an each way price Persuasion for trainer Charles Hills.

The three year old will be ridden by Frankie Dettori which is a very eye-catching jockey booking especially for this trainer.

As a juvenile the colt was smart, getting off the mark at the first time of asking and since then has placed behind Wichita in a Group Three.

He made his seasonal debut in the 2000 Guineas and was outclassed but now dropping down to an easier level should give a good account of himself.

The final event of the day is the Class 3 Handicap over six furlongs and we are looking to round off the day with a nice winner and providing that will hopefully be Call Me Ginger.

The Jim Goldie trained runner has been hit and miss this term but if getting back to the best of his form should be right in the mix, especially off this mark of 82.

Three starts ago he was a smart second in a better race than this at Hamilton and going off 1lb lower than that mark on conditions he revels in, he could be a nice each way shout.