It’s day one of the four-day Doncaster St Leger Meeting this Thursday and Andy Newton is here all week with our Doncaster horse racing tips from the main races – including the May Hill Stakes and Park Hill Stakes on the opening day of the fixture.
Doncaster Horse Racing Tips: May Hill and Park Hill Stakes The Feature Contests
On the opening afternoon, the main ITV Racing contests include the Group Two May Hill Stakes as we get a chance to see some of the stars of the future on show.
It’s a prize the Karl Burke team have won twice in the last eight years too, while trainer Aidan O’Brien has only taken this race once.
While the other big race on the day is the Group Two Park Hill Stakes, over 1m 6f – which is a race the John Gosden camp have a fine record in, with three wins in the last six years.
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 – British Stallion Studs “Carrie Red” EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap Cl2 (2yo) 6½f ITV
With seven of the last nine winners coming from stalls 7 or lower, this is a good stat to take into the race. Plus, four of the last five winners came from gates 3 or 5 (two each)
Trainer Karl Burke has won two of the last eight too and tries again with Half Sovereign, who is the likely favourite with the horse racing betting sites.
Isle Of Fernandez was a nice winner at Carlisle on Tuesday and from draw 5 could go well if tuned out again quickly.
MARCH AHEAD, however, looks a tad over-priced – having already beaten another runner here – Gwen John – last time and is actually 5lbs better off with that horse having a 3lb claimer on last time.
This Kevin Ryan-trained juvenile has also been handed one of the ‘hot stalls’ in 3.
🥇MARCH AHEAD (e/w)
🥈HALF SOVEREIGN
🥉GWEN JOHN
1:50 Doncaster – Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (GBB Race) Cl2 (2yo) 6½f ITV
A big pot up for grabs here for these 2 year-olds and all eyes will be on the Aidan O’Brien-trained Brussels – but we’ve only seen one winning favourite in the last ten.
The 106-rated Tadej is another to note but needs to bounce back from being a beaten favourite last time at York.
Andrew Balding has won two of the last six too and so his Rising Empire is noted too.
But the call is JEL PEPPER, for the Oliver Cole yard. This 2 year-old gelding already has top form running third to the classy Zavateri in the G2 July Stakes at Newmarket (Brussels 4th) – watch below.
The winner also franked that run to win the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, he is also 10lbs better off with Brussels for that July Stakes run. With the pair meeting on level terms that day and Jel Pepper getting the weight today.
🥇JEL PEPPER
🥈TADEJ
🥉RISING EMPIRE
2:25 Doncaster – Betfred May Hill Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (2yo) 1m ITV
With 14 of the last 19 winners priced 4/1 or shorter, history tells us to look nearer the head of the market.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has only won the race once (2018, Fleeting) – he tries to improve that record with Sugar Island but needs to bounce back from being a beaten jolly at the Curragh last time out.
Karl Burke has fired in two winners since 2017 and tries again with Prestige Stakes third Aylin (watch below), while just ahead of her that day at Goodwood was the likely favourite MOON TARGET (2nd), who can uphold the form.
This Prescott runner has been well-supported in the betting in the build-up to the race. That last effort is the best form in the race – the yard are still in top form and they also boast a solid 25% SR overall here at Donny.
Recent winners Pacific Mission, who was a nice winner on the AW at Kempton last time out, and Deauville scorer Rose Ghaiyyath are others to note.
🥇MOON TARGET
🥈PACIFIC MISSION
🥉AYLIN
3:00 Doncaster – Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m6½f ITV
The John Gosden team have won 50% of the last six runnings of the Park Hill and look to have another strong hand with three runners – Crepe Suzette, Zilfee and DANIELLE, with the last-named expected to be the shortest in the market of their trio.
She ran an excellent second in the G2 Lillie Langtry at Goodwood in August (watch below) – beaten just 3/4 of a length and with that being her first run for nine months can be expected to have come on for it too. Any more rain would be a help and James Doyle rides.
Consent stayed on well in France over 1m 4 1/2f last time, so the step up in trip is a plus here for this Prescott horse. She’s another that is sure to be involved.
While of those at bigger prices, the Johnny Murtagh runner Floresta was a tidy Listed winner at Leopardstown last time over this trip and could have more to come despite being upped in trip.
🥇DANIELLE
🥈FLORESTA
🥉CONSENT
3:35 Doncaster – Oddschecker Handicap (GBBPlus Race) Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m2f ITV
Just the two past runnings of this race with trainer Marco Botti winning in 2023 – so it’s interesting he’s booked Oisin Murphy to ride his big-priced Palazzo Blu.
Botti also runs Molveno, who won the Italian Derby back in June and dropping back into a handicap makes this one interesting too.
But Andrew Balding has a decent 21% SR with his 3 year-olds at the track – he runs recent Haydock winner RESPOND and with the third that day winning since the form has been franked. He gets the nod to continue his upward curve.
First Principle, Hopewell Rock, Castle Stuart and Devil’s Advocate are others that will attract attention nearer the head of the market – while the Prescott team also do well here with their 3 year-olds (40% SR) and run the consistent Immediate Effect.
🥇RESPOND
🥈PALAZZO BLU
🥉IMMEDIATE EFFECT
