Doncaster St Leger Meeting / Geoffrey Riddle / 12 September 2009 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet View Market

Geoffrey Riddle is in the hot seat for the fourth day of Doncaster's St Leger meeting to talk you through all the action on and off the track, and to bring you all the up-to-date information from Town Moor. E-mail him your thoughts, questions and tips on: theriddleratbetfair@gmail.com.

5.35pm
With that ride on Precision Break, Kieren Fallon confirmed himself as the top jockey of the week, crowning a sensational comeback to race-riding. He won five races in all.

Doncaster has also witnessed this week the comeback of Godolphin, who seem to be laying all before them at the moment. For once, they can start to look forward to next season with hope, rather than trepidation. The likes of Al Zir, Poet's Voice and Sand Vixen, all winners this week on Town Moor, showed what a good crop of youngsters the Dubai-based operation have right now.

It's been a good few days, folks, even if I didn't like Doncaster's charms. We're back down south for the next airing of the blog, the September festival at Ascot. See you then.

5.15pm result:
1: Precision Break
2: Falcon Rock
I feel very, very, very small. Precision Break quite clearly went on the going there. He galloped all the way to the line. At least of I've learnt something there, and I'm not necessarily talking about humility. At least those of you who kept the faith with Precision Break got a good price. He went off 4-1 on course.

5.05pm
Precision Break's 16th in the Ebor at York was informative because it was the third time that he has run on good to firm, and not even reached the places. I've got nothing against the Luca Cumani/Kieren Fallon pairing, it's just that for a second time today, I think they are being overbet.

If you look at Quai D'Orsay's form over 12 furlongs on good to firm, you'll see that he has quite the best credentials in the race. He was just found out the last two times that he tried 1m6f, and last time out at Ascot he wasn't ridden aggressively enough on soft ground.

With Joe Fanning in the saddle, that is unlikely to be a problem, and with Precision Break teeing up the prices for us, Quai D'Orsay looks a good price at [4.1]. He's back over his favourite trip, and he's come down the handicap, too.

4.40pm result:
1: Azizi
2: Baltimore Clipper
3: Start Right
Azizi certainly was that much better than the rest! And the way he was held up by jockey Richard Hills meant his price drifted out to a whopping [4.5] in running. It was a taking performance, and he battled well to get past Baltimore Clipper and Start Right and won pretty easily.

4.30pm:
Mister Angry is entered in the Racing Post Trophy. He is the only horse in the line-up of the next race to have such a lofty target. His style of running is that of a typical Mark Johnston horse in that he is likely to make all. With that in mind, Mister Angry looks like a classic back-to-lay proposition, and at [9.0] there should be significant mileage in doing so.

Azizi's second to Red Badge is the best form on offer here, and William Haggas's colt is well clear on Timeform ratings. It's the oldest horse in the race, too, which can be of importance in these juvenile races. The mount of Richard Hills is currently [2.62], which is almost the same price as Poet's Voice was in the first. Is it that much better than the field? I'm not so sure.

4.05pm
1: Manassas
2: Balcarce Nov
3: Secrecy
Isn't it great when a plan comes to fruition? Manassas looked very much in control around two furlongs out, but was pushed by Secrecy and Balcarce Nov inside the final furlong. Dane O'Neill kept on finding more from Brain Meehan's runner, and it won with a bit in hand I think. It was 10-1 on course, but Betfair punters could have got [18.0] before the off.

Swop was under pressure very early on. Well done to Ian who laid it for a decent amount of money at [2.46].

3.55pm
I can't have this Swop for toffee. I know Luca Cumani and Kieren Fallon have won four from six together since the former champion jockey returned to race-riding, but I really don't think it has the form in the book.

It's been traded down from [12.0] into [8.2], and it's trading at 5-1 on-course. It will probably get shorter. I'm laying it for a place. There's several in there to fancy.

We'll Come has been winning handicaps for fun recently, and Brief Encounter and Espiritu have strong claims. Then there's the Royal Hunt Cup pair, as discussed earlier.

