Simon Holt best bets and tips for Doncaster day two
Top commentator Simon Holt is backing two horses on day two of the William Hill St Leger Festival at Doncaster including Richard Hughes' Winter Light.
Recommended Bets
2pts win Winter Light in 1.50 Doncaster at 11/2
2pts win Sand Share in 2.25 Doncaster at 9/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Racing on the second day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster begins with the often competitive British Stallion Studs EBF 'Carrie Red' Fillies Nursery Handicap, but I wonder if WINTER LIGHT has been let in lightly by the handicapper.
More often the not, the official assessors are pretty much on the money, but a case can be made for the Richard Hughes'-trained daughter of Bated Breath deserving a higher mark than 84.
A promising second to the now 94-rated Heartwarming at Sandown first time out before chasing home Magnetic Charm (a runner in the May Hill, also rated 94) at Newbury where she was not knocked about in the closing stages, Winter Light subsequently opened her account in fine style at Brighton.
It looks as if the handicapper has allowed for no improvement on the latter occasion yet runner-up King's Girl, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and beaten near four lengths, looks at the very least an 80-rated filly judged on her debut fourth behind Firelight and Lady Aria (both now 100) at Newmarket.
Moreover, the Brighton third Starchant is a pretty solid 72-rated filly (earlier form this season was better) and, if the normal 3lbs for a length over a sprint distance was applied, that would put Winter Light closer to 90.
A half-sister to useful 95-rated handicapper Zap, who acts on good to soft ground and stays seven furlongs, Ryan Moore's mount must go close.
Likely danger Lady Cosette has claims on her third to another May Hill runner Accordance at Goodwood, and subsequent second to the possibly smart Bye Bye Hong Kong at Windsor, but connections now reach for the blinkers and she has possibly been holding something back.
On pedigree, Accordance should appreciate the step up to a mile in the May Hill though she was run down late on by Antonia De Vega on a return to Goodwood (7f) in Group Three company just over two weeks ago and a line through third-placed Chynna gives her something to find with Aidan O'Brien's two representatives Peach Tree and Fleeting, who were second and third behind stable-mate Just Wonderful (Chynna fourth) at The Curragh just 12 days ago.
Ralph Beckett, who sent out Rich Legacy to win this race two years ago and is the trainer of Antonia de Vega, could have a good line on the quality of this race and it is more than interesting that his Kempton winner SAND SHARE takes a big step up in class.
On the bare form, this Khalid Abdullah-owned filly will need to improve given that Deira Surprise, the runner-up that day, has been beaten in a nursery subsequently but it was the manner of the victory which was so taking.
A good-looking daughter of Oasis Dream, Sand Share took some time to find her stride but was given a most sympathetic ride by Richard Kingscote who merely pushed her out with hands and heels to assert in the seventh furlong and win tidily.
Now ridden by Harry Bentley, one suspects there could be massive improvement to come and, with her useful dam Shared Account staying at least a mile and a quarter and adept with cut in the ground, conditions should pose no problem.
Godolphin's Dubai Beauty also made a taking winning debut, at Newmarket, and could be anything with a pedigree to die for by Frankel out of the listed-placed Street Cry mare Minidress.
However, the runner-up Posted was well beaten subsequently in that Goodwood race won by Antonia de Vega.