Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 2 Tips: Jonquil to bloom on Friday

We enjoyed a strong start to the Betfred St Leger Festival thanks to a 9/1 place and 13/2 winner. Here’s to more of the same on Friday.

I’ve got another four Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 2 tips, including one for the retiring Sir Michael Stoute in a race he knows very well.

13:50 – Subsequent @ 5/2

The odds suggest this Class 2 handicap over 1m6½f revolves heavily around East India Dock, Subsequent and Shadow Dance – and I agree.

The former is likely to prove popular for an in-form yard with the peerless Ryan Moore booked, while the latter arrives off the back of a career-best success at York’s Ebor Festival and could easily have more to offer still.

However, I prefer the claims of Andrew Balding’s SUBSEQUENT.

The three-year-old son of Galileo has only had six runs to date, making him the least-exposed runner in this field of eight, and boasts a largely-progressive profile.

Most of his racing has been done over 1m2-1m4f, but he stepped up to 1m6f at Newmarket late last month and recorded the third win of his career, beating a small field by a widening length-and-a-half, seeing out the trip really well.

This lightly-raced gelding can take another step forward here with Oisin Murphy back in the plate.

14:25 – Jonquil @ 11/10

Next is the Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes, and I strongly fancy JONQUIL to provide trainer Sir Michael Stoute – who earlier this week announced his plan to retire at the end of the season – a record-extending sixth success in the race.

This two-year-old Lope De Vega colt was well-backed before his debut in a maiden at Sandown a fortnight ago and he defied trouble in running to get off the mark at the first attempt.

He was a little green out of the gates and suffered significant interference at the two-furlong pole, losing ground and momentum at a crucial stage, yet still managed to rattle home under the Ryan Moore drive.

That looked an above-average affair and he was worth a lot more than the official margin of victory, so it’s fair to say I was impressed. I suspect he’ll be a Group horse in no time.

Jonquil’s main rival according to the market is Charlie Appleby’s Symbol Of Honour, who returns from 87 days on the sidelines following a gelding operation, while it’s 17/2 bar.

Frankly, I’ll be disappointed if this one is beat.

15:00 – Magnum Force @ 9/4

Big Mojo will surely be a lot more comfortable back at five furlongs for the G2 Flying Childers Stakes, but I find it hard to look past Ger Lyons’ MAGNUM FORCE.

I’m not the first and I certainly won’t be the last to say it, but the two-year-old Mehmas colt was desperately unlucky in the Listed Julia Graves Roses Stakes at York’s Ebor Festival a few weeks back.

Not only was he stuck behind a wall of horses while travelling like a dream between two and one out, but he had to come from stall 16 all the way over to the far side following a slightly laboured break.

There’s no doubt in my mind that with more luck he’d have bolted up on the Knavesmire and as a result be no bigger than 2/1 here, so I make him a good bet at the quoted price.

Betfred are offering your stake back (up to £10) as a free bet if your selection for this race finishes 2nd.

17:20 – Wheels Of Fire @ 13/2

Lastly, I fancy Richard Hannon’s WHEELS OF FIRE in this six-furlong nursery handicap.

The son of Mehmas was handed an opening mark of 84 after performing well in defeat behind the likes of Jouncy (now rated 99) and Defence Minister (90) previously, and he broke his duck at Lingfield just a couple of weeks ago off that very rating.

He was 1/3f and the official margin of victory was just over a length, so the handicapper has left him alone. Understandably, given the runner-up is only rated 76, but I wouldn’t look too harshly at that effort for I’m not convinced he enjoyed racing over the minimum trip.

Back up in trip with stable jockey Sean Levey doing the steering for the first time, he ought to make a bold bid on his first crack at a handicap.

Betfred are offering your stake back (up to £10) as a free bet if your selection for this race finishes 2nd.

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