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Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: St Leger Festival Tips Day 3

ST LEGER FESTIVAL SATURDAY TIPS

Doncaster 1.50 – Champagne Stakes

I’m going to go with Wolf Of Badenoch (7/2) here.

He was very green in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. I don’t think he particularly loved the track and he never really latched onto the field that well.

However, he absolutely flew home into second place and I think this horse has an awful lot of ability.

Wolf Of Badenoch would have learned a lot and the form is looking pretty good. Cool Hoof Luke came out next time to win the Gimcrack and we know Aomori City is a horse held in very high regard by Charlie Appleby and the team.

I think it was a good Vintage, and I just feel Wolf Of Badenoch could be the elite horse in this field. I was surprised he was 5/1 for this race, though that could change.

Of the couple who have an official rating, he has the highest and I think that returning to the track where he won his maiden can only be a help to him as well.

There’s lots to like about his chances in the first.

Megan’s Tip: Wolf Of Badenoch WIN

Doncaster 2.25 – The Portland

This is one of the trickiest handicaps of the season.

Sprint races are never particularly easy to work out but this one can be even more of a headache. It’s a massive field and it’s just always very competitive.

I like the chances of Walbank (14/1) here. He’s drawn in four and that’s going to dictate his path.

I was fortunate enough to ride this horse out at home a couple of weeks ago and he was absolutely thriving. He was really well in himself.

He ran well on his return at Goodwood over five furlongs, which was probably a bit sharp, so the five-and-a-half at Doncaster is absolutely ideal. I think this is a really nice opportunity for him.

If we are going to go for another at a slightly different part of the track then it would probably be Shagraan (13/2 fav), who has just been a model of consistency. He won again at Haydock last weekend and he’s just continuing to improve.

He’s coming from a higher draw so I’d be looking at two chances here in Walbank and Shagraan.

Megan’s Tip: Shagraan WIN; Walbank EW

### Doncaster 3.00 – [Park Stakes](/sports#racing/event/1021614062) **Kinross** (2/1 fav) is slightly hard to work out at the moment.

He wasn’t at his best in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood when well beaten. That form hasn’t worked out well, though we can probably forgive Audience and Art Power for their performances at York.

Kinross was outpaced early, but was the only one that really made up any ground. Was that good enough to be winning this race? In some respects, yes, but you’re looking at an older horse here who is fully exposed in comparison to plenty that are improvers.

There are a couple of three-year-olds that are definitely of interest.

One of those is Lead Artist (4/1). The quick ground at Goodwood really suited him. He does drop back to the seven furlongs but that doesn’t concern me.

I also thought he did well when winning the Thoroughbred Stakes last time. He kicked clear and I thought he was there to be had but he was tough in beating King’s Gamble.

I do think the ground is really important to this horse and there’s still potential improvement to come from him.

I also don’t mind the chances of Al Shabab Storm (10/1), who has been a big improver and his form this season is red hot all the way through. He’s beaten so many winners and is obviously a Group 3 winner in Germany last time out.

This is a really open race but I am going to go with Lead Artist, who gets his ground and he’s one of the young up-and-coming horses who is there to improve more so than a few of the others.

He also benefits from the three-year-old allowance, which has swayed me slightly.

Effectively, Lead Artist is 2lbs well in from Poet Master (8/1) if you wanted to compare it to official ratings.

Megan’s Tip: Lead Artist WIN

Doncaster 3.40 – St Leger Stakes

I absolutely love the fact that Ralph Beckett has supplemented You Got To Me (4/1) for the final Classic of the season, the St Leger. She’s going to be my pick.

We have some strong stayers from the Ballydoyle stable and it will allow jockey Hector Crouch to get a lead.

They will be aware that You Got To Me can be keen but, with the likes of really strong stayers like Illinois (7/4 fav) in here, they are going to want this to be a good gallop and it will allow Hector to get You Got To Me to relax.

She’s been better with more racing and she’s certainly been learning to race the right way.

I thought it was a good performance in defeat in the Yorkshire Oaks. Content put up a freakish performance having been so keen early on. They have form that ties in together previously.

I just think You Got To Me is so solid. She hasn’t done an awful lot wrong this season at all and she is getting better with more racing and I love the fact she’s been supplemented. Massive credit to her connections for taking the chance, which I think will pay off.

She’s ground versatile and she’s the classy act in the field and the boys have got her to beat.

Megan’s Tip: You Got To Me WIN

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

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