Today's Racing Tips: Mark Milligan fancies Christmas to come early in Saturday's St Leger

Mark's Bet of the Day: Doncaster, 13:10 - Back Hmas Perth @ 4/15.00

An interesting maiden kicks off St Leger day and it could turn out to lie between two of racing's biggest superpowers, Coolmore and Godolphin.

With William Buick over in Canada to ride Notable Speech in the Woodbine Mile, champion jockey-elect Billy Loughnane picks up several high-profile rides for Charlie Appleby, starting with Al Jabbar here.

This one looked very much in need of the experience when second on debut at Newmarket and should come on a bundle for that, but I prefer the claims of Adain O'Brien's Hmas Perth, who himself showed plenty first up.

That came when third to a nice prospect over 7f at Galway and the son of Justify looks sure to benefit from stepping up to a mile here.

I'd actually have Hmas Perth as favourite and at 4/15.00 he looks the one to be with.

Notable winners from Mark in recent weeks

Asia Force @ 6/1
Zgharta @ 9/2
Pierian @ 10/3
Algaihabane @ 3/1
Kokbastau @ 11/4
Devil's Peak @ 2/1
Hoseki @ Evens

Portland Handicap, Doncaster, 14:20 - Back Toca Madera E/W @ 9/110.00

The Portland is often one of the most competitive sprint handicaps of the season and this year's renewal looks no exception, with plenty of the 22-strong field holding chances.

The draw is a tricky one to weigh up, but the percentage call is probably to side with one away from the extremes and Toca Madera fits the bill from stall 11.

David O'Meara's five-year-old has had a good season, recording a win over 5f at this track and finishing in the first four on another four occasions.

His most recent effort when second to Naana's Sparkle at Goodwood was up there with the best performances Toca Madera has posted this term and he'll come into this race right at the top of his game.

With five places available on the Betfair Sportsbook, an each play at 9/110.00 looks the way to go.

St Leger, Doncaster, 15:35 - Back Christmas Day @ 5/23.50

The O'Brien family are strongly represented in this year's final classic, with Aidan and son Joseph responsible for six of the 11 runners that go to post.

I've been with the highly progressive Enceladus on his last two starts and I didn't pass him over lightly as he attempts to take a further step up the ladder to secure his first Group 1 success.

However, this will be the toughest test of his credentials to date and I prefer the proven top-level form of Derby winner Christmas Day, who looks sure to relish this stiff test of stamina.

The son of Camelot was very much at home under stamina-sapping conditions at Epsom in June and was far from disgraced when second to stablemate Benenuto Cellini in the Irish Derby two starts back.

Christmas Day was then given a short break with this race in mind before returning for the Voltigeur at York, where a lack of match fitness seemed to find him out late on as he came home third to the most progressive Maltese Cross.

I expect that run to have put a real edge on the selection and I'm hopeful Christmas Day can provide his trainer with a remarkable tenth St Leger success.

Irish Champion Stakes, Leopardstown, 17:00 - Back Constitution River @ 13/82.63

On what could be a real red-letter day for the master of Ballydoyle, I'm taking star three-year-old Constitution River to overturn Juddmonte International form with Item.

Regular readers of this column will be well aware that Item did us a very big favour on the Knavemsire, but his previous York form very much factored into my thinking that day, while there's also a strong case that Constitution River wasn't seen to best effect, either.

This is effectively a 'home' game for Aidan O'Brien's son of talented son of Wootton Bassett and it would be no surprise if he resumes the progress he was showing prior to York, when a good winner of the French Derby and the Eclipse.

The selection got rather buzzed up on the Knavesmire, which can happen to horses there given the long walk over from the stables, and he took that buzziness into the race itself, not really settling for the first half of the contest despite the strong pace.

Obviously, his pre-race demeanour will be key here, but he'd not really shown those traits elsewhere and I'm quite prepared to just put it down to the 'York' factor.

I think we'll see a much different Constitution River this time.

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