Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Doncaster St Leger Festival Day Two Preview

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Day Two of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival, Friday 13th September.

Doncaster, Friday

EAST INDIA DOCK can continue up the ladder in the Mallard (1.50), the prestigious handicap that opens up the afternoon at Doncaster on Friday. His fortunes have taken a notable upswing since cheekpieces were applied, and he looks well capable of coping with a drop back in trip on a galloping track, particularly with the stable remaining in irresistible form and Ryan Moore booked.

SYMBOL OF HONOUR can get back among the winners in the Flying Scotsman (2.25). I was super impressed with Jonquil at Sandown, but it’s both soon enough and a big enough step up to be thinking he should be this short against proven stakes horses. Symbol of Honour ran very well in a Coventry Stakes that has worked out surprisingly well and, if he takes the step forward that Appleby horses normally do for a gelding operation, he should take a deal of beating.

MAGNUM FORCE is a strong fancy in the Flying Childers (3.00). He ran an almost impossibly good race from a completely impossible draw in the Roses and a line through the fourth gives him little to find with Big Mojo, for all that horse should be more comfortable back at five furlongs. Ger Lyons is loaded with good juveniles, and this one is very much up there.

POINT LONSDALE is definitely worth another go in the Doncaster Cup (3.35). I’m not exactly overwhelmed by the finishing efforts of either Sweet William or Gregory this season, while Trueshan has definitely shown signs of regression. The selection was a warm order to take the Lonsdale, but was racing listlessly before stamina became any kind of issue, and I’d be happy to draw a line under that – he remains a very classy horse against this calibre of opponent.

MISS ALPILLES is a tentative pick in a trappy little fillies’ handicap (4.10). She was threatening to be a bit disappointing, but the combination of a hood, a step up in trip and Jamie Spencer did the trick in style last time and – although the handicapper has had their say – she can maintain her progression with conditions to suit.