Saturday Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets including 35/1 St Leger fancy

Doncaster, 13:45 - Back Breacher E/W @ 7/18.00

Cracksman colt Breacher has impressed in two races to date and still appears to be very much a work-in-progress with a promising future for the William Muir and Chris Grassick team. 

He finished strongly in the Solario Stakes when beaten a length by Alfred Wallace when last seen at Sandown, in his first try at Stakes level following an impressive Salisbury maiden success on debut.

There should be further improvement to come from the colt and he makes appeal at the prices under Lewis Edmunds.

Doncaster, 14:20 - Back Super Soldier E/W @ 50/151.00

There are plenty of horses to make a case for in this hugely competitive handicap, but Super Soldier is difficult to ignore at a huge price of 50/151.00 for Karl Burke. He's making his first start as a gelding from a mark of 97 with 3lb claimer Jack Nicholls aboard, and, although his latest form figures do not make him an attractive proposition in the race, there are reasons to believe he could fare better and the pick of his form gives him a chance.

His latest run was in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot in which he was sent off at odds of 250/1251.00, but he had previously caught the eye in defeat at York when failing to get a favourable trip in a 22-runner handicap won by Thunder Call. He was entitled to improve for that outing in his first start for 77 days, and can be forgiven for a disappointing return to action here in March too.

Last term, the son of Dark Angel was highly-tried in tough company, shaping with great promise as a juvenile. He won on debut at Leicester before being narrowly denied in both of his subsequent starts by Wise Approach at Ascot and Graft in a Listed Chantilly contest.

The grey was just touched off by Green Sense at Group Two level and was a creditable fourth to Mission Central in his final start of the campaign in which he earned himself a career-high rating of 103. He could be capable of outrunning his odds and may be worth keeping the faith in at a price for an in-form yard.

Doncaster, 14:55 - Back Flora Of Bermuda E/W @ SP

Flora Of Bermuda has Group One level form coming into this race but does need to prove herself at this level of 7f and bounce back following a disappointing effort in the City Of York Stakes. She did have excuses for her latest outing on the Knavesmire, and when tailed off in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, therefore shouldn't be discounted having won all three of her other starts this term, including when beating Sayidah Dariyan over this distance at Goodwood. 

The likeable filly is a formidable horse on her day when things fall favourably for her, and, dropping in grade here, she should make her presence felt if getting off to a good start from the stalls under Callum Rodriguez.

St Leger, Doncaster, 15:35 - Back Pierre Bonnard @ 11/43.75

A Group One winner as a juvenile, Pierre Bonnard shaped with plenty of promise during his debut campaign and appeared the physical type to improve with age and as he matured.

He is yet to get off the mark this season and disappointed in the Derby at Epsom, but has run well in defeat on occasion finishing a two-length third in the Irish Derby before chasing home the talented Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur Stakes when last seen.

This is his first try over an extended mile-and-three-quarters but he has stayed on well enough over a mile-and-a-half to suggest this extra distance could suit and he's by Camelot out of New Approach mare Sultanina, who won over 1m4f and has produced Park Hill runner-up Crepe Suzette.

Notable winners from Katie in recent weeks

• Majestic Wave @ 7/1
• Who's Glen @ 15/2
• Brian @ 11/2
• Zgharta @ 5/1
• Sunriseontheboyne @ 11/1
• Land Of The Giants @ 9/2
• Giant @ 20/1
• Abundant @ 6/1
• Mia Fantasia @ 5/1
• Balon d'Or @ 5/1
• Fizzy Cristal @ 15/2

St Leger, Doncaster, 15:35 - Back Amelia Earhart E/W @ 35/136.00

Amelia Earhart is another Aidan O'Brien-trained contender to consider at a price in this Classic. She enhanced her Oaks claims with an impressive victory in the Cheshire Oaks in her opening run of the season, subsequently sent off as the 7/42.75 favourite at Epsom, but disappointed and has been difficult to place since.

Beaten only half-a-length in a Cork Group Three when last seen was an improvement and she seemed to find a second win late on that day, finishing strongly over a mile-and-a-half. Her first try over this distance at Goodwood wasn't a success but she was up against some tough older opponents that day including Waardah, who won the Park Hill on Thursday here, far from disgraced in fifth.

