Horse Racing Tips: Champagne awaits Oxagon on Saturday

It’s the final Classic of the season on Saturday at Doncaster, with the Betfred St Leger, first run in 1776, one of seven races from Town Moor. The other Premier Raceday fixture comes from Chester, while Leopardstown hosts a tremendous nine-race card, featuring the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes. There's plenty more, too.

We've studied the various cards and come up with some horse racing tips, including two from Donny, for your consideration.

13:50 Doncaster - Oxagon @ 11/8

John and Thady Gosden’s OXAGON created a lasting impression when running away with a Sandown novice at the end of July and looks more than capable of making the step up to Group 2 company in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

The son of Frankel was in need of the experience when finishing only fifth of 12 at Newmarket on his debut, walking out of the stalls under Oisin Murphy and fading late on, having done much of his running out on a wing.

However, he proved a different animal at the Esher track three weeks later, powering eight lengths clear of subsequent Kempton novice stakes winner, Look To The Stars, under 5lb claimer, Luke Catton.

Multiple champion jockey, Oisin Murphy, is back in the saddle on this occasion and, while improvement is probably required if he’s to beat the 110-rated Gewan, he’s got plenty of scope and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by the expected ease underfoot, something which his chief market rival isn’t sure to appreciate.

14:25 Doncaster - Rosario @ 9/1

Roger Teal’s ROSARIO isn’t quite the horse he once was, but he retains a good amount of ability and warrants plenty of respect in the ultra competitive Portland Handicap, with Tom Marquand an eye-catching booking.

The selection, who finished third behind Big Evs in the Group 2 Flying Childers at this meeting in 2023, prior to finishing runner-up in the Group 3 Cornwallis Stakes at Newmarket on his next outing, missed a large portion of 2024 and is now 11lb lower than when at his peak.

Successful on soft ground at Goodwood in May off a mark of 94, he’s had very little go right since, including when losing many lengths when the hood was removed late at the Shergar Cup at Ascot last month.

The four-year-old ran a remarkable race to finish fifth on that occasion and shaped nicely after another slow start back at Goodwood three weeks ago.

He’s now 3lb lower than his Goodwood win and the prospect of slow ground is a big plus.

16:55 Leopardstown - Alakazi @ 9/2

Johnny Murtagh’s ALAKAZI was unable to get past the reopposing Johan in the Group 3 Desmond Stakes over this course-and-distance last month.

However, Jack Channon’s gelding had it very easy on the front end on that occasion and may struggle to confirm his superiority with the front-running Skukuza now in opposition.

The selection looked like a colt of the highest potential when winning his maiden by a wide margin here in April and, while he’s been unable to add to that success in three subsequent outings, he’s improved with each run, as highlighted by his Racing Post Ratings of 103, 105 and 110.

He retains plenty of potential and the likelihood of a strong pace can give the son of Footstepsinthesand the edge.

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