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The penultimate afternoon of the St Leger Festival is ‘Gentleman’s Day’ on Town Moor and it features the Doncaster Cup, the oldest race currently run under the Rules of Horse Racing taking centre-stage.
On a high-class seven-race card punters can also look forward to the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes and the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes either side of the long-distance race of the day.
St Leger Day 3 Betting Tips & Predictions
We have horse racing tips and predictions for each of the seven races scheduled for day three of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster.
The day three action at Doncaster is headlined by the Group 2 Doncaster Cup (3.15pm) for the stayers over a stamina-sapping 2m2f. Stradivarius vacates the crown and leaves the door wide open for a field of seven.
The Group 2 Flying Childers over five-furlongs and the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes either side of the feature ensure a quality seven-race card (1.10pm-4.15pm) and you can watch every race via live streaming when logged into MansionBet.
1.10 – British Ebf Premier Fillies’ Handicap (1m3½f)
A tough fillies’ handicap to get things underway despite the paucity of numbers. Sir Michael Stoute has two leading contenders in Sorrel and Almareekh – the latter bidding for a four-timer – while Albaflora is considered eased in class but has a stiff opening handicap mark. FRANKEL’S STORM made a winning start in handicaps at Pontefract (1m4f) last month and can easily be forgiven her defeat in a French Group 2 since. There’s scope for better back up in distance and Mark Johnston’s filly will relish a battle.
Tip: Frankel’s Storm @ SP
1.40 – bet365 Mallard Handicap (1m6½f)
Sleeping Lion won this last year from a 3lb lower mark and isn’t dismissed in any great haste while C&D winner Calculation is also considered despite scaling to a career-high mark after finishing second at Sandown last time. ALFAATIK had no trouble returning from 455 days off for a winning handicap bow at York last month. That form looks solid and, rated 5lb higher, John Gosden’s lightly-raced son of Sea The Stars is fancied to kick on again over this longer journey.
Tip: Alfaatik @ 5/2
2.10 – bet365 Handicap (6½f)
Plenty of these are in form, with Tranchee and Sunset Breeze potentially well-handicapped from unchanged marks after respective runner-up finishes at Haydock and Ascot a week ago. However, it was hard not to have the eye drawn to the fast-finishing GHALYOON over 7f here last month. Marcus Tregoning’s charge was back from a layoff/wind operation and made rapid late ground to be second. He was keen early in that race and should be all the better for it. He’s only gone up 1lb and has scope for plenty improvement.
Tip: Ghalyoon @ 4/1
2.40 – Bombardier Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2, 5f)
This could be the race of the entire week! Norfolk winner The Lir Jet is joined by Molecomb scorer Steel Bull and Sacred, second best in both the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot (5f) and York’s Lowther Stakes (6f) on her last two starts.
Any of them could be the answer, though it’s somewhat disheartening that William Haggas’ filly settled for second prize in both those Group 2 events given she looked to be going best in both instances. Ventura Tormenta beat The Lir Jet in France in July but flopped last time in Ireland behind a few of these.
FRENETIC won’t be hanging around and her early speed could be decisive. She only just failed to give 3lb to Lowther winner Miss Amulet on penultimate run and has won again since in Ireland. She’s very consistent and will not be pegged back easily.
Tip: Frenetic @ 13/2
3.15 – bet365 Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2, 2m2f)
This is not a strong renewal of the Doncaster Cup, a fact highlighted by the lofty presence of Revolver in the betting. Sir Mark Prescott’s gritty performer began his six-race winning sequence at Pontefract in June off a mark of 57 and has rocketed up the ratings since. He’s admirable and should relish the stamina-test, but is he a group-race performer? He gets plenty weight from his elders and is a fascinating story.
RED VERDON loves it around Doncaster (2211 figures) and despite conceding a penalty for his Group 2 win at Longchamp in July, Frankie Dettori’s mount might prevail here at the main expense of Spanish Mission, winner of a Chester Listed even last month having made the switch to Andrew Balding’s yard after failing to get into the shake-up from the rear in the Goodwood Cup.
Tip: Red Verdon @ 6/1
3.45 – bet365 Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed, 7f)
One Ruler was very impressive in his Sandown success last month and the form of his debut second at that venue also reads well. He clocked a good time in his win and the Godolphin inmate deserves a tilt in this grade with further progress very likely. SPYCATCHER shaped like the best horse in the Acomb Stakes at York last month but was collared late by another promising rival in Gear Up. That Group 3 form is the best on offer and Karl Burke’s colt may go one better.
Tip: Spycatcher @ 7/2
4.15 – Gary Reid Memorial Maiden Stakes (7f)
Taravara (€300,000) and Cordouan (£105,000) cost plenty and both represent John Gosden on debut while fellow first-timers John Leeper and Tromso need close attention in this maiden. Tawaareq shaped nicely in fifth behind One Ruler (runs in previous race) on debut at Sandown last month but so, too, did Richard Hannon’s MUAY THAI at Ascot last week. He had to wait for his chance on the running rail and ran on quite nicely into a close third. The yard’s juveniles typically improve for a run and he won’t be far away in that scenario.
Tip: Muay Thai @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing
Preview of Day 3 of the St Leger Festival
The Doncaster Cup dates back to 1766, ten years further than the St Leger itself, and this two-mile-two-furlong endurance test will uncover any stamina chinks in all but the toughest performers.
The race was won in 2019 by the staying great of the modern era, the mighty Stradivarius for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. It was his second visit to Doncaster, having also finished a close third in the 2017 St Leger behind Capri.
