Neil Morrice Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 2 – 12 September 2025

DONCASTER ST LEGER FESTIVAL DAY 2 BEST BETS FRIDAY

DONCASTER

Race 1 No6 ALIGN THE STARS (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joe Fanning

SYNERGISM is a progressive 3yo from a yard that can lay one out. He will operate from the door of the weights, but while he has to go well ALIGN THE STARS is preferred. He stuck to his guns in good style when troubling the judge on his first attempt at a mile and threequarters at Haydock last week. He upped his game with blinkers added, and with the headgear retained can get into the shake up at a double figure price. Top weight SUBSEQUENT has been lightly raced this year and can also get into the argument.

Prediction: 1st ALIGN THE STARS, 2nd Synergism, 3rd Subsequent

Race 2 No7 HANKELOW
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Clifford Lee

Having been purchased for a king’s ransom, HANKELOW went some way towards justifying that price tag when successful at York in June. This is a step up the ladder for the Night Of Thunder colt, but he’s got the potential to cut it with these for a stable very much amongst the winners. NORTHERN CHAMPION is a pea out of the same pod in that he’s unexposed and unbeaten on one, while Ed Walker’s other runner DO OR DO NOT can play the experience card, and brings place form in Group company to the table. The Godolphin challenger CATALLUS and Coolmore representative FRESCOBALDI can also figure in a very open heat.

Prediction: 1st HANKELOW, 2nd Northern Champion, 3rd Do Or Do Not

Race 3 CARLSBERG DANISH PILSNER FLYING CHILDERS STAKES (Group 2)

No11 REVIVAL POWER
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Few juveniles have demonstrated as much raw speed as REVIVAL POWER who can back up her success in York’s Roses Stakes. She showed gritty determination to nail that Listed prize when strongly challenged through the final furlong. Oisin Murphy gets a first feel of the filly and the combination should take plenty of stopping. Tim Easterby has a second string to his bow in the experienced ARGENTINE TANGO, who after making the podium in the Molecomb at Goodwood underwhelmed at York, but if bouncing back she is over priced. Aidan O’Brien’s MISSION CENTRAL destroyed a big field in a Sales race at the Curragh and has the speed to handle a drop back to 1000 metres under ‘super sub’ Christophe Soumillon.

Prediction: 1st REVIVAL POWER, 2nd Mission Central, 3rd Argentine Tango

Race 4 BETFRED HOWARD WRIGHT DONCASTER CUP (Group 2)

No3 KYLE OF LOCHALSH (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Tom Marquand

A horse to follow in Cup races at home and overseas in the closing weeks of the season is KYLE OF LOCHALSH. There hasn’t been a more impressive winner of a stayers’ handicap than the Highland Reel entire when he scored at Goodwood. Relishing the easy conditions he’s waited so patiently for, the five-year-old was in charge two furlongs out and pulled relentlessly clear of Mordor to score by nine and a half lengths. It must be taken into account that this is his first run in a Group race, but only now has the Nap matured into his frame and as long as there’s cut in the ground he will give a good account. SWEET WILLIAM is the go to horse on form after podium finishes in the Goodwood Cup and the Lonsdale Cup at York, but at 11-8 there seems no value in him, as he’s an infrequent winner. SUNWAY appeared to get the trip when fourth in the Goodwood Cup and could find progression as he’s been lightly raced, with his stable out of form for much of the campaign. It would be dangerous to rule him out.

Prediction: 1st KYLE OF LOCHALSH, 2nd Sweet William, 3rd Sunway

Race 5 No6 CAPE FLORA
Trainer: William Haggas – Jockey: William Buick

The manner of CAPE FLORA’s all the way triumph at York last month strongly suggests she will relish a move up the distance ladder in this ultra competitive fillies’ handicap. The hat-trick seeking daughter of Kingman races off a 9lb higher mark, but there should still be more to come on this galloping track. BOSPHORUS ROSE could be one to prove a thorn in the selection’s side granted that a 6lb rise for her recent Thirsk triumph still leaves her 3lb well in, and that was her fourth success from five outings in 2025. CHILLI QUEEN is another prolific winner who figures to get into the argument and proving is a wonderful advertisement for her NH biased trainer.

Prediction: 1st CAPE FLORA, 2nd Bosphorus Rose, 3rd Chilli Queen

Race 6 No1 AL QUAYSIYYA
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick

Dubawi filly AL QUAYSIYYA couldn’t back up the support that followed her on her first run at Newmarket, yet there was much to like about the way she shaped in taking away a minor cheque. She is just preferred to Aidan O’Brien’s AMELIA EARHART, who has a Group 1 entry and represents a Newmarket race that has worked out. CLASSIC CUVEE shares that Fillies’ Mile entry, and after earning on her own introduction has to be included under Oisin Murphy.

Prediction: 1st AL QUAYSIYYA, 2nd Amelia Earhart, 3rd Classic Cuvee

Race 7 No7 SWORD MAKER
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Pinatubo colt SWORD MAKER still looked green when third to Al Shahama in the Hornblower Stakes at Ripon, missing the break and taking a long time for the penny to drop. He stayed on nicely at the finish and will be more streetwise for this first run in a handicap, with Murphy an eye taking booking for him. ART LOVER opened his account at Ffos Las when spoiling a gamble on Gouken. He was in command throughout the final 250 metres and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he followed-up under top weight. CHALE CHALO is another that can earn, having landed the odds in convincing fashion at Ripon. He might well have been handed the pick of the draw and should not be underestimated.

Prediction: 1st SWORD MAKER, 2nd Art Lover, 3rd Chale Chalo

Race 8 No7 WOODSTOCK (Each Way)
Trainer: Ruth Carr – Jockey: Warren Fentiman

WOODSTOCK enjoyed a hot streak around this time last year, and a recent near miss in first time blinkers at Ripon strongly suggests he’s getting ready to win again. He’s marginally preferred to KNEBWORTH and CHARLIE MASON in a wide open finale.

Prediction: 1st WOODSTOCK, 2nd Knebworth, 3rd Charlie Mason