Architect has five betting tips for the final day of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster.
14:05 Doncaster
The opener looks wide-open, but ARECIBO (best price 12/1) is surely on the verge of regaining the winning thread based on his latest neck-second at Haydock, and with Jason Hart booked to ride, the nine-year-old is fancied to potentially go one place better.
A former Group 1-placed horse in his prime, the veteran is 19lb below his last winning mark and came very close to winning over C&D in August when third off a mark of 89. He’s 9lb lower now and is weighted to reverse form with Brave Nation.
14:40 Doncaster
Despite being hit with a 9lb for completing a hat trick of wins at Newcastle, TEN POUNDS (best price 11/4) must be kept on side and represents very nice value for a horse firmly on the up.
Harry Charlton’s progressive youngster has battered all of his opposition in his three wins, and the way he travelled into the race last time out before surging clear was brilliant.
I’m convinced he will develop into a pattern-class horse at some point, so hopefully the son of Ten Sovereigns can register a fourth win on the spin returned to the grass.
15:15 Doncaster
The Richard Hughes-trained FAIR ANGELlICA (best price 6/1) was scoring for the fifth time from just seven starts when registering a smooth victory in a listed contest in Deauville last time and has an excellent opportunity to extend her fine strike rate here.
Richard Hughes’ filly’s only disappointment was when she stepped up to a mile in the Sandringham Stakes, where she was a blatant non-stayer. Her record over seven furlongs (today’s trip) reads figures of 11211, and she is well in at the weights, so she’s the one to beat.
16:15 Doncaster
I’m really keen on the chances of KING’S LYNN (best price 7/1), who has two C&D wins to his name and has become dangerously well treated despite running with credit in most of his starts this year.
The last time this course (Listed) winner competed here was at this meeting twelve months ago, where he finished a creditable sixth of 22 off a mark of 104 when shouldered with top-weight.
He’s 11lb lower in the handicap now, and William Carver can take off a further 3lb, meaning he is down to a career-low mark. His latest fourth at Goodwood was solid, and another big run looks on the cards.
Four places are widely available and advised.
17:25 Doncaster
The Richard Fahey-trained ROCK OPERA (best price 14/1) was unable to land a blow in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap, but it’s always difficult to pull off waiting tactics at that venue, and the return to this venue will suit him much better given he’s a course winner.
He only had a neck in hand when winning over C&D in June, but he came from last to first, despite meeting traffic problems. That was off a mark of 77, so being 3lb higher is seemingly really lenient. With the five places available, I can see him outrunning his double-figure odds.
