Doncaster Day Two Racing Tips: Follow a Legacy to make us Rich at Donny

Tony Calvin
07 September 2016

Tony has two selections from the second day's action at the Doncaster St Leger meeting

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It's day two of the Doncaster St Leger meeting and here with his thoughts and selections for the afternoon action is our resident tipster Tony Calvin...

"She is a confident bet for me at the prices, for all that she takes on some unknown quantities in Blending and Hidden Steps, and some solid, improving types. I thought she'd be more of a 5/2 poke, so we are betting accordingly."

Back Rich Legacy at 5.59/2 in 14:30 at Doncaster

Rich Legacy was not seen to best effect behind Kilmah in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last time, and I make her a great bet at odds of 5.59/2 to underline that impression in the May Hill Stakes at 14:30.

Actually, let's not beat about the bush here. I thought she was given a poor ride there for a horse that took an age to warm to her task when winning a 7f maiden in a good time on the July course previously.

She was never given the room or opportunity to use that powerful stride of hers - or, to be fairer to the jockey, maybe she was simply a victim of circumstance - when consistently hemmed in on the rail at Goodwood, and by the time she got a bit of daylight the race was over.

She actually did remarkably well to get within 2 ½ lengths of the winner, and a just a nose behind Urban Fox in third - Tiburtina was fifth and Grecian Legacy last of seven - and I think the step to 1m on a more galloping track will bring out a lot of improvement, and see her comfortably come out best of the Goodwood quintet who re-oppose here.

She is a confident bet for me at the prices, for all that she takes on some unknown quantities in Blending and Hidden Steps, and some solid, improving types. I thought she'd be more of a 5/2 poke, so we are betting accordingly.

Highness looks tempting but we'll sit tight

Regular readers will know that I very rarely play in 2yo races - so twice in a day would be something - but the nursery at 13:55 also nearly lured me in.

William Haggas has his horses in outstanding form so it is easy to see his Rockfel entry Glitter Girl being very popular here. But Ripon winner Arwa is also well-regarded - she was a late non-runner in the Prestige - and you can't rule out any of the 12 runners, in truth.

However, the clock suggests we should be seriously considering the claims of Thirsk 5f soft-ground winner Norwegian Highness and Goodwood runner-up Money In My Pocket off their lowly marks.

I was particularly tempted by Norwegian Highness, even on drying ground, as her pedigree suggests that she should improve a fair deal for the step up to 6f110yd here. But I'll sit tight, as is my norm in this type of race.

Abingdon a worthy favourite in Park Hill

No shortage of juvenile action at Donny on Thursday as the £300k 2yo sales race at 15:40 has attracted 22-runners.

I think the form horses will have it between them - Spiritual Lady would be my main fancy, though Silvestre De Sousa will be doing his lightest on 8st 1lb - and as such I can't see much of an edge at the prices. No bet for me.

The betting for the Park Hill Stakes at 15:05 is unsurprisingly headed up by impressive York winner Abingdon at around the 9-4 mark.

This huge filly promises to take a big step forward now upped in trip, and that could see her hard to beat, even if last year's Leger winner Simple Verse would take some stopping if back to her best.

However, Simple Verse has disappointed badly on her last two starts - and her reappearance second probably isn't as good as it looked at the time as well - and it is hard to enthuse about any of the remainder, who are headed by the progressive California.

But the fact of the matter is that this is easily Abingdon's stiffest task to date, and she obviously hasn't been missed in the market.

Emerald can shine for each-way punters

I did a bit of on-course work with Derek Thompson at Haydock on Saturday and the only reason why I mention that - and normally I wouldn't, under any circumstances, even with thumbscrews applied - is that the Crownhotel-Bawtry.com handicap is at 16:15.

Thommo is infamous on Twitter for promoting this hotel and here is why:

Partridge, where are ya?

Poet's Word has gone up 10lb for his Goodwood success and will probably follow up - the form is working out well and the stable rate the horse - but I think Emerald could give him something to think about, even racing from 1lb out for the handicap.

He has improved for the fitting of blinkers and faster ground on his last two starts, and he is probably the each-way punt of the race if you want an interest.

I am keeping my powder dry there, too, though, as I am on what is a very interesting 2yo maiden at 16:50 featuring three horses who showed a lot of promise when second on their debuts and two newcomers who cost 725,000gns and 320,000 euros as yearlings.

Choose Beggar in Lucky last

Lucky Beggar is very interesting in the 18:00 on just his second start for David Griffiths.

He has plenty of good course form, including when seventh in the Portland here last year off a 13lb higher mark, and I thought he shaped pretty promisingly on his stable debut over 6f in the soft at Thirsk last time, travelling strongly in front for a long way.

He probably wouldn't want the ground too dry up too much, but good will be fine and he has won on fast ground, and he surely still possesses enough ability to be very competitive in sprint handicaps off a mark of just 83. In his pomp in 2014 he was rated 107, and I suspect we will see more patient tactics adopted than we saw at Thirsk.

Back him at 17.016/1 or bigger on a quiet punting day. It will get noisier as the week progresses, trust me.