AUTHOR: Star Sports Content
STAR RACING PREVIEW: Doncaster Thursday
Both British and Irish racing fans have a tremendous week in store, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.
Today is the opening day of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster, with a quality opening card for those heading to Town Moor this afternoon, whilst we are only a couple of days from the weekend feast that is the Irish Champions Weekend. With the Leger this weekend and a whole host of Group 1 races to get stuck into, alongside a glut of competitive handicap races, there’s something for everyone and a decent card today to get stuck into.
⭐ STAR SPORTS RACING MARKETS ⭐
⭕️ 1:15 – British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies’ Nursery (Class 2) (2YO only) 6½f
A solid nursery to start the card. Phil Cunningham has enjoyed plenty of success this season and he’s got a solid chance with Speed of Sound, who got the better of two next time out winners at Yarmouth before finishing third to Sun Goddess in the Harry’s Half Million at York. That form has been let down a tad by Battle Fever (second there) being beaten at Hamilton next time out but his previous from reads well and so does the form of the other horses around her. An unchanged mark of 81 is generous for those efforts and she is the one to beat.
Take two against the field with Kodi Bear Light, who was successful on her nursery debut at Newmarket’s July Course. She showed guts to just hold on that day so the minor drop in trip won’t do her any harm and third placed Eabha was a very creditable and slightly unlucky second in the Prestige Stakes next time out. Her pedigree suggests that cut in the ground might suit also and Jack Nicholls takes off 3lbs to boot.
⭕️ 1:50 – Weatherbys 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2YO only) 6½f
Night In Vegas has already landed a similar event at Newmarket last time, and his two runs in Group company are a fifth in the Coventry and a third in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. 11/10 is fair about his chances assuming that he can get a clean run – a big field doesn’t seem to be an issue in any case.
Super Sprint winner Zigazig Ah was second to Night In Vegas and should go well again but she’s worse off with the winner. Still, both she and Satellite of Love are solid each/way contenders whilst Seven Nation Army is an eye-catching runner for Joseph O’Brien. God Given Talent is an interesting contender, having caught trouble at the Ebor meeting when one place behind The Dancing Pirate on his debut for William Haggas. It’s notable they don’t go for one of the nursery opportunities here and it would be no surprise to see him finish strongly.
⭕️ 2:25 – Pertemps Network Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3YO only) 1m 2f
Whilst Knight Charge has impressed in his two wins this season, 9/2 and 11/2 appeal to Bourbon Blues and Besieged. Bourbon Blues has the best form in this field courtesy of his Glorious Goodwood runner-up finish and his third place in a Highly Competitive Heritage Handicap at York’s Ebor Meeting. Besieged was just beaten by the subsequent Royal Ascot fourth, Heyzoom two starts back before an easy win at Salisbury on a soft surface and looks to have lots more to give based on his early form and his breeding to boot.
🏆 3:00 – Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Fillies’ & Mares’ Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO plus) 1m 6½f
Highly competitive as usual. Wardaah makes a strong amount of appeal, having finished a very creditable second to Estrange on her seasonal return at Carlisle before an arguably unlucky third in the Lille Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, when she was well ahead of Consent and Danielle (latter named not at her best). She was at the back in what was a steadily run race early on (Closing 2f sectional: 23.75 (108.5%); winner 23.55 (109.4%) whilst keenness cost her but a hood applied today should help her and if she applies herself she can confirm the form and beat the impressive last time out winner Prizeland, and the Irish raider Nyra, who is interesting based on her Munster Oaks second.
🏆 3:35 – Betfred May Hill Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2) (Str) (Class 1) (2YO only) 1m
This is a race that may be better to watch rather than bet on. The reputation of Musical Times is obviously high but today is her biggest test yet, and the Newtownanner Stud Stakes 1-2 Sea of Rain and Ballyskeagh, whilst Eabha shaped as if she’d relish this extra furlong when a slightly unlucky second in the Prestige Stakes.
⭕️ 4:10 – Meadowhall X Flannels Beauty Bar Nursery (GBBPlus Race) (Str) (Class 3) (2YO only) 1m
Another solid nursery where Al Wathba’s debut form is the best on offer, but he faces a tough enough test in the shape of last time out winner Waasil, whose form has been franked since. Keep Grating, and Zarakova could both step forward after last time out wins and the prices look about right.
⭕️ 4:45 – East Midlands Airport And Jet2 Nursery (Class 3) (2YO only) 7f
Undiscovered was sent off just 11/2 for the Vintage Stakes, and whilst he didn’t show his best form there, he’s been gelded since and he’d impressed in his two wins at Salisbury over 6 and 7 furlongs, with plenty of winners in behind also. Glorious Goodwood maiden winner Rafe’s Da Man is the biggest threat in an open field.
⭕️ 5:20 – Pertemps Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) (3YO plus) 1m 4f
Devil’s Peak has improved a lot for going above 10 furlongs this season, winning narrowly at Newbury and finishing a very creditable second at Glorious Goodwood before he took sixth in the Melrose at the Ebor meeting. He made a lot of ground from the back before his run flattened out so dropping back two furlongs could help and he’ll take plenty of beating.
RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Speed of Sound in the British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies’ Nursery (1.15 Doncaster) 2 pts win at 9/4 (⭐
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BACK Kodi Bear Light in the British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies’ Nursery (1.15 Doncaster) 1 pt each/way at 15/2 (⭐
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BACK Night In Vegas in the Weatherbys 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (1.50 Doncaster) 3 pts win at 11/10 (⭐
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BACK God Given Talent in the Weatherbys 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (1.50 Doncaster) 1 pt each/way at 13/2 (⭐
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BACK Bourbon Blues in the Pertemps Network Handicap (2.25 Doncaster) 1 pt win at 9/2 (⭐
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BACK Besiged in the Pertemps Network Handicap (2.25 Doncaster) 1 pt win at 11/2 (⭐
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BACK Wardaah in the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (3.00 Doncaster) 3 pts win at 11/4 (⭐
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BACK Undiscovered in the East Midlands Airport And Jet2 Nursery (4.45 Doncaster) 1 pt win at 7/2 (⭐
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BACK Devil’s Peak in the Pertemps Handicap (5.20 Doncaster) 2 pts win at 2/1 (⭐
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(SEPTEMBER 2026): PROFIT/LOSS: -0.18 points
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