Neil Morrice Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 3 – 13 September 2025

DONCASTER ST LEGER FESTIVAL DAY 3 BEST BETS SATURDAY

Race 1 No14 POINT OF CONTACT (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald

Having been campaigned exclusively at Grade 1 tracks this year, the lightly-raced POINT OF CONTACT arrives at this Festival with strong won and place claims. The Blue Point colt has acquitted himself well since breaking his maiden at Newbury, especially when fifth in the Sky Bet Mile at York last month, a race won by Fifth Column. Had he not hung left in the closing stages he would have finished closer, but nevertheless was only beaten just over a length in total in a blanket finish. I think at his forecast price he is one of the best each way bets of the week. TREBLE TEE and HAWKSBILL are others worth including in exactas and trifectas.

Prediction: 1st POINT OF CONTACT, 2nd Treble Tee, 3rd Hawksbill

Race 2 BETFRED CHAMPAGNE STAKES (Group 2)

No3 GEWAN
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald

GEWAN defends a two race unbeaten record that includes a clear cut delivery in York’s Acomb Stakes last time. The son of Night Of Thunder toppled marker rivals Italy and Distant Thunder in impressive fashion, and by completing a hat-trick in this historic race can advertise his claims for the 2026 2000 Guineas. OXAGON looks his main barrier to success as this son of Frankel raised his game to destroy his rivals in a Sandown novice, making all to score by eight lengths. Oisin Murphy is retained by owners Qatar Racing, but it would have been interesting to see which of these colts the champ would have chosen had he had that opportunity.

Prediction: 1st GEWAN, 2nd Oxagon

Race 3 No13 ADDISON GREY (Each Way)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

Easily the least exposed runner in the betting extravaganza of the day is ADDISON GREY. He hails from a yard that has excelled with its sprinters, whilst having scored on two of only three starts this season, latterly when landing some good bets in a Class4 at Newmarket. On only a sixth career start he can prove a big player, and get into the frame at the very least under Rossa Ryan.
TREFOR is very much on song for this, having scored on three of his last five outings for Charlie Hills. His latest triumph was in a Class2 at York, and though higher in the weights now he has a habit of finishing in the money. Top weight APOLLO ONE ran a stinker at Newmarket but if forgiving him that reverse is in here with a definite chance under Colin Keane. He had previously looked unlucky under an inexperienced apprentice in the Stewards’ Cup, and it would be no shock to see him enter calculations. JAKAJARO keeps running well in the big festival sprint handicaps. He finished third at Goodwood and needs including in all permutations along with AIR FORCE ONE, who has blinkers added by trainer Geoff Oldroyd, and should again finish in the money.

Prediction: 1st ADDISON GREY, 2nd Air Force One, 3rd Apollo One, 4th Jakajaro, 5th Trefor

Race 4 BETFRED PARK STAKES (Group 2)

No10 SHADOW OF LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Billy Loughnane

It’s hard to look away from SHADOW OF LIGHT, who is a Group 1 horse contesting a Group 2, and who should win if on his A-game for Godolphin. His two Group 1 successes at two numbered the Middle Park and the Dewhurst, while this season he finished third in the 2000 Guineas, fifth in the Commonwealth Cup and fourth in Deauville’s Prix Jean Prat. If the same horse turns up he will have the measure of a field whose best alternatives are TEN BOB TONY and MARVELMAN.

Prediction: 1st SHADOW OF LIGHT, 2nd Ten Bob Tony, 3rd Marvelman

Race 5 BETFRED ST LEGER (Group 1)

No2 FURTHER
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy

Coolmore could be said to have an iron grip on the final Classic courtesy of its twin attack of Epsom Derby winner LAMBOURN and big race favourite SCANDINAVIA. With Ryan Moore nursing injury Sean Levey teams up with the former, who added the Irish Derby to his CV before flopping when odds-on for the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. Tom Marquand steps in for Scandinavia, a colt by US Triple Crown winner Justify whose last two outings have seen him land the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and the Group 1 Goodwood Cup in which he wore down last season’s Leger runner-up Illinois. The Andrew Balding-trained FURTHER underwhelmed in the Bahrain Trophy, but had earlier beaten Scandivavia when second to Carmers in the Queen’s Vase. FURTHER more recently took out the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury and at a double figure price presents a value alternative to the Aidan O’Brien pairing. CARMERS enters calculations in his own right after a solid enough run at York, and this quartet can dominate.

Prediction: 1st FURTHER, 2nd Scandinavia, 3rd Carmers, 4th Lambourn

Race 6 No1 DEL MARO
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Billy Loughnane

Camelot colt DEL MARO attracted a welter of cash before finishing second to Glacius on his Newmarket introduction in which he came away with excuses. After a sluggish start he was squeezed for room and had to be switched approaching the final furlong, then stayed on to finish strongly with his stablemate Pacifica Pier behind. The hooded selection will be more streetwise for this clash with John Gosden’s NOVA CENTAURI and the Andrew Balding contender MERCI MONSIEUR.

Prediction: 1st DEL MARO, 2nd Nova Centauri, 3rd Merci Monsieur

Race 7 No1 BOTANICAL
Trainer: George Boughey – Jockey: Billy Loughnane

BOTANICAL has yet to prove that he’s benefitted from a breathing operation, but if back to near his best this should result in a first success of the season on only a fourth start. SOVEREIGN SEA might be the one to cause him most problems, although he has a habit of finding one to beat him. DIVINE KNIGHT is unexposed with decent form in just three career starts, and can also get into the shake up.

Prediction: 1st BOTANICAL, 2nd Sovereign Sea, 3rd Divine Knight