Doncaster St. Leger

the St .Leger is the oldest classic race, but it has lost some of its previous glamour and today´s field (Doncaster, 16.00 CET) is (with all respect) substandard. Sea the Stars or Fame and Glory would make mincemeat of this lot, but their trainers are still represented, John Oxx by Mourayan (Fran Berry) and Aidan O´Brien by Changingoftheguard (Johnny Murtagh) and Von Jawlensky (Colm O´Donoghue). Of this trio we prefer Changingoftheguard, who was very unlucky in the Ebor and is expected to be better suited by the fast going than Mourayan, whose third place in the Irish Derby is the best form on offer but probably needs it softer. Kite Wood (Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori) is the likely favourite, but also apparently likes soft ground, so Godolphin´s second string Mastery (Ted Durcan) could finish in front of him, but he is held by Monitor Closely (Peter Chapple-Hyam/ Jimmy Fortune), who made all to win the Great Voltigeur, usually the best guide to the St. Leger, with Mast ery seobd and Father Time (Henry Cecil/ Jamie Spencer) third. This is a tricky race, wot the fast ground compolicating th issue, but on this going we take Changingoftheguard, Monitor Closely and Mastery for our short list, with preference for the first-named. It is probably significant that Murtagh is here to ride him, rather than Yeats at the Curragh, while Mick Kinane goes in the opposite direction.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Poet`S Voice - Silver Grecian - Viscount Nelson
2. Race: Markab - Jaconet - Pavershooz
3. Race: Kite Wood - Changingoftheguard - Father Time
4. Race: Stimulation - Arabian Gleam - Himalya
5. Race: Alazeyab - We`Ll Come - Espiritu
6. Race: Azizi - Start Right - Whippers Love
7. Race: Falcon Rock - Precision Break - Seeking The Buck