Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: St Leger Festival Day 2 Tips
William Hill Ambassador Nick Luck is back with his best bets for day two of the Doncaster St Leger Festival.
Friday, Doncaster
There are two really interesting Godolphin runners in the Flying Scotsman Stakes (1.15pm) in Nabati and Rock Montreal, but FORBIDDEN FIRE is the one I find most interesting. She scooted clear at Salisbury in really impressive fashion last time, and when you ally that to her pedigree and the fact that her most illustrious sibling posted her best two-year-old effort on this track and at this meeting – you are inclined to think that she is capable of posting a big effort here for a yard that has got a very strong hand in this division. With all her untapped potential, she makes the most appeal at the prices.
The Leger Legends race (1.50pm) is a bit of a minefield. I thought Anthropologist was an obvious one for Sammy Jo bell who has won the race several times before, but I’ve gone for NYMAN for Roger Fell’s stable with Andrew tinkler in the plate. This is a horse who comes here in really good form, and I think the step up to a mile should be absolutely no problem – indeed it might help. You know you are going to get a jockey who is at his peak of fitness given that he’s one of the most important work riders at William Haggas’ and this is a horse who is very comfortable in this grade.
I thought SALE SHARK might be the one to beat in the Flying Childers Stakes (2.25pm). I wasn’t initially convinced he was a five-furlong horse, but I was proved spectacularly wrong at York Last time. I think the key to that success was a strong pace and a bit of cut in the ground. I think he will sit in just behind the leaders and if they go at a good enough gallop, he’ll finish the race out really strongly at this trip. With an even greater test of stamina and more pace on here, I think he’ll progress again.
It is a thin looking Doncaster Cup (3.00pm) so this might be an opportunity for BEYLERBEYI to make a breakthrough at this level. He’s clearly a very useful handicapper but I’m not sure this is going to take much more winning that very useful handicapper – he’ll just have to do a bit better than when he was beaten in 5 when ridden off the pace in the Ebor. He might not be a straightforward ride, but he is talented. I am just hoping that there is enough pace on for him to be able to wind his way through. He loves a bit of cut in the ground, he showed he can stay the trip in the Cesarewitch last year, and there has got to be some serious doubts about Caballo De Mar after the way he finished his last two races.
I like the claims of RUBY WEDDING in the big Filles’ Handicap (3.35pm), she may lack the profile of Silver Lake or Nochebuena who look a bit more exposed, but she does continue to improve, and I think she can really thrive in these conditions. The champion jockey is taking over from a seven-pound claimer, and I don’t think she’s done with winning just yet. Based on her previous wins profile, I believe she is overpriced here.
