ITV Racing Tips: It could be time to crown a filly again

Saturday, September 14, and the ITV cameras are firmly fixed upon Doncaster for the season's final Classic - the Betfred St Leger. It's the oldest and most historic race of its kind in the world, and the scheduled off time is 15:40. SEVEN races will be beamed live by the channel (Chester is also on the menu), but regular readers will know that the broadcaster can move the goalposts occasionally if required, and there's a sensational card at Leopardstown taking place that includes the Irish Champion Stakes.

We'll continue on the basis that we believe the first five on Doncaster's card will be covered, plus the 14:05 and the 14:40 from the equally-historic Roodee. Here then are the ITV Racing tips, and the action kicks in at 13:50. 

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

Today's ITV menu

Doncaster
13:50 BETFRED CHAMPAGNE STAKES 7f
14:25 BETFRED PORTLAND HANDICAP 5f
15:00 BETFRED PARK STAKES 7f
15:40 BETFRED ST LEGER STAKES 1m 6f
16:15 PJ TOWEY CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP STAKES 1m 2f
Chester
14:05 VIRGIN BET STAND CUP STAKES (CLASS 1) (Listed Race) (CL 1) 1m 4f
14:40 LIVESCORE BET WATERGATE CUP (CLASS 2 HERITAGE HANDICAP) (CL 2) 1m 7f

Rationale

13:50 Doncaster - Wolf Of Badenoch @ 10/3

Our selection for the opener apparently harks back to a 14th-century Scottish prince and not a current runner in the Tory leadership stakes. Either way, it's a cracking start to proceedings on Leger day.

Wolf Of Badenoch is a two-year-old Pinatubo colt who looks to have inherited a good deal of his father's talent. Two runs to date, both at today's 7f trip - a maiden win here, and then catapulted into a Group 2 at Goodwood (Vintage Stakes), finishing a close-up second behind Aomori City, well fancied for a Group 1 in Ireland over the weekend.

Hugo Palmer trains, and Jamie Spencer is again on board Mrs Hay's chestnut. Pinatubo took the Dewhurst at two, and his son is entered up in that and a host of associated autumn tests. Cracking heat, major chance.

14:05 Chester - La Yakel @ 6/4

Over to the Roodee, and the forecast heavy ground won't make winner-finding any easier.

However - if we concentrate on horses who've done it before with a good deal of cut in the ground that will help, and likely fav La Yakel certainly fits the bill.

William Haggas's five-year-old gelding took a Hamilton contest at around this trip readily three weeks ago on heavy, and it was a career-best. He's got a 7lb hike for his trouble but should still be hard to beat. This is a first foray into Listed company but it looks warranted.

Teak-tough warrior Al Qareem is not dismissed lightly and comes out best on official ratings. He took this very race two years ago and would shock no-one if he did the business. Reverse forecast possibilities methinks.

Adam Farragher rides.

14:25 Doncaster - Born To Rock each-way @ 20/1

We're paying five places in the Portland and I'm going for a bit of value.

Born To Rock ran well here three weeks ago in a slightly lesser grade, doing plenty of good work at the death and finishing second. The performance didn't escape the attention of the eagle-eyed handicapper, who raised the three-year-old Soldier's Call filly a couple of pounds.

She's only recently joined George Scott from Jane Chapple-Hyam, and Callum Shepherd again takes the mount. Big career-best last time, and there should be more to come. Nice e/w squeak at a tasty price.

14:40 Chester - Vera Verto @ 6/1

Four places e/w here, if that's of interest.

Vera Verto is a raider from Gavin Cromwell's Navan base, and is very much a multi-faceted performer on the flat and over the sticks. The 2m trip should hold no terrors and if returning to the kind of form shown 12 months ago, including at Newmarket, she'd be very difficult to beat.

She hinted at a return to form three weeks ago in Killarney and Adam Farragher gets the leg-up. It could be a big day for him.

15:00 Doncaster - Poet Master @ 5/1

A four-year-old Lope De Vega gelding, a winner in the grade (Group 2), and a course-and-distance scorer to boot.

Poet Master is in the care of the masterful Karl Burke, and I'm guessing this has been the plan since a ready Curragh success in July. He's extremely consistent and comes out top on official ratings.

Lots to like then, will be fresh, and owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum knows the feeling of having winners at this meeting. Not many miles on the clock, and another coming off the back of a career-best.

15:40 Doncaster - You Got To Me @ 9/2

So to the main event, and memories for me at least of the likes of Nijinsky, Bustino, Dunfermline, Oh So Sharp - there have been some belters down the years that have taken the Betfred St Leger.

Small but select field, and all seven have undeniable chances of sorts. Plenty of value then, with no prohibitively-priced standout looking likely to dominate unless there's an almighty late plunge!

Illinois has headed most markets this week, one of the trio of missiles that Aidan is firing, and very likely will continue to do so - but I'm rowing in with a Nathaniel filly trained by Ralph Beckett who's really struck form this summer.

You Got To Me has tussled with the talented Content of late, getting the better of the argument in the Irish Oaks and being narrowly denied by her in the Yorkshire equivalent. Both runs confirmed the filly's enhanced standing in the game, and getting 3lb from the boys it wouldn't be a shock to me at least if she was good enough to take this.

Hector Crouch, the only man to have ridden her on a racecourse, is once again in the plate and as she finished well at York 23 days ago I'm hopeful that the extra 2½f of prime Doncaster real estate won't be too much of an issue.

Her illustrious sire got 12f very strongly, and let's not forget that two of those glorious old champions I was getting misty-eyed about above, Dunfermline and Oh So Sharp, were also fillies.

They don't win often - not many even try - but when they do they're special.

16:15 Doncaster - Paradias each-way @ 13/2

Rossa Ryan rides for Alan King - always an arrangement that warrants our attention.

Paradias is a five-year-old Kodiac gelding that's been keeping some very good company and deserves to take one of these. Endured a troubled passage in this grade at York three weeks ago, having previously won at Goodwood.

Gets further than this, so stamina-wise he should be resolute close home, with luck, and Rossa's just different gravy. He really is.

ITV Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.