Horse Racing: Doncaster and Kempton Preview & Tips - Wednesday

Day One of the 4-day St Leger meeting kicks off on Wednesday at Doncaster with the wide-open looking Sceptre stakes being the highlight on a competitive day of racing.

Paying punters will be allowed back onto the track for the first time in almost six months at Town Moor this week for the world’s oldest classic.

Meanwhile, there is also a decent looking card at Kempton with a number of runners catching the eye.

So here’s our top tipster to look over these two top meetings as well as giving us his ones to watch and the Nap of the day.

Doncaster

13:40
7f Nursery Handicap (Class 2)

Ataser and Mayaas finished 1-2 in a similar handicap at York recently and look likely to be involved once more. The former always seemed to be doing enough last time but there is good reason to suggest the William Hagaas runner could reverse that form on better terms.

The Dark Angel colt was slowly away that day and the way he ran his race suggested the application of cheekpieces today should bring about more improvement.

Richard Fahey runners have to be respected after being successful in 2 of the last 4 renewals and he looks to have another live chance in the shape of Gumdrop.

He finished his race out well when a comfortable winner over 6f at Chester on his first handicap start to say this 7f trip will suit and should have more to offer.

Selection: Mayaas

14.10
5f Scarbrough Stakes (Listed)

This looks a good opportunity for the improving Moss Gill to record another victory.

The James Bethell runner has taken his form to another level this season with success at listed level at York and also posting a more than credible 3^rd place finish in the Group 1 Nunthorpe on his latest start.

This previous CD winner will have no issues with conditions and is a confident selection. Irish raider Urban Beat brings adds an interesting angle to the race and Dakota Gold has to be respected on the back of his effort at York just 3 days ago.

Selection: Moss Gill (NAP)

14.40
1m Leger Legends Classified Stakes (Class 5)

Hammer Gun has finished second n this race in the past and overall has a good record here at Doncaster with 2 wins and 2 places to his name from 7 starts.

Yes, he has been out of form recently but there as bit more to like about his recent run at the quick return to the track has been fruitful on many occasions in the past.

He has the profile of a horse who has been aimed at this at Richard Kingscote was successful on his only occasion riding in the past.The 3-year olds Late Arrival and Lexington Warfare look to be going the right way have to be respected while Frankie Dettori looks an interesting jockey booking for Rocca Magic.

Selection: Hammer Gun (Each Way)

15.15
7f Sceptre Fillies Stakes (Group 3)

Jubiloso and Mubtasimah both have strong form to give them every chance at there best here but neither looked great last time out and come with risks at the likely prices.

Cloak Of Spirits rarely runs a bad race and this consistent 3-year old is likely to be thereabouts once more if not in convinced by the drop to 7f.

Althiqa finished a respectable third in a Group 3 at Goodwood on his latest start and with just 5 career starts to date should have more to offer still.

The Charlie Appleby team are in excellent form at the moment and they look to have every chance of finding themselves another big race winner here.

Selection: Althiqa

15.45
1m 2f Handicap (Class 2)

Competitive looking stuff. Derevo looks the obvious place to start for the Sir Michael Stoute team, having been running well in similar to handicaps to this all season. He looks to have the potential to deliver in a race like this but needs to find more and is plenty short enough.

Sky Defender rarely runs a bad race which gives him little respite from the handicapper but with Oliver Stammers taking a valuable 7lb off his back on this occasion a big run looks on the cards.

Starcat stepped up on previous efforts when making his handicap debut at the Goodwood Festival. There was a lot like about how the Hughie Morrison runner finished his race that day and if able to have a more favourable run this time on this more conventional track should go close.

The Tongue-tie goes on for the first time and there looks plenty more improvement to come. Data Protection was victorious at Sandown last time but has more to do of a 4lb higher mark and the lightly raced Hypothetical needs to bounce back from a poor effort on handicap debut

Selection: Starcat (Next Best)

Kempton

13.55
1m 3f Handicap (Class 3)

This looks a good opportunity for Omnivega to record his third course victory.

The selection put in a good effort last time when finishing a close fourth in a stronger race than this at Ascot a reproduction of that effort should see him go close once more.

Win O`Clock was wide margin winner at Sandown last time out but could be flattered by the manor of that success and has to prove himself under different conditions.

Selection: Omnivega

14.25
1m Handicap (Class 3)

The trio of lightly raced runners, Itkaan, Raaed and Dark Spectre all look to have plenty more to offer from their current ratings but a chance is taken on Majestic Dawn returning in the same heart as last season.

He has some excellent form to his name in tough handicaps last season including a notable 5^th place finish in the Cambridgeshire.

Normally a prominent racer Charles Bishop could just be able to get his own in front with not much other likely pace angles on paper and he’s run respectably fresh prior.

Selection: Majestic Dawn