Doncaster St. Leger meeting starts today

The Doncaster St.Leger Meeting starts today and goes on until Saturday, when the world´s oldest classic race will be run. Today´s card is probably the weakest of the 4 days, but it is still much better than the fare usually offered on a Wednesday with the listed Scarborough Stakes over 5 furlongs at 16.00 CET the main event. The race revolves around Reckless Abandon (Charlie Appleby/ Adam Kirby), who was Europe´s top 2yo in 2012 but has only raced 4 times since. If he is anyhere near his best he should win this and at least he has the jockey on board who always rode for him when he was trained by Clive Cox. Kingsgate Native (Robert Cowell/ Ryan Moore) was also a Group One horse in younger days, but he is now 9 and not as fast as he used to be, and probably needs faster ground anyway. He holds Steps (Roger Varian/ Andrea Atzeni), also a very smart sprinter with 8 wins - all over this trip- to his credit, on their form from July in Sandown. A possible each-way alternative to the favourites is Swan Song (Andrew Balding/ David Probert), the nicely-named last foal of the great Lochsong, representing a team in top form; 3yo´s have a poor record here, but both Mecca´s Angel (Michael Dods/ Paul Mulrennan) and Online Alexander (Kevin Ryan/ Jamie Spencer) have chances.

Godolphin now own Reckless Abandon and they also have prospects of winning the conditions race over 10 furlongs at 17.10 with two fancied runners; however our choice here is Nabucco (John Gosden/ Williamj Buick) from a stable with an excellent record at this meeting.

A race which is bound to attract plenty of Attention is the mile "Leger Legends Stakes" at 16.35, in which the jockeys will probably finish more tired than the horses, as it is for veteran jockeys, some of whom have been out of the saddle for ages. We would love to see our old friend Billy Newnes win this on Nigel Tinkler´s Cliff, but he looks held by Tiger Jim (Jim Goldie/ George Duffield); with the Balding stable going so well, we shall take a chance on Kevin Darley´s fitness and tip Comanchero.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Salateen - Only Joking - When Will It End
2. Race: Angelic Lord - Prince Bonnaire - Fuwairt
3. Race: Reckless Abandon - Kingsgate Native - Steps
4. Race: Comanchero - Tiger Jim - Dansili Dutch
5. Race: Red Galileo - Nabucco - Clon Brulee
6. Race: Marmoom - Wilde Inspiration - Lincoln
7. Race: Dangerous Age - Pea Shooter - Tom Sawyer