The team assess the ITV action on Saturday with the St Leger being the highlight of two cards across Doncaster and Chester…

R1 - PJ Towey Construction Handicap (13:15 Doncaster)

While the in-form favourite Treble Tee arrives seeking to go one better following consecutive runner-up efforts, the St Leger day opener looks ideally suited to David Simcock's Cash. The six-year-old is taken to improve for the return to a straight, flat track having only been seen at Goodwood, Sandown, and Windsor since a highly impressive runner-up effort behind Chindit in Listed company at Ascot back in 2023 followed by a creditable ninth at long odds in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over the same track and trip. Friday's results have suggested that hold-up rides are favoured on the straight course on Town Moor, making Jamie Spencer's engagement an advantage. David Simcock's reputation as a Doncaster specialist is further reinforced in the statistics, boasting a solid 17.84% strike rate there since he started training, and a £14.04 profit to a £1 stake across all runners. As such, Cash gets the nod on handicap debut in the curtain raiser.

R2 - Betfred Champagne Stakes (13:50 Doncaster)

Oxagon is favoured over Gewan to claim the first Group contest of the day. While the latter arrives undefeated and in pursuit of the hat-trick, it is hard to place much weight in the form of his success in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York. The contest was falsely run, with Distant Storm pulling hard and Italy likely needing further. On the contrary, Oxagon performed creditably when fifth in a high-class maiden debuting at Newmarket before scoring in hugely impressive style second-up at Sandown by an eight-length margin. The runner-up in the aforementioned Sandown race subsequently won in an impressive time at Kempton, and with senior jockey Oisin Murphy replacing 5lb claimer Luke Catton, he makes plenty of appeal.

R3 - Virgin Bet Stand Cup Stakes (14:05 Chester)

Likeable veteran Hamish proved himself to be as good as ever when landing the Listed Tapster Stakes at Goodwood most recently and he is selected to maintain the strong form in Chester's Saturday feature. He is proven consistently at this level, boasting no less than ten Black Type successes, and good-to-soft conditions underfoot are also taken to suit. He stays further than the 1m4f on offer, and William Haggas' current 25% strike rate over the last two weeks is a further positive.

R4 - Betfred Portland (14:25 Doncaster)

While Jordan Electrics will have to overcome a difficult draw in stall 20, Jim Goldie's likeable veteran could represent some value around the 10/1 mark now back down to an official rating of 99. While the nine-year-old was tenderly handled on penultimate outing having found traffic in running at York, he followed that disappointing performance up with a much-improved effort at the same venue when fifth under a stronger ride most recently. The Mulrennan-Goldie combination know how to win this, having landed last year's renewal with American Affair. With the intermediate five-and-a-half-furlong trip taken to suit, he is capable of outrunning his odds.

R5 - Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Watergate Cup (14:40 Chester)

Irish raider Ndaawi is taken to land the spoils, switched back to the flat after being awarded the Grade 3 Galway Hurdle in the stewards' room on latest appearance. The five-year-old is highly progressive and has proven himself capable of big-day performances, registering placings in the

County Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival, and in the Fred Winter hurdle the year prior. Gordon Elliot's runner surely has more to offer.

R6 - Betfred Park Stakes (15:00 Doncaster)

While Shadow Of Light is certainly a worthy favourite with two Group 1 victories to his name, his most recent fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat renders him opposable given the manner in which he faded so quickly in the closing stages. The form of that contest hasn't quite worked out, with winner Woodshauna failing to back up next time out in the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest, and runner-up Maranoa Charlie running third in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes. King's Gamble could prove an interesting option instead, with first-time blinkers equipped taken to elicit some improvement if there is a sufficiently strong pace on the front end.

R7 - Betfred St Leger Stakes (15:40 Doncaster)

Saturday's Classic showpiece is a difficult race to read with the three Ballydoyle representatives hard to split. While Sean Levey has the plum ride of dual Derby winner Lambourn, he was incredibly disappointing when fifth on latest outing in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York. Stay True, likewise, was immature last time in the same contest and is hard to endorse in view of that performance. Preference instead goes to Carmers, who is likely improved for an educative run most recently at York when encouraged to drop in rather than being ridden prominently as he had been previously to good effect. With the Paddy Twomey yard operating at a 30% strike rate over the past 14 days, Carmers warrants serious consideration. Top-class stayer Scandinavia represents the main danger.