Saturday's Selections

A serious days racing in store this Saturday, with top class action on offer at both Leopardstown and Doncaster. It is Irish Champion Stakes day at the Dublin track, whilst the St.Leger is the big one in the North of England. As well as these two illustrious events there are plenty of high quality handicaps to be contested, and below are a few selections that look overpriced on the eve of what will be a truly Super Saturday.

5.45 Leopardstown: Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes

Golden Horn's bubble was burst last time out, and few would have predicted he would be available to back at 2/1 in this race a month ago. The going is currently given as good to firm, but there is lots of rain forecast and it is highly likely conditions will ease before the start of racing.

This will have a huge effect on the chances of most of this field, but one horse that is guaranteed to relish the rain is French superstar Cirrus Des Aigles. He has had just the two runs this year, and on his seasonal return he looked as good as ever on soft ground over this trip at Longchamp in the Prix Ganay. He made all and easily repelled the late challenge of Al Kazeem under Christophe Soumillon, who will ride again today.

His last run, behind Solow again at Longchamp over 9.5f on good, was not so good. But his trainer reported that he broke a shoe, and that combined with the good ground probably conspired to cause Cirrus Des Aigles to run below par.

The forecast rain will suit him better than most of his rivals, and he will arrive here a fresh horse haven been given a nice break since his last run. 12/1 looks huge for this multiple Group 1 winner, and whilst he admittedly is getting on a bit at 9yo, he looks worth giving one more chance to, especially if the ground turns soft.

STEVOS' SELECTION: CIRRUS DES AIGLES (12/1)



3.45 Doncaster: Group 1 St. Leger Stakes

The highlight of the flat season at Doncaster, and there are a number of intriguing contenders taking their chance. Order Of St George will be the choice of many after his spectacular performance last time at the Curragh, and he won't be worried if there is rain.

Storm The Stars has been seen as the ideal horse for this race by his trainer for some time, and he brings the strongest form into the race with his Voltiguer win and placed efforts in both the Epsom and Irish Derbies.

Bondi Beach also enters calculations after his controversial second place behind Storm The Stars at York, and it will be interesting to see if he can reverse the form. Personally I think Storm The Stars was going away at the finish, and he will be doing the same at the end of this race.

The Haggas horse looks to be a horse that relishes a battle, and it will take a good one to lower his colours in this race. He should have improved again after his last effort if his pedigree is to believed, and whilst many will be lured by the stylish manner of Order Of St.George's last two wins, it is important to remember  he was beaten fair and square by Bondi Beach on his last defeat.

Storm The Stars won't mind an ease, has the best form in the race and should be hard to beat. 5/2 looks a more than fair price and he is a confident selection to land the St.Leger for William Haggas and Pat Cosgrave.

STEVOS' SELECTION: STORM THE STARS (5/2)


2.35 Doncaster Portland Handicap

A hugely competitive sprint with 22 going to post and as usual there are a plethora of horses with serious chances. Finding the winner will be a difficult task, but there is one at a huge price that could be primed to run a big race.

Neville Bycroft is not a name that casual fans of racing will be too familiar with. The Yorkshire based trainer is no mug though, and he does very well with his relatively small string. He has Willbeme in this race, and Dale Swift will take the ride.

This mare shot up the ratings last season after a couple of decisive handicap wins, and she showed those efforts were no flukes with a couple of creditable efforts in pattern company afterwards.She returned to action this season off a career high mark of 97, and ran crackers in her first two races at York in big field handicaps. Her 2nd run in particular was superb off 96, and she was beaten less than 2 lengths into 3rd behind Monsieur Joe.

She went close in a conditions race on her next start at Beverley behind Pipers Note, and then she produced her first poor run of the season when drawn out in the car park off 98 in a good handicap at York. She ran well in another couple of decent conditions races (including one here), and last time at Beverley she was again drawn out wide when well beaten.

She returns to handicap company off a mark of 92, 4lbs lower than the mark she went close off at York. She is effective on ground ranging from good to soft to good to firm, so as long as there is no deluge before racing the ground will be fine. She is a course and distance winner and at odds of 33/1 she could be set for a bold show.

STEVOS' SELECTION: WILLBEME (33/1) E/W