This weekend is heavily tilted towards Saturday, with major Group 1 racing from Doncaster and Leopardstown, as well as top-level action from Australia and Canada.
The main event in Britain is the 250th running of the St Leger at Doncaster, the final Classic of the British season and the centrepiece of Saturday’s card. There is also racing from Chester, Bath, Musselburgh and Lingfield.
Over in Ireland, Leopardstown has a superb Saturday card featuring three Group 1 races. The highlight is the Irish Champion Stakes, supported by the Golden Fleece Stakes and Matron Stakes.
The international action starts early at Flemington in Australia, where the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes is the feature. Later in the day, Woodbine stages a major card in Canada, with the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile among four top-level races at the meeting.
Sunday’s best racing comes from The Curragh, with another strong Group 1 programme. The Moyglare Stud Stakes, Flying Five Stakes and Irish St Leger are all on the card, alongside the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes. Back in Britain, Doncaster’s meeting continues, while there is also racing at Bath.
Things settle down after the weekend. Monday brings flat racing from Windsor, jumps at Sedgefield and an all-weather card at Kempton. On Tuesday there is jumping from Uttoxeter, with flat meetings at Yarmouth, Redcar and Wolverhampton.
Big races this week
SATURDAY
7:20am Flemington (STREAM)
Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (Group 1)
1m, Flat Turf
2:45pm Leopardstown (RTE1)
HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes (Group 1)
1m1f, Flat Turf
3:35pm Doncaster (ITV)
Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1)
1m6½f, Flat Turf
3:55pm Leopardstown (ITV)
Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes (Group 1)
1m, Flat Turf
5:00pm Leopardstown (RTE1)
Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1)
1m2f, Flat Turf
10:20pm Woodbine, Saturday (STREAM)
Woodbine Mile Stakes (Grade 1)
1m, Flat Turf
SUNDAY
2:50pm Curragh (ITV)
Moyglare Stud Stakes (Group 1)
7f, Flat Turf
3:05pm Doncaster (ITV)
Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes (Group 3)
7f, Flat Turf
3:25pm Curragh (ITV)
BAR 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes (Group 1)
5f, Flat Turf
4:35pm Curragh (RTE1)
Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1)
1m6f, Flat Turf
*All races above are listed in UK time.
Race Notes
3:35pm (Saturday 12 September) St Leger - Doncaster
The 250th running of the St Leger takes centre stage at Doncaster on Saturday, with 11 three-year-olds declared for the final British Classic of the season. The race is run over 1m6½f, and the going is currently good.
At the top of the market is Enceladus, and there is plenty to like about the way Joseph O’Brien’s colt has progressed. He has won all three starts this season, beginning with a maiden at Cork before taking a valuable 1m4f handicap at Royal Ascot and then stepping up again to win the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. The extra distance is the question he has to answer, but his recent runs suggest there is every chance he will stay.
Christmas Day brings the strongest Classic form. He won the Derby at Epsom before finishing second in the Irish Derby, just ahead of Pierre Bonnard. He was only third in the Great Voltigeur at York last time, but he was conceding 5lb to Pierre Bonnard and kept on after initially looking beaten. The step up in distance could play to his strengths.
Pierre Bonnard is difficult to separate from Christmas Day. He finished only a neck behind him in the Irish Derby and then reversed the placings when runner-up in the Great Voltigeur, although he received 5lb at York. There is also some encouragement in his pedigree for the St Leger trip.
At bigger prices, Highwayman already has winning form over 1m6f, while Hatteen is less exposed than most and impressed when winning over this course earlier in the summer. Both need significant improvement on ratings, but they are interesting alternatives if one of the market leaders fails to stay or simply has an off day.
It looks a good St Leger, but Enceladus is the one whose profile appeals most. He has kept improving as his races have become harder and could have another step forward in him. Pierre Bonnard gets the nod as the main threat after two strong runs against some of the best horses in this field.
🏆 Winner: Enceladus
⚠️ Main Danger: Pierre Bonnard
Antepost Watch
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is still a few weeks away, but the market is already beginning to change significantly.
The biggest news is that Maltese Cross is heading to Paris after connections decided to skip the St Leger and keep him at a mile and a half. That decision has seen his Arc price cut sharply, having been available at around 14/1 before shortening into 6/1.
It is easy to see why there is growing interest. Maltese Cross won the Grand Prix de Paris over the same Longchamp course and distance in July before producing another impressive performance in the Great Voltigeur at York.
He isn't the only major mover. Kalpana has been available at 25/1, but is now around 7/1, putting her firmly among the leading contenders.
At the top of the market is defending champion Daryz at around 9/4, and he remains the one they all have to beat.
There is still plenty of time before the Arc, though, and this is a market that could change considerably as plans are confirmed and the final trials are completed. For now, Maltese Cross and Kalpana are the two big movers worth noting.
Racing Syndicates
This week we take a closer look at Hambleton Racing through the story of Washington Heights, the sprinter shared by twelve owners who has taken them racing in England, Ireland, France, Sweden and Qatar. Bought for £24,000, he has won five races and earned more than £400,000.
But the interesting part of the story isn't simply his prize money. It is the stable visits, racecourse trips, updates from the yard and the experience of following the same horse with a small group of fellow owners.
If you've ever wondered what you actually get when you buy a share with a syndicate, this is a good example of what shared racehorse ownership can look like.
You can view the horses currently available for shares with Hambleton Racing here.
Betting Offers
Betfred is one of the best-known names in British betting, covering horse racing alongside a wide range of other sports.
For racing fans, Betfred offers markets across major UK, Irish and international meetings, from everyday cards through to the biggest races of the season. You can find win and each-way betting, ante-post markets and a range of other racing options.
Betfred also has a long association with British horse racing and currently sponsors several major races and meetings.
If you’re looking for another bookmaker to compare prices and racing markets, Betfred is well worth a look. New customers can also take advantage of a welcome offer when opening an account. T&Cs apply.
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Racing News
Here are a few racing updates that caught the eye this week.
Racing Legends - Rubstic
The 1979 Grand National may not be one of the first races mentioned when people talk about Aintree classics, but it certainly had no shortage of stories.
There was a historic Scottish winner, a 34-runner field, the second woman ever to ride in the National, a huge pile-up at The Chair and, sadly, two equine fatalities. By the end of it all, just seven horses had completed the course.
Standing above the chaos was Rubstic, a relatively small ten-year-old who started at 25/1 and gave trainer John Leadbetter, jockey Maurice Barnes and owner John Douglas a Grand National victory at their first attempt.
Thanks for reading! Let’s catch up again next week.
Regards
The Newsletter Team
