Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 3 Tips: Nova the star of Owen’s Saturday selections

It's Betfred St Leger day! The Classic occasion is set for 15:40, but there's another seven classy contests to enjoy before and after.

I've studied the eight-race card and landed on four that make up my Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 3 tips.

14:25 - Tropical Storm each-way @ 25/1

The big handicap at Doncaster on Saturday is the Betfred Portland, which sees 22 runners compete over 5½f for a prize of £51k.

It's one of three Extra Place Races across the card, so my selection - TROPICAL STORM - is an each-way one, taking advantage of those five places.

Andrew Balding's three-year-old was a useful juvenile, finishing runner-up in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot and claiming Listed honours at York's Ebor Festival over subsequent Breeders' Cup hero Magnum Force, but he's looked out of sorts this season.

However, he showed signs of life again on his last appearance back at York's big meeting, despite finishing nearly 10 lengths off the pace in 14th (of 20).

He travelled a lot better this time, but was squeezed out at a crucial stage, around the two-furlong pole, and his challenge was cut short. It's impossible to estimate where he'd have ended up, but Oisin Murphy certainly looked comfortable enough.

If I've read the situation correctly and he is indeed back to something like, he's massively overpriced off a reduced mark of 99.

15:40 - Stay True @ 15/2

For the Betfred St Leger itself, I'm siding with Aidan O'Brien's STAY TRUE.

Click here for my in-depth preview of the big race.

16:15 - Nova Centauri @ 7/4

My best bet for Day 3 of the Betfred St Leger Festival is John & Thady Gosden's NOVA CENTAURI in this mile-long maiden.

The American-bred two-year-old debuted last month in a Newbury novice that received a significant boost on Thursday as the runner-up Wechaad, tipped up by yours truly, bolted up in a handicap off an opening mark of 82.

The selection was only half-a-length adrift of Wechaad in Berkshire, and closing with every stride. In another half-a-furlong or so, I suspect he'd have been challenging the eventual winner Venetian Prince, who looks a useful sort in his own right.

For me, that form has much more substance than that of Godolphin's €850k purchase Del Maro. His second at Newmarket has taken a couple of significant knocks in the meantime.

Another furlong should suit the selection down to the ground, and I expect him to set a standard the rest of the field will struggle to meet.

16:50 - Regalian @ 6/1

Finally, I'm backing REGALIAN for the red-hot William Haggas (26% strike rate) in the final race on the card - a 0-105 handicap over 1m2f.

This three-year-old son of Kingman is a quirky individual, but one with plenty of ability, and I imagine it won't be long before he starts showing it more consistently.

His narrow defeat at Thirsk in June is a smart piece of form and if he can bounce back to that sort of level after a disappointing effort at Newmarket the following month, he ought to be very dangerous in this company off his mark of 87.

That becomes 82 when you factor in the five-pound claim of Warren Fentiman, who I'm a big fan of, so the selection races off a featherweight at Donny on Saturday.

Fingers crossed he can end my involvement at the Betfred St Leger Festival - there is another card on Sunday - in style.

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