THE Ladbroke St Leger, Britain’s oldest Classic, takes centre stage at Doncaster this afternoon run over one mile six-and-a-half-furlongs. Ante post favourite for the race is the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Sea Moon, closely followed by the Godolphin entry Blue Bunting. Followers of the Stoute yard have had a lean time this season with the top trainer’s horses not on their best form, however, the Newmarket handler will be hoping his luck will change with Sea Moon. With regular jockey Ryan Moore still on the injured list, the 10 times champion trainer has booked Olivier Peslier to ride his charge. Aidan O’Brien had three runners entered for the Classic but will rely on Seville, who will need to improve a bit after his defeat by Sea Moon in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. Frankie Dettori’s mount Blue Bunting will be aided by a pacemaker in Rumh, who was supplemented earlier in the week to the tune of £45,000, No doubt on the day the Dettori factor could click in and the Godolphin runner could well start favourite. Champion trainer Richard Hannon runs Census and is not without a chance, recent winner at Newbury the trainer said he deserves his opportunity and will have the assistance of Richard Hughes in the saddle. Former Manton trainer John Gosden runs Masked Marvel who could be in the shake up but the columns selection is for the Sir Michael Stoute trained Sea Moon to help make up for lost ground. The meeting gets underway with the Group 2 Champagne Stakes for two year olds run over seven furlongs where the selection is the William Haggas trained Entifaadha the mount of Richard Hills, an impressive winner last time out. Later in the afternoon the Group 2 Park Stakes has attracted some useful performers including the Chris Wall-trained Premio Loco, the mount of local jockey George Baker and the column’s selection, the Roger Varien-trained Eton Forever. Attracting plenty of support for the Portland Handicap in the week has been the Roger Charlton-trained Zero Money, an impressive winner at Haydock last weekend. The Beckhampton trainer said: “He seems to have become a rejuvenated character, at last his trainer has found the right distance. “It’s always a pleasure to see horses improve every season and maybe one day he will be contesting Listed races.” As well as Doncaster, Channel 4 cameras will be at Goodwood for a couple of races, the Group 3 Select Stakes that could be won by Opera Gal, the mount of David Probert and the Listed Betfred Starlit Stakes, where local trainer Hannon would look to have a good chance with Monsieur Chevalier. Chester’s seven race card gets underway with the two year old York Brewery Maiden Stakes that could go to Chelsea Mick ridden by top northern pilot Graham Gibbons who could also land the following race on board Venutius, both for trainer Ed McMahon. Ffos Las has attracted plenty of runners for their seven race card while an even shorter trip down the M4 to Bath could see the locally trained Kathleen Kennet bidding for a three timer in the space of a couple of weeks. Should there be any money left in the kitty after a busy afternoon then Kempton’s evening meeting under lights gets underway at 5.55pm. Local trainer Adrian Chamberlain runs Genes Of A Dancer in the mile handicap ridden by the owner’s granddaughter Lucy Barry and could be worth supporting. THE highlight of the Doncaster St Leger meeting so far has to be the victory of Meeznah in the Group 2 Park Hill Stakes, beating hot favourite Set To Music. Ridden by Frankie Dettori she gave trainer David Lanagan the biggest victory of his training career and also ensured the Doncaster crowd a flying dismount from racing’s favourite jockey. The most valuable race of the week so far - the £300,000 Weatherbys Insurance Stakes for two year olds - was a family affair with the Aidan O’Brien trained Reply scooping the prize money ridden by son Joseph, who was riding only his second winner in Britain. Almost six foot tall, the 18-year-old jockey’s future could well be over the jumps. SIX-time champion jockey Kieran Fallon made it 100 winners for the season when he rode Miss Blink to victory at Lingfield recently. The veteran jockey moved into second place in the jockeys championship title after the victory, behind leader Paul Hanagan and relegated Silvestre de Sousa to third place. Bookmakers have cottoned on to the fact that the former champion could strike again and have cut his odds to lift the title. Reigning champ Hanagan, who had an epic battle with Richard Hughes for the title last season, will be looking over his shoulder again and dreading another battle with a senior jockey that could well go down to the wire. However a four timer in the week at Carlisle for the champion jockey has put him back in the driving seat and his odds have shortened considerably to regain his title. Fallon said: “Every time I won the championship I was always in front, I have never been chasing. “It’s going to be tough to beat Paul, as he has got a strong team, but I have as well, I am a fair few behind at this stage but I will keep trying.” Without a winner at the Doncaster meeting so far, Fallon reduced the arrears with a victory on Justbookie Dot Com at Wolverhampton’s evening meeting on Thursday. Fallon won his last title in 2003. GOODWOOD and Ffos Las are the venues for tomorrow’s racing, with the Goodwood card getting underway with a two mile handicap that could go to Seaside Sizzler - the mount of George Baker. Later in the afternoon the Baker quartet will be in action again in the seven furlong handicap with the horse named George Baker, trained by George Baker, owned by George Baker and partners and ridden by George Baker. A comfortable winner last time out, the quartet could well be in the winners enclosure again. Local Jockey Baker would appear to have several good rides during the afternoon and could go close on Shamaal Nibras and Satwa Laird for trainer Ed Dunlop and no doubt the several local owners of Spice Fair will be cheering him on in the Goodwood Racehorse Owners Groups Stakes. At the Welsh course champion jockey Paul Hanagan would look to be the one to follow with four rides for trainer Ed Dunlop and one in the last race, the Nikki Evans trained Steel Rain likely to be the best bet of the meeting.
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