Architect Tips has six selections for Day 1 at Doncaster’s St Leger Festival.
13:50 Doncaster
This doesn’t appear to be the strongest of nursery events, so it could pay to take a chance on the Emma Lavelle-trained SILVER GHOST (best price 9/1), who has shown enough to suggest she is capable of winning a race like this.
She has improved with each start and has made the frame in her last three outings, including when runner-up the last twice. Open to a lot more improvement, this filly has the form in the book to make a serious impact, with five places on offer.
Silver Ghost, 0.5 pts E/W, 9/1, 5 places
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The Richard Fahey-trained EARTHA (best price 9/1) must have a decent chance based on the form she’s shown to date, with a win and two placed efforts from just three starts.
She pushed a next-time-out winner close on debut, who then finished fourth in a Group 2 race. The selection then opened her account at Wetherby before going close at Southwell when third last time out.
This bigger field, with a stronger pace, should play into her hands, and being open to plenty more improvement, it is difficult seeing her out of the frame. Most firms are offering five places, too.
14:25 Doncaster
Having got off the mark at the fifth time of asking with an emphatic success at Nottingham last time out, INTRUSIVELY (best price 9/2) could take a bit of stopping in this contest.
Ed Bethell’s consistent two-year-old previously went close to landing the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood when finishing third. He started the race slowly but finished with a rattle to be nearest the finish.
The pace ultimately collapsed, which assisted his finishing effort, but it was still an excellent effort in defeat, and this looks easier. With Rossa Ryan booked to ride and being drawn well in stall 3, he’s a serious player.
CABURN (best price 7/2) lost his unbeaten record when fifth in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes, but that was still a good performance considering everything went wrong for him and he’s got a great chance at this lower level.
The form of his Super Sprint success has been boosted since, with the third, Time For Sandals, who he was conceding weight, subsequently going close in the Group 2 Lowther Stakes when a neck-second to Celandine.
Hopefully this time he will get plenty of cover, which didn’t happen last time out. He remains a colt with serious potential, and his strong travelling style with his potent turn of foot should come into effect in this larger-field scenario.
15:35 Doncaster
I have been waiting to see NAKHEEL (best price 11/1) to be stepped up to this sort of trip, as I believe this will bring the best out in her, and she appeals most in this contest.
Owen Burrow’s filly has finished her races off very strongly over shorter the last three times, including at York last time out. She takes a while to find her stride, but once she gets motoring, she is always thereabouts.
She has work to do in order to reverse the latest form with Scenic, but she has plenty more to offer, and this course should play to her strengths. I think she’ll run very well.
17:50 Doncaster
In the concluding race, Jim Goldie’s SOOWAIH (best price 22/1) could offer some decent value at whopping odds, as he will appreciate the return to this shorter distance.
His last two starts have been over two miles, and it’s easy to draw a line through each of those as he evidently doesn’t stay the trip. The last time he competed over 1m3f, he finished a close-up second to an 89-rated individual.
If he were to return to that form, he would certainly have a squeak in what is an open contest. Amie Waugh can take off 3lb, meaning he’s in receipt of weight from the field, so he takes my interest the most here, with four places advised.
