Antepost Racing Tips: Back Doncaster trio and take a chance on 33/1 St Leger pick

Thursday, Doncaster, 14:25 Oddschecker Handicap Tip: Back Besieged @ 5/16.00

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Besieged

• J: Lewis Edmunds
• T: Harry Charlton
• F: 221

With the St Leger meeting starting on Thursday, we have the added bonus of a couple of ante-post races that have been priced up early doors. The task for the 14:25 on the opening day is complicated by double entries for a handicap over the same distance on the Saturday.

I try not to get sucked into horses who dazzle with wide margin victories, but with the potential for the race to cut up - and I stress, potential - Besieged at 5/16.00 is kicking off his handicap career off the back of a 14L victory.

Fourteen wickets. At Salisbury.

Enable's half-brother was in the race and from the entries, quite a few went elsewhere to make it a very weak affair. That's the negative with the second who was 150/1151.00 but he got a lead into the race and lapped them all.

An opening mark of 93 sets the ball rolling and his trainer Harry Charlton is convinced he's a mile-and-a-half horse, but he's sticking to the 10f for Thursday.

This is a case of let's see what ya got and at 5/16.00, while he was exaggerated with the margin of victory in heavy at Salisbury, his previous Newbury form looks much better.

Saturday, Doncaster, 15:35, St Leger Tip: Back Piazza San Marco EW three places @ 33/134.00

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Piazza San Marco (Usa)

• J:
• T: Aidan O'Brien, Ireland
• F: 7146-3

The oldest Classic really needed Maltese Cross in the race but, without William Haggas' horse, Aidan O'Brien's Derby winner Christmas Day heads the market.

He doesn't do much for me at 13/82.63 and neither does Enceladus 5/23.50 as next best in the betting. He won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, but that was off a very steady pace.

It says something about the quality of the race that Pierre Bonnard 11/43.75 is the third favourite. He hasn't won this season, although he was two-lengths behind Maltese Cross at York, with Christmas Day a further two lengths behind.

The more I go down the list, the less I like.

The respected leaders in our great game have deserted the race. Gosden, Haggas and Appleby (Charlie) haven't got anything to run in it, and the more I look at the market and the race, I like the idea of backing an outsider.

Aidan O'Brien has five entries, and let's face it, without him these races would be left with meagre scraps. The possible stayer at his disposal here is Piazza San Marco.

As a juvenile he ran against Christmas Day in the Group 3 Eyefield Stakes - and he was a lot shorter than Christmas Day at 11/102.11 in the market that day.

He made the running and checked out a bit tamely. Whether that means he is going to be a pacemaker here is anyone's guess with how O'Brien has approached races this term. He could be sent in for a man-marking job, or be the reducer that accounted for Ombudsman at York.

But I want to take a chance at 33/134.00 here each-way with the three places as he only got going for the season in the Vinnie Roe over 1m6f last month and you'd hope he can improve for that first outing of the season. The fact his entries are over 2m for future engagements mean we could be looking at a strong stayer.

Leopardstown last month was steadily-run so, with O'Brien being somewhat unpredictable with his tactics this season, the unpredictable excites me a lot more.

Sunday, Doncaster, 15:40, Mallard Handicap Tip: Back Say What You See @ 4/15.00

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Say What You See (Ire)

• J: Billy Garritty
• T: Liam Bailey
• F: 1d-3521123

The much-missed Catchphrase has been replaced by the must-miss Celebrity Catchphrase. And its new host Stephen Mulhern is no Roy Walker who coined the line "See What You See" - after which our chum for Sunday gets his name.

See What You See's chances hinge at him trying this new distance for the Mallard at 1m6f, but I think he is well worth a shot.

At York last time behind Plage De Havre (rated 100) and French Duke, his third represents hot form behind that lofty pair, even more so considering where he came from at York. If Mr Chips had his prize grid, See What You See would have been nowhere in shot. Entering the straight, he was last with a wall of horses in front.

The eventual winner Plage De Havre was pretty silky, making his move ahead of See What You See, but at the point of the straight when the winner was travelling, See What You See was being pushed.

His final sectional furlong was faster than the winner and runner-up at 13.23 compared to 13.24 and 13.31 seconds and there was another four lengths to the fourth-placed horse.

At 4/15.00, there is no leeway with price but the better going will help and the 1m6f could draw further improvement out of him.

Perhaps Mulhern will be presenting the prize.

Alan Dudman's notable antepost winners in 2026

January: The Doyen Chief Kempton WON 7/2
Vincenzo, Ascot, WON 3/1
Scorsese, Cheltenham PLACED 12/1

February: Kalium, Ascot, PLACED 12/1
Montregard, Ascot, WON [6/]
Grand Geste, Haydock, EW WON 12/1
Lookaway, Kempton, EW WON 16/1

March: Pina Sonata, Kempton, WON 8/1

April: Favour And Fortune, Aintree, PLACED 14/1
Konfusion, Aintree, PLACED 12/1
Whip Cracker, Newbury, PLACED 10/1
Sarab Star, Haydock, PLACED 10/1
President Scottie, Perth, PLACED 12/1

May/June: Washington Heights, WON 5/1
Thundering On, Epsom, WON 11/2

July: Team Player PLACED 16/1

August: Calendar Girl EW WON 14/1

September: Fondo Blanco EW PLACED 16/1

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