Whilst this requires further improvement and is a difficult task for the filly against the boys, she is also out of Camelot, a noteworthy sire of staying types who was denied the Triple Crown in the 2012 renewal of this contest, and is a sister to Chester Cup winner Cleveland, therefore should have stamina in abundance.

Chester, 15:50 - Back Box To Box E/W @ SP

Course-and-distance winner Box To Box has valuable track form in his favour as he bids for a seventh career win in this extended mile-and-a-quarter contest. He's 6lb higher than his latest success but was only just denied in this race twelve months ago when rated 2lb higher on a mark of 90, therefore a case can be made at the weights for the experienced gelding.

The seven-year-old contender is entitled to improve for his return to action at Windsor last month when sixth to City Of Poets following a 334-day absence, and should take a step forward back in these familiar surroundings. He's one to note for the Hugo Palmer yard on the Roodee and may be worth sticking with.

Bet of the day: Leopardstown, 15:55 - Back Precise @ 2/13.00

Although she has been beaten twice by favourite Blue Bolt this term, Precise could make it third time lucky back on home turf in this Group One contest. She was only narrowly denied by Rayif and Zeus Olympios when an excellent close third against the boys in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last month and could still be improving.

The four-time Group One winner who landed the Irish 1,000 Guineas earlier this term is an excellent performer for Ballydoyle and has been hugely consistent following a below par reappearance at Newmarket this season. She possesses plenty of talent and ability and can pose a threat once again, with only half-a-length to find with her reopposing rival from when the pair last met in France.

Doncaster, 16:15 - Back River King E/W @ 14/115.00

Richard Hannon-trained River King is far from exposed coming into his ninth racecourse start and could still be well-treated from an unchanged mark of 95. He was a creditable fifth to Mezcala in the 28-runner Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, handling the 8lb rise for a Newbury success well upped in class in a hugely competitive contest. 

The four-year-old gelding has shown snippets of good form and could still be capable of showing further progression and on an upward trajectory, making plenty of appeal back over a mile.

Leopardstown, 16:25 - Back Expanded E/W @ 10/111.00

Equipped with first-time cheekpieces in the hands of Pierre-Charles Boudot, Expanded shouldn't be discounted for Aidan O'Brien. Things haven't quite worked out well for the son of Wootton Bassett during his career to date, but he's still lightly-raced and could have further improvement to come.

As a juvenile, he finished a close second to Shadow Of Light in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes in only his second career start, finishing ahead of the talented, sadly ill-fated Ancient Truth. He was sent off at odds of 5/16.00 for the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas won by Ruling Court but couldn't make an impression, and didn't land a blow in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh either, absent for 112 days subsequently.

This year, Expanded returned in better order with a second-placed finish to stablemate The Lion In Winter, who was a Group One performer on his day, in a Listed Leopardstown reappearance, and was only narrowly denied at Naas when last seen. This requires a further step forward but he may still be improving and, although returning from a break once again, could have more to give in headgear.

Doncaster, 16:48 - Back Flying Frontier E/W @ 14/115.00

Flying Frontier is currently 5lb lower than his last win and, although he's yet to land a success this term, he has caught the eye in defeat, therefore could be worth keeping the faith in for James Tate.

The six-year-old, who makes his 18th career start in this mile-and-a-quarter handicap, may prove dangerous from a workable rating under Tom Marquand. He possesses ability and this assignment could well suit for an in-form yard.

Leopardstown, 18:10 - Back Pink Oxalis E/W @ 16/117.00

Pinx Oxalis won this race by a comfortable margin twelve months ago when rated 85. She's currently 1lb higher but has Jack Kearney claiming 3lb in the saddle, putting her in with solid each-way claims at the weights as she bids to retain her title.

The likeable mare hasn't been hugely consistent this term but has shown she still retains plenty of ability on occasion with placed efforts. She has dropped from a rating of 94 and has proven form in this race in her favour, therefore warrants consideration for Stephen Thorne and could pose a threat.

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