Guide to the St Leger Festival Day 4

Friday at the St Leger meeting was headlined by two impressive performances, with Solider’s Call winning the Flying Childers prior to Thomas Hobson gritting it out to win the Doncaster Cup. We’ll be looking for some more memorable performances on Saturday, with two John Gosden trained, Lord Llyod-Webber owned horses looked to cement themselves as stars. Our ITV Racing Tips cover all the action on what promises to be a memorable day of action, with the key points for tomorrow found below!

Lah Ti Dar looking for St Leger glory

There were plenty of targets named for the potential star that is Lah Ti Dar, with connections favouring a tilt at today’s St Leger. John Gosden’s extremely well-bred daughter of Dubawi arrives here after winning all three of her starts, returning from a break when blitzing the Galtres Stakes field at York in August. That run didn’t suggest that extra furlongs would inconvenience her and she has oozed class in all her runs thus far. She will, however, have perhaps the biggest battle of her career today when she stares eye to eye with Kew Gardens. Aidan O’Brien’s charge has taken off in recent starts and was a Group 1 winner in July, still unexposed as a stayer. He’ll be coming fast and late, hoping to usurp the hot favourite in the closing stages.

Champagne at the ready for Too Darn Hot

Just thirty-five minutes before Lah Ti Dar hits the track, the trio of Gosden, Dettori and Llyod-Webber will be cheering on a potential Derby candidate in the form of Too Darn Hot. Fittingly, he’s the brother of Lah Ti Dar, and is also unbeaten, albeit after two starts. He built on an impressive debut when engaging overdrive to win the Solario at Sandown two weeks ago, blitzing the field when Frankie gave him a squeeze. He’s already rated 116 and receives three pounds from his main market rival, the giant Dark Vision, who was bought by Godolphin after his win in the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Races

1.50pm – William Hill Portland Handicap (Class 2) (5f 143y)
2.25pm – Read Josephine Gordon Blog At unibet.co.uk/blog Handicap (Class 3) (1m 6f 87y)
3.00pm – Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Group 2) (7f 6y)
3.35pm – William Hill St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (1m 6f 115y)
4.10pm – Napoleons Casinos & Restaurants Nursery Handicap (Class 2) (1m)
4.45pm – P J Towey Construction Ltd Handicap (Class 2) (1m)
5.55pm – Cliff Stud Rearing Winners Handicap (Class 2) (1m 3f 197)

Going and Weather Report

Going: Good

Weather: Overcast but dry, highs of 18°c

Market Movers

3.35pm Doncaster – Loxley (9/1 into 13/2)

Stat Of The Day

Owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum has a brilliant strike-rate at Doncaster this season, with seven of his thirteen runners tasting success. He owns the pair of short-priced favourites Ostilio (4.45pm) and Dubawi Prince (5.55pm).