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St Leger Festival Doncaster Tips: Racing best bets, expert picks, Lucky 15 multiple & Placepot tips
Our all-in-one preview pulls together the best Sunday bets from our expert team, a suggested Placepot permutation and a recommended multiple.
Our experts' best bets
Giavellotto - 4.45 Curragh (Ben Linfoot)
Marco Botti's GIAVELLOTTO looks to have improved significantly at five and a mile and three-quarters around the Curragh in Sunday's Group 1 Comer Group International Irish St. Leger is perfect for him. Kyprios might be odds-on favourite, but I think he’s vulnerable to a very good horse over the distance and Giavellotto is just that.
Imperial Guard – 5.25 Doncaster (Ian Ogg)
The handicapper has left the door ajar for IMPERIAL GUARD who is 3lbs lower than when making his handicap debut in April. He's been learning on the job, often racing too keenly, but looked to be getting his act together with solid runs at Yarmouth and Newmarket in decent handicaps. Little went right in the Shergar Cup (in a race won by a smart sort) where he got no cover and raced prominently before weakening and the run is best ignored. Although this represents a marked drop in grade, Imperial Guard will need to make the hoped for improvement but he's a colt with scope to progress up the ranks and this looks a good place to start.
Recommended multiple: Lucky 15
1.50 Curragh - Strike Red
STRIKE RED has recaptured his form after a lull, running well in the Stewards' Cup before pushing Elmonjed close at York and a 1lb rise leaves him well enough treated for his return to the Curragh where he won his sole start in July of last year. The ground was soft on that occasion but he's versatile and looks primed to go well in a contest his yard has won on a couple of occasions.
2.05 Doncaster – Venture Capital
An entry in the Ayr Gold Cup takes the eye for VENTURE CAPITAL whose first two victories came over seven furlongs. That does race a question about this return to five furlongs for the first time since debut but he's relished racing over six furlongs the last twice and beat everything bar a smart one at Ascot when last seen. He has enough speed to think he can cope with this test.
2.40 Doncaster – Ten Pounds
A 9lb rise obviously makes life harder for TEN POUNDS but he completed his hat-trick in fine style at Newcastle, leaving the impression that it wouldn't be long until he was contesting pattern races. The different surface holds no fears given his win at Leicester and promising debut at Newbury where the exciting Jarraaf was only one place ahead of him with the useful pair Monkey Island and Mount Teide the first two. He can complete his four-timer.
4.15 Doncaster – Orazio
A half-brother to Ten Pounds, ORAZIO hasn't won as many races as his talent deserves but his career high mark shows that he's continued to perform to a high level. That was certainly the case over C&D on his reappearance and at Royal Ascot with two no shows either side of those runs. This test is expected to suit and he's fancied to put his best foot forwards.
Timeform race-by-race verdicts
2.05 Doncaster
GOOD EARTH arrives in fine form and showed a fine attitude when scoring at Sandown last time. He gets the nod in what looks a competitive opener. Brave Nation and Venture Capital head the list of dangers.
2.40 Doncaster
A hot 3-y-o handicap, with Harry Charlton's TEN POUNDS fancied to extend his winning sequence to 4, looking every inch a smart prospect when scoring at Newcastle last month. Spanish Blaze caught the eye when a running-on fifth at Sandown last time, with Newmarket winner Fifty Nifty, one of several who look open to improvement, completing the shortlist.
3.15 Doncaster
FAIR ANGELLICA upped her game to land a listed contest in Deauville last time and is well worth a chance to follow up at the possible expense of Queen of Mougins. Vetiver and Elim are others to consider in an open-looking event.
3.45 Doncaster
TERRIES ROYALE is a lightly-raced 4-y-o with a largely progressive profile who might be able to follow up last week's Ascot success. There are many possible dangers, headed by Tactical Control for last year's winning stable and Craig Lidster pair Finn Ironside and Crown's Lady.
4.15 Doncaster
TACARIB BAY has only narrowly been denied on his last 2 starts, beaten a nose by a course specialist at Ascot on his latest outing, so he is taken to get back to winning ways this time around. King's Lynn arrives in good heart and can make his presence felt once more, with Knebworth also considered.
4.50 Doncaster
Plenty to consider but MINERS GAMBLE produced a career-best effort when successful at Musselburgh 3 weeks ago and given his pedigree, this step up in trip could unlock even more. Bowood has made a faultless start for Ivan Furtado so he has to command respect, along the in-form veteran Young Fire.
5.25 Doncaster
ARAMRAM ran well when third under this rider at Goodwood last time, travelling smoothly for a long way after the missing break, and gets the vote up against mostly exposed rivals. Dickieburd was a good second off this mark at York last week so rates a threat along with Havana Pusey, who only just failed at Windsor 3 weeks ago.
Suggested Placepot permutation
Leg 1: 5 and 9
Leg 2: 2
Leg 3: 6 and 8
Leg 4: 1 and 3
Leg 5: 1 and 2
Leg 6: 7 and 16
Perm: 2x1x2x2x2x2= 32 lines
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