Jeez, Godolphin could run a donkey in this right now, and still win, such is their streak of form here today. Secrecy is better than that, and don't forget that Frankie is now in the irons.

3.45pm
I've just seen a replay of the Irish St Leger, in which the mighty Yeats got beat by Alandi. Such a shame, but with his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, over here, and the going soft, the great stayer was always a lay.

O'Brien watched the Donny St Leger in the weighing room, but was non-committal afterwards when his Changingoftheguard found virtually nothing having sat fourth throughout the race.

"Listen, Changingoftheguard was in the right place throughout the race," said the great trainer. "I don't really know what happened at this stage, we'll have to look into it and see."

With Godolphin getting the 1-2 in the St Leger, has the worm turned? Ballydoyle haven't picked up a Classic this season...

3.35pm result:
1: Duff
2: Cat Junior
3: Arabian Gleam
That was an enterprising ride from Fran Berry. Berry settled Duff on the stand's side rail, presumably after that side won the Portland Handicap. The other jockeys ignored him and followed Frankie Dettori up the middle. It looked a sage move, as the field swamped Duff around a furlong and a half out. At that stage some lucky punter managed to get £9 on Duff at [1000.0]. That's not a typo either.

But Berry galvanised his mount and the pair stayed on well. Eggs on faces there...

3.35pm
Earlier I mentioned that Poet's Voice might need to learn to settle better if he was to get a mile, and Simon Crisford was keen to embroider the theory. "Poet's Voice jumps out of the gate too well and that works against him because he really wants to get some cover," he said. "He is like his grandfather Dubai Millennium in that he wants to go like the wind and he's probably going half a stride too quick."

Although the Dewhurst at Newmarket is the target, Crisford mentioned the juvenile race at the Arc meeting, which is a furlong shorter, as a possible alternative. "He'd be better with cover but that has not worked out in his last three runs," he continued. "It would be nice to employ different tactics with him. He'll be seen again this year and the Dewhurst and the Prix-Jean Luc Lagadere in France would both be options."

The layers don't think much of the win though. Elusive Pimpernel, who beat Poet's Voice at York in the Acomb is as short as 12-1 with the high street layers. On Betfair though, he's out to [25.0] to back and [28.0] to lay. Poet's Voice is [24.0] to back and [32.0] to lay.

3pm result - The St Leger
1: Mastery
2: Kite Wood
3: Monitor Closely
Mastery preferred the ground, Kite Wood didn't seems to be the synopsis of the race according to connections. Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor had hinted as much in today's Post when he said that he wouldn't be surprised if the Godolphin second string finished ahead of Kite Wood, and so it proved.

"We are thrilled to bits," said Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager. "I wouldn't say Mastery was completely overlooked, but we were a little surprised."

Frankie Dettori was disconsolate afterwards and offered up: "I was just beaten by a better horse, it is simple as that."

Saeed Bin Suroor was seen hugging Sheikh Mohammed after the race and Bin Suroor kept on shouting "Sulamani, Sulamani", which was the sire of the winner. Sulamani was a Godolphin horse don't forget. Kite Wood was sired by Galileo. Hmmmm

2.25pm - Portland result
1: Santo Padre
2: Everymanforhimself
3: Captain Dunne
4: Green Manalishi
5: Ishetoo
6: Oldjoesaid

Seagull strikes! The old master nailed it down in his Pricewise column this morning. The geriatric, but brilliant Gerald Delamere also highlighted it his column. He said that the Irish raider would appreciate the ground, despite having won on soft, because the gelding is by Elnadim, and all his siblings liked it.

Frankie Dettori made an interesting comment after winning on Poet's Voice in the Champagne Stakes. "The going is the same as it has been all week here. It's perfect ground."

Now as highlighted earlier, Saeed Bin Suroor said that the going was too firm for Poet's Voice when he finished third in the Acomb at the Ebor Meeting at York. The Godolphin team have obviously had a conflab about the ground and believe that it is ok. They wouldn't be running Kite Wood in the St Leger if they didn't think it was safe, and everything else said about the colt has been positive.

