Guide to the St Leger Festival Day 2

The first day of the St Leger Festival saw the recently retired Ted Durcan win the Leger Legends race on board Central City, who was having his first run for trainer Ian Williams. But Thursday is all about the ladies, the opening three contests are exclusives for fillies and/or mares and the 4.05pm is the Pro-Am Lady Riders’ Race. We’ve got all the races covered, which includes the four races live on ITV4 with our ITV Racing Tips featuring a pair of Group 2 contests.

Open looking May Hill

Won last season by the extremely tough and talented Laurens, Karl Burke bids for back to back successes with Divinity. She’s won her last two, but this is a big step up from Novice company for the daughter of Dutch Art. Saeed Bin Suroor’s Frankel filly, Dubai Beauty, made a very promising start to her career when winning at Newmarket on her debut, producing a good time-figure in the process. She may well be up to proving herself a high class filly on just her second start. Star Terms has won her last couple which included a very gutsy Nursery victory last time, rallying superbly after being headed to score by a length. The step up in trip looks as though it’ll really play to her strengths.

Pilaster bidding for four-timer in Park Hill

After a pair of facile successes in Novice company, Pilaster stepped up in trip and class at the Glorious Goodwood festival in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes, making no mistake once again. She stayed on stoutly to get the better of subsequent winner and St Leger bound Maid Up. A slight step up in distance again should prove no problem for the daughter of Nathaniel on that evidence and it would be no surprise to see her extend her winning streak for Roger Varian.

Races

1.50pm – British Stallion Studs EBF “Carrie Red” Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (Class 2) (6f 111y)

2.25pm – William Hill May Hill Stakes (Group 2) (1m)

3.00pm – DFS Park Hill Stakes (Group 2) (1m6f 115y)

3.35pm – Weatherbys Racing Bank £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (Class 2) (6f 111y)

4.05pm – Silk Series Lady Riders’ Handicap (Pro-Am Lady Riders’ Race) (Class 3) (6f 2y)

4.40pm – Mechanical Facilities Handicap (Class 2) (1m2f 43y)

5.10pm – DFS Handicap (Class 2) (7f 6y)

Going and Weather Report

Going: Good To Soft

Weather: Sunny intervals with a light breeze, possibility of showers in the afternoon, highs of 18°c

Market Movers

3.35pm Doncaster – Rathbone (16/1 into 9/1)

4.05pm Doncaster – Dougan (16/1 into 7/1)

Stat Of The Day

Roger Varian and Andrea Atzeni have an incredible 30% strike rate when teaming up together at Doncaster in the past 5 years, with a level stakes profit of £22.28. They combine with Pilaster (3.00pm) and Mystic Flight (5.10pm) today.