Today's Racing Tips: Mark Milligan's trio of bets on Day 2 of the St Leger Festival include an 11/2 fancy

Flying Scotsman Stakes, Doncaster, 13:15 - Back Rock Montreal @ 5/23.50

5 (7)

Rock Montreal (Ire)

• J: Ray Dawson
• T: Roger Varian
• F: 1

• SBK 2/1
• EXC 2.94

Rock Montreal created a big impression when winning his sole start at Yarmouth and now takes his chance in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes having skipped the Solario at Sandown a couple of weeks ago due to unsuitable ground.

Roger Varian's juvenile cost a small fortune and he gave every indication that he should be able to pay back his hefty price tag with interest when sent off a short-priced favourite on debut by the seaside last month.

Related to plenty of smart winners, Rock Montreal always travelled well on the heels of the leaders before posting blistering fractions through the final 2f to come home nearly three lengths clear for just hands-and-heels riding.

Timeform don't go around handing out their large P symbol too often, but Rock Montreal was given one on the back of that debut success and he looked every inch a pattern performer there.

Clearly well thought of, the selection holds a Dewhurst entry at Newmarket next month and I'm excited to se what he does as he takes the next step up the ladder here.

Notable winners from Mark in recent weeks

Asia Force @ 6/1
Zgharta @ 9/2
Pierian @ 10/3
Algaihabane @ 3/1
Kokbastau @ 11/4
Youdecide @ 15/8
Hoseki @ Evens

Flying Childers Stakes, Doncaster, 14:25 - Back Flann Sunna @ 11/26.50

5 (2)

Flann Sunna (Ire)

• J: William Buick
• T: Simon & Ed Crisford
• F: 115

• SBK 9/2
• EXC 6.2

I was really keen on Simon & Ed Crisford's juvenile Flann Sunna in the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and it was a massive disappointment that he ran so flat on the day having looked such an exciting prospect.

However, he was rather keen that day and the drop back from 6f to 5f here could be just what the doctor ordered.

The son of Blue Point had very much impressed when winning a maiden at Windsor on debut, pulling clear of a subsequent winner in the final furlong.

On the back of that he went to Ascot to contest a conditions contest, and he was arguably even more impressive as he once again showed a sharp turn of foot to settle matters late on. While the final time was nothing special, his closing sectionals were most taking and he was worth extra on top of the bare result.

Flann Sunna does need to bounce back from that lacklustre Goodwood effort, but I think he's well worth another chance to confirm his previous promise.

Mark's Bet of the Day: Doncaster, 15:35 - Back Silver Lake @ 2/13.00

3 (9)

Silver Lake

• J: James Doyle
• T: William Haggas
• F: 7-63111

• SBK 15/8
• EXC 2.92

The Willima Haggas-trained Sliver Lake is a filly very much on the up and her days in handicaps will be numbered if she completes a four-timer here.

The three-year-old daughter of Night Of Thunder took a few runs to put it all together, but she was off the mark in good style on her fourth outing (and handicap debut) at Salisbury in July, sustaining her effort to run down the pacesetter there.

Further success followed at two big summer festivals, where she took handicaps at Glorious Goodwood and the York Ebor meeting, doing particularly well in the latter considering she struggled to find room to open up while the second rather got first run on her.

The way she ate up the ground once in the clear at York suggests she could be even better as she steps up to 1m 4f for the first time and I'll be very surprised if she isn't contesting black type events before the season is out.

There are other promising fillies in this line-up, perhaps most notably Nochebuena, who herself is on the up and remains with plenty of potential, though whether she can deny Silver Lake is up for debate.

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