2.20pm
I'm coming round to Markhab's chances in the Portland.He was drawn on the wrong side in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, where he was first home on the near side. the race couldn't have worked out much better to be honest, with seven subsequent winners, which included Markhab's win in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon. In that race he dipped a second under Racing Post standard and only just held on, suggesting that this trip is ideal.

"Markhab will be challenged for the lead," writes Fran, who I'm not sure is either a boy or a girl. Perhaps it's that South African 800m runner in disguise.

Anyway, Fran makes a good point. "Everyone is saying that Henry Candy's yard is not in form, but he's had a fair few seconds in the last fortnight, so things can't be that bad."
For the record, Candy hasn't had a winner for 28 days, which takes in 27 runners since Markhab's win at Ripon.

2.10pm
Max has just e-mail in. Apparently he can't stand my "southern snobbery" about baby Talbot, which was blogged at midday. "The aspersions you cast about poor baby Talbot are scandalous!", he huffs. "The child is a mere twelve hours old but he has already felt the wrath of your Southern snobbery." Maxwell then gets all literary. "What was it Wordsworth said: "Shades of the prison house..."

My aspersions! What about the Biblical manner in which the Doncaster executive are dolling out membership to their racecourse in some sort of induction, or initiation ceremony. they'll be giving membership to the racecourse to all first born children next. I think it's disgusting. It's like grooming. Perhaps Racing For Change should sit up and take notice...

1.55pm result:
1: Poet's Voice
2: Viscount Nelson
Poet's Voice strikes a body blow to the layers! There was very little doubt as Frankie Dettori guided the Godolphin charge to win easily from Mount Nelson. He took a keen hold though, and in future he will need to settle better if he is to stay a mile, as he was being reeled in by Johnny Murtagh in the final furlong.

Straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. The intrepid Timeform radio man, Chris, walked with Aidan O'Brien back from the parade ring. "Why are you here, Aidan, and not in Ireland for Yeats?" Chris asked. "Well, we've got three horses in the first race," the master of Ballydoyle said. "And Changingoftheguard in the St Leger. You've got to go where you've got the greatest chance of winning haven't you?"

Does that mean Yeats is a lay in the Irish St Leger?

1.40pm
Aidan O'Brien just swanned in, most likely having arrived by helicopter. He was mobbed by autograph hunters. It suggests that he means business with his three runners in the first, Viscount Nelson, Await The Dawn and Emperor Claudius.

It also means that he's sweet on Changingoftheguard in the St Leger, because the wonder stayer Yeats runs over in Ireland. Perhaps he thinks the old boy is going to get beat. Ladbrokes' PR supremo Mike Dillon certainly thinks so.

Ken Pitterson, the paddock judge who gave us Sand Vixen yesterday, is mightily impressed by the look of the Ballydoyle entry Await The Dawn. He said: "He's a massive individual. He is not 100 per cent fit though, it's pretty hard to get something that bit fit, but if he fills out, he'll be a good horse next year."

Pitterson was quite taken by Godolphin's Poet's Voice, who is still 6-4 on course, a price which is reflected in the [2.58] on Betfair. He also thought the Mark Johnston runner Layali Al Andalus looked well. It was interesting to note that Deidre Johnston, and not her husband saddled the son of Halling.

12.50pm
The military band has started up and is marching up and down the track right now. I went into the ring to have a look how they are betting on the first. Poet's Voice is a steady 6-4, although one layer had the temerity to step out of line and go 13-8. The price evaporated within moments. There's an hour until the first race.

Interesting line from Saeed Bin Suroor in today's Post about Poet's Voice. Godolphin were fully expecting to win the Acomb at York, judging by the trainer's comments, but the former policeman said: "The ground was too fast for him." He still ran a huge race though, particularly when you add in the fact that he lacerated his gums in the stalls when he burst out before having to be reloaded. Poet's Voice was streaming blood when he came into the winners' enclosure that day. I'[d like to see Usain Bolt win the 100meteres with blood pouring out of his mouth...

