Doncaster's opening day provided some entertaining racing in the two G2s.
The May Hill involving nine 2yos was quite open and in the end went to Aylen by ¾ length to Andrew Balding's Lope de Vega colt with Pacific Mission and Sugar Island took the third spot.
The Park Hill f&m saw Santorini Star 7/1 win for Haggas-Marquand from Consent with the wonderfully named Crepe Suzette 10/1 third.
Friday has the Flying Childers G2 over 1000m with 10 runners and the O'Brien-Soumillon Mission Control on top on 9/4. Lady Iman disappointed last time out but there were excuses so she is on 4/1 and we still like Argentine Tango as a roughie on 14/1.
The Howard Wright Doncaster Cup G2 in memory of our good friend and colleague is over 3600m with 8 to run and we are going a little bit wide here and putting in Pendragon 7/1 for Prescott-Morris ahead of Sweet William who won this last year but can be anything but sweet and he's on 11/8 and Hipop de Loire who could be heading to Melbourne on 5/1 for Mullens-Buick.
On Saturday the big day's card includes the Champagne Stakes G2 for 2yo c&g over 1400m and the undefeated Night of Thunder colt Gewan looks likely to continue his winning ways for Balding- P J McDonald. Oxagon however won his last outing by eight lengths – he's by Frankel out of a Dubawi mare – and is on 2/1 for the Gosdens and Oisin Murphy, We like Puerto Rico – a bit wider out but he's by Wooton Bassett and on 17/2 for Aidan O'Brien and Sean Levey.
The Park Stakes G2 is over 1400m with 11 runners and Ten Bob Tony looks like he can make more than ten bob in this – he's on 9/2 for Walker-Shoemark. Shadow of Light has Loughnane riding for Charlie Appleby here and they are on 11/8. Andrew Balding saddles Marvelman on 13/2 with Oisin Murphy on board.
The St Leger itself – the last of the Classics for 2025 – is over 2900m, G1 and with a field of seven. The O'Brien runners Scandinavia and Lambourn are both well placed here. Scandinavia is on 11/8 with Tom Marquand riding and he won the Goodwood Cup recently. Lambourn is on 9/4 and has a couple of derbies under his girth and Levey rides. We also have been watching Further as he moves up the ladder and he'll have to make a big move in this but looks capable of it and we like the 12/1. Balding and Oisin Murphy the responsible adults.
