The Doncaster St Leger Meeting moves into day two on Friday and Andy Newton continues with his free Doncaster horse racing tips for all the day’s main race – including the Doncaster Cup.Â
Doncaster Horse Racing Tips: ‘Sweet’ On William For Doncaster Cup Repeat Win
Over the eight-race card on Friday there are five more contests on the ITV Racing schedule races to look forward.
With the feature being the Group 2 Doncaster Cup at 3:00pm – a race trainer John Gosden has won three times in the last six runners, including last year with Sweet William, who is back for more in 2025.
While the Group Two Flying Childers at 2:25pm gives us a chance to see some of the best young speedsters around in this 2 year-old sprint. Where Nunthorpe Stakes flop Lady Iman will be trying to get back to winning ways.
We also have horse racing tips daily that give FOUR best bets in a Lucky 15, plus we highlight any horses that are running that won the same races last year.
1:15 – Doncaster – Betfred Mallard Handicap (GBBplus Race) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-105) 1m6½f ITV
A tricky opener on day two of the Doncaster St Leger Festival – with a stack of chances.
The Roger Varian team won this in 2020 and they try again with Shadow Dancer, who travelled well into the Ebor last time but faded to be 11th. Is back on a pound lower mark.
Subsequent was runner-up in 2024 and sent off favourite, but needs to bounce back from some average efforts this season.
Synergism has won well this season for the Prescott camp, and they boast a cracking 40% SR with their 3 year-olds at the track, so has to be considered.
While Jim Goldie and jockey Amie Waugh teamed up to win the race last year and run Midnight Lion, who looks set to be a big price with the horse racing betting sites.
But the race also has a rare Dermot Weld runner in the race – DURAJI – and William Buick catches the eye in the saddle.
This 4 year-old ran the classy Kyprios to 3 ½ lengths back in May and was last seen running an excellent 4th at Glorious Goodwood in the Summer Handicap over this trip.
He’s still only had six career runs and looks the sort with more up his sleeve.
🥇DURAJI
🥈SYNERGISM
🥉ARQOOB
1:50 – Doncaster – Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (2yo) 7f ITV
14 of the last 15 winners came from stalls five or lower – which is a plus for the likely favourite CATULLUS, from gate five.
This Godolphin runner ran second to the useful Publish at Sandown two runs back (watch below) and franked that effort with an easy win at Yarmouth last time. Plus, the Charlie Appleby yard boast a decent 28% SR with their 2 year-olds at the track and are also going well at the moment overall.
Do Or Do Not has been knocking at the door in these big juvenile races but was only third (as favourite) in the Gimcrack last time out and being 0-6 is starting to look exposed now.
It’s interesting that the same connections and trainer (Ed Walker) as Do Or Do Not also run Northern Champion, who won on debut at Deauville. The second has won since too to boost the form.
Hankelow won first time out at York too, but the form has had some knocks since – despite the 4th Commanding Officer winning since – so is overlooked.
While at a bigger price – SUNSET OF LEROS – looks over-priced for the Botti yard. Dotted up over this course and distance last time and has been freshened up with 50 days off.
Yes, this is a step up in grade, but was very impressive and the stable have a 21% SR here too with their youngsters.
🥇 CATULLUS
🥈 SUNSET OF LEROS
🥉NORTHERN CHAMPION
2:25 – Doncaster – Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (2yo) 5f ITV
With 9 of the last 12 winners drawn 7 or lower, this is a good place to start – while 7 of the last 11 also came from gates 5 or lower.
So, with Lady Iman, who had her bubble burst in the Nunthorpe last time out, having stall 9 is bypassed.
Royal Ascot winner Havana Hurricane is interesting back to 5f and back from a break – she’s 1-1-2 over this 5f trip.
While Revival Power was a nice winner of the Rose Stakes at York and can uphold that form with Dickensian, who was back in third. But draw 11 is not ideal for this Easterby runner. So might struggle to hold Military Code (drawn 6), who was only a head back in second that day.
But the pick is MISSION CENTRAL, for the Aidan O’Brien team. He was a good winner of a G3 at the Curragh last time over 6f (watch below) but showed plenty of speed that day to cope with the drop back to 5f here.
🥇MISSION CENTRAL
🥈MILITARY CODE
🥉REVIVAL POWER
3:00 – Doncaster – Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (3yo+) 2m2f ITV
SWEET WILLIAM took this race last and can do so again for the Gosden team.
He’s often placed in the big cup races – including second in the Lonsdale Cup last time out at York, but the bigger players are bypassing this, which paves the way for Sweet William to get his big win for the season.
Of the rest, Sunway is only rated 2lbs lower than the pick and was only just behind him (4th) in the Goodwood Cup – based on that he looks a good pick to be placed.
Ebor Handicap fancy Hipop De Loire should improve for the longer trip and the Mullins camp took this in 2018 with Thomas Hobson.
We’ve another past winner in the race too with Coltrane (2022) but I liked the way Kyle Of Lochalsh won a Goodwood Handicap last time and could give last year’s winner most to think about – especially if the ground turns softer.
🥇SWEET WILLIAM
🥈KYLE OF LOCHALSH
🥉SUNWAY
3:40 – Doncaster – British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap (GBBplus Race) Cl2 (3yo+ 0-100) 1m4f ITV
The Ralph Beckett yard have won the last two runnings of this and try for a third with Perfect Your Craft, who was a good winner here at Doncaster last time.
That came over 1m2f and is up to 1m4f today, but the slight niggle is the horse that came second to her – Roarin’ Success – was well beaten by CAPE FLORA next time.
This Gosden runner impressed that day – winning by 2 ½ lengths at York and despite being up 9lbs here is taken to find even more improvement over this longer trip.
Of the rest, the Prescott horse Bosphorus Rose has shot up the ratings after four wins and even though this is another big rise in grade can’t be dismissed as we know this 1m4f suits.
🥇CAPE FLORA
🥈PERFECT YOUR CRAFT
🥉BOSPHORUS ROSE
