A belting weekend ahead on both sides of the Irish Sea as Tom Stanley breaks down what he and our podcast team are backing on Saturday.

Saturdays don’t really come much bigger than this.

The St Leger and Irish Champion Stakes with other Group races galore and a belter of a handicap in the form of the Portland. We have an excellent team assembled to tackle it all too.

St Leger (15:35 Doncaster)

Nobody is getting behind the favourite for all that we’re not dead against him. Rixy’s point about fast ground being a concern for Hurricane Lane is a salient one, particularly given his price. Three of us are keen to have something on side in the without the favourite market whilst Donn is happy with Ottoman Emperor outright.

• Tom – Sir Lucan w/o fav
• Rixy – Scope Win & Place (each-way without Hurricane Lane)
• Donn – Ottoman Emperor
• Deasy – The Mediterranean (place) High Definition (win only in w/o market)

Portland Handicap (13:45 Doncaster)

Both mine ran at York last time, and this test should suit them better. Donn likes Jawwaal given his course form whilst Deasy is with last year’s winner win and place.

• Tom – Hurricane Ivor / Whenthedealinsdone
• Rixy – No bet
• Donn – Jawwaal
• Deasy – Stone Of Destiny (0.5 win/0.5 place)

Champagne Stakes (14:20 Doncaster)

Fair to say nobody is keen to get involved here bar me. I wouldn’t normally play at odds on, but I am surprised Reach For The Moon is the price he is (1.8) getting weight from Lusail. Proper horse.

• Tom – Reach For The Moon
• Rixy – No bet
• Donn – No bet
• Deasy – No bet

Park Stakes (15:00 Doncaster)

Rixy and Deasy are in opposition here about Laneqash. Deasy is also keen to take on Glorious Journey. I wouldn’t be as anti-Laneqash as Rixy, but I do think Danyah deserves small stakes support.

• Tom – Danyah
• Rixy – Lay Laneqash
• Donn – No Bet
• Deasy – Laneqash / Place lay Glorious Journey

Doncaster Best Bets

• Tom – Sir Lucan place
• Rixy – Scope w/o fav
• Donn – Ottoman Emperor
• Deasy – Laneqash

Bet Now

Irish Champion Stakes (14:45 Leopardstown)

Fascinating race, and I genuinely enjoyed listening to the guys debate this. Nobody going for the favourite, with Rixy going for the filly and Donn for Poetic Flare. Deasy wants to lay the latter up in trip. The tactical side to this is what makes it so interesting.

• Tom – no bet
• Rixy – Tarnawa
• Donn – Poetic Flare
• Deasy – Lay Poetic Flare

Champions Juvenile (13:10 Leopardstown)

Just two bets here. Rixy makes a strong case for current favourite Maritime Wings. I’d rather have the 9.0 available about Atomic Jones on side. He should certainly appreciate the extra furlong.

• Tom – Atomic Jones
• Rixy – Maritime Wings
• Donn – No Bet
• Deasy – No Bet

Matron Stakes (13:40 Leopardstown)

Deasy makes the strongest case here, and it’s a fair one for the favourite. Rixy takes advantage of the without market, and Donn likes the progressive second favourite (8.5).

• Tom – No bet
• Rixy – Dreamloper (without Mother Earth)
• Donn – Pearls Galore
• Deasy – Mother Earth

Boomerang Mile (14:10 Leopardstown)

The best bet for me here in the form of Maker Of Kings. Donn is in that camp too. The other guys are with Fev Rover, and Deasy is also going after one at a massive price at the time of recording.

• Tom – Maker Of Kings
• Rixy – Fev Rover
• Donn – Maker Of Kings
• Deasy – Fev Rover / Military Style

Leopardstown Best Bets

• Tom – Maker Of Kings
• Rixy – Tarnawa
• Donn – Poetic Flare
• Deasy – Mother Earth

Sunday Curragh

A couple of shouts in the Irish St Leger here. Rixy also suggests that there’s too much between Native Trail and Point Lonsdale in the betting for the National STakes (I agree for what it’s worth), but it’s difficult to commit to a bet without knowing the draw etc. One to keep an eye on.

• Donn – Sonnyboyliston
• Deasy – Amhran Na Bhfiann

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