St. Leger meeting at Doncaster: third day

The Doncaster meeting continues today with another classy card , headed by the Doncaster Cup (Group 2) over 2 1/4 miles at 15.25 CET. This is the last of the series of cup races over long distances which stretch throughout the British season. Logical favourite here is Opinion Poll (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Frankie Dettori), runner-up at Royal Ascot and then winner of the Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Cup at York.

German-bred Bergo (Gary Moore/ George Baker) stays well but looks well held by Opinion Poll, who however finished only fourth in this race last year, behind both Tastahil (Charlie and Richard Hills) and Motrice (Sir Mark Prescott/ Paul Hanagan); of this pair we much prefer Motrice, an easy winner at Goodwood last time from Eternal Heart (who runs in the previous race). Tactician (Michael Bell/ Eddie Ahern), owned by the Queen, is a top handicapper and was runner-up in the Ebor last time, but is now stepping up in both class and distance. So is Saddlers Rock (John Oxx/ Niall McCullough), the only Irish runner and also the only 3yo, but he could be a big danger as his trainer has an excellent record in the U.K. - and indeed won here yesterday with his first British runner of 2011. He gets lot of weight today and must be taken seriously, but even so, Opinion Poll remains the obvious choice, especially as, with several front-runners in the field, the pace is likely to be very st rong which will suit him perfectly.

There are two more Group 2s on the card, the Flying Childers for 2yo´s over 5 furlongs at 14.25 and the May Hill for 2yo fillies over a mile at 16.00. The latter race the latter race should mainly concern Fallen for You (John Gosden/ William Buick) and Lyric of Light (al Zarooni/ Dettori), both winners of their only start, in well-contested Newmarket maidens in both cases, and Regal Realm (Jeremy Noseda/ Jimmy Fortune), twice a winner already and unlucky on her other start.

Irish hope Requinto (David Wachman/ Wayne Lordan) had no chance last time in the Nunthorpe, but back against his own age group, has an obvious chance of taking the Flying Childers. My Propeller (Peter Chapple-Hyam/ Jamie Spencer), owned by footballer Joey Barton, and penalised Lilbourne Lad (Richard Hannon/ Richard Hughes) look the main dangers.