It is Deidre Johnson's comments about her husband's Layali Al Andalus that catches the eye. Her colt smashed the track record here on his penultimate start, and has the same conditions again. Those shrewd chaps at Timeform rate him second, only a few pounds behind Poet's Voice, and he gets the 'p' indicating improvement is likely. He's fourth favourite, and his running style suggests he will up with the pace. Perhaps he's a back-to-lay in-running?

12.30pm
Secrecy. It's a chilling word isn't it? Well there has been some covert operations on board the Godolphin runner in the 4.05pm.

For some reason, Ted Durcan was inked in the paper to ride the son of King's Best in the mile handicap. Now the assumption was that Frankie Dettori rides in France tomorrow and had to get away, or perhaps that he couldn't do the weight of 8st8lbs. The gelding, who has had just two runs to date, has been a big drifter on Betfair. From [6.6] to [9.8]. But at the declarations in the Steward's room, Frankie Dettori's name was scribbled on the horse.

Have we a back-to-lay opportunity here?

In that race I've had a good look at the pair who contested the Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot, Mahadee and Manassas. The latter is of more interest to me, purely because after only eight career starts, there must be plenty more to come.

Brian Meehan's four-year-old clearly loves fast ground, and if you look at his Hunt Cup run, he was drawn on the wrong side. The first horse to come home on the far side that day, Lovelace, finished ninth, and Mahadee and Manassas finished second and third on that side in tenth and 11th.

Manassas won the Spring Cup here in March, and has similar conditions again. He looks a big price at [14.0]

Midday:
Judging by the e-mails over the past few days, I'm apparently being a bit harsh on Doncaster as a town. I've had nothing but praise for the racecourse, but several of you have sent in e-mails about my distaste for the place. Well what about this then. In a long-standing tradition, Doncaster racecourse gives out lifetime membership to the first-born child in the town on St Leger day.

Good old Thomas Peter Talbot, who weighed-in at 8lbs 10oz at 12.13am this morning, gets to receive his lifetime membership at the track on September 12 2025. So far so good. But who are his proud parents? Toni Bowman and Thomas Talbot! Now I'm not making any judgements about naming children after their parents, nor about marriage, but really...surely only in Donny.

11.45am
A warm welcome to you all on Day Four from Town Moor. Say that like the annoying Geordie voiceover from Big Brother. I say a warm welcome, but really, it's a hot welcome. I'm no weatherman, but I'd guess that it is around 25c here, with barely a breath of wind.

A lazy clarinet soloist adds to the flaccid atmosphere that prevails here today. I don't know why there isn't more of a buzz on course at the moment. Perhaps it'll all pick up later on.

The racing bursts into life at 1.55pm this afternoon thanks to Channel 4 wanting early coverage. The card kicks off with the Champagne Stakes, and Poet's Voice is all the rage in the offices, and on Betfair. The Godolphin juvenile has been hammered in from [3.15] into [2.52] and over half of the £113k matched on the race has been for the favourite.

The other springer today is Pavershooz, in the Portland Handicap at 2.25pm. The great and the good have tipped it, ranging from the great Seagull in his Pricewise Column, to Graham Cunningham on this website.

The strangest person to have tipped it up was a mysterious character in my newsagent at 6am this morning. All the papers had to be carried in, and I was a little desperate at that time in the morning to get my hands on a Racing Post (yes, I still buy it). I helped the newsagent carry all the dailies in (heavy work, I can tell you), and was I watched all the time by this fellow, who was wearing the strange combination of paint-spackled tracksuit bottoms, a football shirt, and a rather large Rolex.

"Pavershooz will win the Portland today," was his opening gambit. I barely registered what he was saying, but then he added. "Put it in a double with Millfield, who runs on September 23rd..."

What the hell? Who is this guy? Very strange.

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