MansionBet players can watch every race from Doncaster’s St Leger Festival via live streaming when logged into MansionBet UK.
The full Gentleman’s Day programme is below.
| TIME | RACE | DISTANCE | CONDITIONS/PRIZEMONEY |
| 1.10pm | British EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap Stakes | 1m4f | 3YO+ £30,000.00 Rating 81-100 |
| 1.40pm | Mallard Handicap Stakes | 1m6½f | 3YO+ £35,000.00 Rating 86-105 |
| 2.10pm | Handicap Stakes | 6½f | 3YO+ £25,000.00 Rating 86-105 |
| 2.40pm | Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2) | 5f | 2YO £60,000.00 |
| 3.15pm | Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) | 2m2f | 3YO+ £80,000.00 |
| 3.45pm | Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed) | 7f | 2YO £25,000.00 |
| 4.15pm | Maiden Stakes | 7f | 2YO £10,000.00 |
St Leger Festival Day 3: Gentleman’s Day Racecard September 11th 2020
A look at the make-up of the third afternoon at Doncaster’s St Leger Festival with information on all seven races and some previous winners of the feature events on Gentleman’s Day.
Race 1 – 1.10pm – BRITISH EBF PREMIER FILLIES’ HANDICAP STAKES (1m4f)
A fillies’ handicap to open the card on day three at Doncaster and with a ceiling rating of 100, a good chance to see home quality and potential pattern-race performers on the Town Moor turf.
| YEAR | WINNER | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2019 | Maybe Today | Simon Crisford | William Buick | 4/1 |
| 2018 | Lady Bergamot | James Fanshawe | George Wood | 10/1 |
| 2017 | What A Home | William Haggas | Paul Hanagan | 1/1fav |
Race 2 – 1.40pm – MALLARD HANDICAP STAKES (1m6½f)
A tough handicap here for horses aged three-years and up over the St Leger course and distance. Stamina is the order of the day for these smart stayers in the making.
| YEAR | WINNER | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2019 | Sleeping Lion | James Fanshawe | Jamie Spencer | 4/1 |
| 2018 | Just In Time | Alan King | Martin Harley | 12/1 |
| 2017 | Time To Study | Mark Johnston | PJ McDonald | 11/8fav |
Race 3 – 2.10pm – HANDICAP STAKES (6½f)
This six-and-a-half furlong handicap offers a middle ground challenge for those between sprinting and longer distances. It’s run on the straight course and is open to horses aged three-years and up with a rating up to and including 105.
| YEAR | WINNER | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2019 | Enjazaat | Owen Burrows | Jim Crowley | 6/1 |
| 2018 | Von Bloucher | Rebecca Menzies | Cam Hardie | 25/1 |
| 2017 | Amazour | Ismael Mohammed | James Doyle | 9/2 |
Race 4 – 2.40pm – FLYING CHILDERS STAKES (Group 2, 5f)
A Group 2 sprint over the minimum distance, the Flying Childers is a speed-test for the youngsters. Frankie Dettori’s 2019 success on board A’Ali set the veteran Italian rider on a benchmark six wins in this race – a record tally.
| YEAR | WINNER | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2019 | A’Ali | Simon Crisford | Frankie Dettori | 6/4 |
| 2018 | Soldier’s Call | Archie Watson | Danny Tudhope | 4/1 |
| 2017 | Heartache | Clive Cox | Ryan Moore | 6/4 |
Race 5 – 3.15pm – DONCASTER CUP STAKES (Group 2, 2m2f)
The oldest race currently run under the Rules of Horse Racing, the Doncaster Cup is an out-and-out stamina test over 2m2f and completes the ‘Stayers’ Triple Crown’ following the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Goodwood Cup. Stradivarius (2019) is the most recent horse to complete the Triple Crown.
| YEAR | WINNER | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2019 | Stradivarius | John Gosden | Frankie Dettori | 1/9fav |
| 2018 | Thomas Hobson | Willie Mullins | Ryan Moore | 2/1fav |
| 2017 | Desert Skyline | David Elsworth | Silvestre De Sousa | 2/1fav |
Race 6 – 3.45pm – FLYING SCOTSMAN STAKES (Listed, 7f)
The Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes over seven-furlongs is open to horses aged two-years and up and run over the straight course. It has the distinction of being the second stopping point in the career of the great Frankel, who won this event in 2010 when it was run as a conditions race before going on to end the season as champion two-year-old.
| YEAR | WINNER | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2019 | Molatham | Roger Varian | Jim Crowley | 1/1fav |
| 2018 | Sangarius | Sir Michael Stoute | Ryan Moore | 11/10fav |
| 2017 | Tip Two Win | Roger Teal | Adam Kirby | 11/2 |
Race 7 – 4.15pm – MAIDEN STAKES (7f)
As with the preceding Listed contest, it’s the young horses to the fore in the concluding event, with a two-year-old maiden over the straight seven-furlongs round out day three of the St Leger Festival.
| YEAR | WINNER | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 2019 | Raaeb | Saeed bin Suroor | Jim Crowley | 11/10fav |
| 2018 | Royal Marine | Saeed bin Suroor | Oisin Murphy | 11/2 |
| 2017 | N/A |
Betting on St Leger Festival Day 2 with MansionBet UK
Look out for MansionBet’s special offers and promotions for the St Leger Festival at Doncaster. We’ll have extra-place races, best odds guaranteed, new customer offers and our Beaten by a Head or Less money-back offer on selected races.
Also be sure to check out the racing section of our blog for daily tipping advice from our racing experts and brand ambassador Hayley Turner on the St Leger Day 3 racecard.
