STAR RACING PREVIEW: Doncaster Friday

After an excellent first day including five winners, we have a good platform to go to war with for what looks like a much trickier Friday card on Town Moor, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

The highlight of day 1 was Musical Times’ romp in the May Hill – she looks an absolute superstar and where she goes next will be very exciting, if we do see her again this season. She appeared to appreciate what wasn’t a punishing surface for all that she’s got winning form on faster surfaces and more undulating tracks to boot. She’s 5/1 with Star for next year’s 1,000 Guineas – entirely fair on ability, although we have plenty more chances for rivals to lay down their gauntlets yet.

⭐ STAR SPORTS RACING MARKETS ⭐

⭕️ ST LEGER FESTIVAL – DAY 2 ⭕️

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Nabati’s close second to Gimcrack winner Arapho Gold makes him the clear form choice in the Flying Scotsman Stakes (1.15) – but his hard-fought defeat of Tawakal doesn’t look as good after that rival disappointed at Kempton last weekend. He should enjoy 7 furlongs but he faces three smart last time out winners in the shape of Rock Montreal, Forbidden Fire and Varzi and this looks a watching brief.

For those interested in the Leger Legends Classic (1.50) Anthropologist was the most interesting of the field, for three-time winner Sammy Jo Bell, stepping back upto a mile after some eye-catching runs.

The Flying Childers (2.25) is typically competitive, and the withdrawal of Molecomb winner Pershaada makes the race even more open. Sale Shark was a fair fourth in the Molecomb and then reversed form with the runner-up that day (Adonius) at York to win in comprehensive style. The strength of his five furlong form – 141, compared with 55 for his two six 6 furlong listed runs – is eyecatching and he’s arguably each/way value at 13/2 here.

Flann Sunna shaped as if she was worth a try down in trip when she finished fifth – albeit as a well-backed even-money favourite – in the Richmond Stakes and she could benefit from what’s sure to be a good gallop. Carry The Flag ran a fine race in the Morny to finish second, albeit after being ignored and stealing a march on some other rivals, and will get much more respect here one would imagine. A properly strong gallop would help Gimcrack runner-up Final Objective, who launched the last and best challenge to Arapho Gold that day before just being edged out of things.

The best form in the Doncaster Cup (3.00) belongs to Cabllo De Mar, but he’s disappointed since landing the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier. Winday, who took a giant step forward when landing a Ffos Las handicap, is a fascinating contender here with connections deciding to step up straight up in trip and class here rather than target a valuable handicap.

Silver Lake will be popular in the Premier Follies Handicap (3.35) after wins at Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor Meeting but she’s opened up 2/1, which is hard to argue with. Ruby Wedding, Nochebuena and Salamaca City all have fair chances in a very tricky contest.

The Coopers EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (4.10) has a number of nice types on paper, including Antonova, a relation of Russian Rhythm, and She’s Got A Way, out of a 2yo listed winner and a sibling to five winners, so it’s a watching brief although Victoria Night showed plenty on her debut when second by a head to the Listed placed Tall Trees, sixth in the May Hill on Thursday. Godspeed Girl was sent off quite short for a valuable novice race at Newmarket’s July Course and disappointed that day, although the first two since have boosted the form, so the market is probably worth watching.

The Tanbry Construction Nursery Handicap (4.45) is a corker of a race with plenty of likely contenders and Pride of Toledo makes a lot of appeal. His fourth in the Harry’s Half Millions was boosted twice on Day 1 by Speed of Sound (won opening nursery) and Satellite of Love (second in the Sales contest). That’s the best form here and a mark of 85 is very fair given that Speed of Sound, second there, won comprehensively off 81 on day 1.

York Ebor Festival Nursery winner Henley on Thames and runner-up Super Tuscan should both go well here whilst Launch Sequence has run respectably in two strong maidens and now has cheekpieces. Innchen hasn’t had the best of runs the last twice – if he gets a better run then he might be interesting, and Baddaddan might be worth forgiving for his non-starter of an effort last time out – he’d looked smart on his first two racecourse appearances.

The strong record of three-year-olds in the Pertemps Network Handicap (5.20) is worth noting, although Amancio was the most interesting of the contenders at the prices, having failed to settle over hurdles last time following a win at Carlisle over a trip shorter than he’d want as a hurdles winner. Dig in the ground won’t be an issue and he could go well at an each/way price. Almekarem didn’t have the race run to suit at Epsom last time, and there’s more to come with a better gallop, one would imagine.

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RECOMMENDED BETS

BACK Sale Shark in the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (2.25 Doncaster) 1 pt each/way at 7/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Pride of Toledo in the Tanbry Construction Nursery Handicap (4.45 Doncaster) 2 pts win at 7/2 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (SEP 2026): + 20.03 points

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