Doncaster’s St Leger meeting begins on Thursday, and the opening card features two Group Two contests at the top of the bill. The Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes and the May Hill Stakes headline a day that also includes a £300,000 prize for two-year-olds. Every race from all four days of the meeting is live on Sky Sports Racing, with additional coverage from Lingfield, Worcester and ParisLongchamp.
The meeting builds toward Saturday’s St Leger Classic, but Thursday offers its own drama. Nine runners line up for the Group Two Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at 3.00, led by Consent and Danielle. The Group Two Betfred May Hill Stakes at 3.35 features the unbeaten Musical Times stepping up in class. A big-field two-year-old contest at 1.50 rounds out the marquee races.
Park Hill: Danielle and Consent renew rivalry
Danielle finished fourth in this contest last year but ended her campaign with an emphatic nine-length win in Listed company at Doncaster in November. She added the Bronte Cup on her return this season before disappointing at Goodwood. William Buick rides her, and connections will hope she bounces back.
Consent was a neck second in this race last season before landing Group One honours in the Prix de Royallieu. She has struggled to match those highs since, and connections reach for the cheekpieces. The pair’s rivalry gives the race a clear narrative, but the field runs deeper than the top two.
Prizeland took the Galtres Stakes at York with plenty to spare and rates an each-way player. Waardah will enjoy any easing of the ground; she finished ahead of Danielle and Consent at Goodwood and must be feared if able to repeat the feat in a first-time hood. Fairy Glen was only beaten half a length in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May and would have claims if fit enough on her return.
May Hill: Musical Times heads up in grade
The Charlie Appleby-trained Musical Times arrives unbeaten in two starts and tops the betting under William Buick. She impressed on both outings, outpointing the reopposing Scommessa Sicura on debut at Newmarket before landing the odds at Yarmouth. This Group Two May Hill Stakes is a clear step up, but her form suggests she deserves the chance.
Scommessa Sicura has finished in the top two on all five starts to date and produced a career-best when second at Salisbury last month. Joseph O’Brien saddles Ballyskeagh, who ran a huge race to finish runner-up in a Group Three at Curragh over the mile. Speckles was fifth that day and may improve again.
The race shapes as a test of whether Musical Times’ obvious quality translates to graded company. Her two wins have been straightforward, but she has yet to face a field of this calibre.
Night In Vegas bids for another huge pot
The 1.50 Weatherbys £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes features a large field, and all eyes will be on Night In Vegas. The colt finished fifth in the Coventry at Royal Ascot before landing the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes on his last start. That form entitles him to be a short-priced favourite, and he is weighted to go close.
Plenty of others have chances. Mithaaly stepped up on his first two starts to win comfortably at Windsor and should be monitored in the market. Zigazig Ah took the Weatherbys Super Sprint at Newbury in July before failing to fire at Goodwood; she chased home Night In Vegas at Newmarket and looks capable of better. Seven Nation Army completes the shortlist.
The race is a betting spectacle as much as a sporting one, with the winner collecting a significant share of the £300,000 pot.
Elsewhere on Thursday’s card
The Sky Sports Racing cameras also head to Lingfield and Worcester. Marquessofanglesey has hit the crossbar a few times now and may make that experience finally count at Lingfield (3.15) under Rob Hornby.
At Worcester, Harry Cobden gets aboard former Cheltenham Festival runner-up Crebilly, taking on hat-trick seeker Youdecide and Snipe for the Skelton team (2.10).
There is British interest at ParisLongchamp in the Group Three Prix Gladiateur as Midak represents Ian Williams, taking on former Group One winner Double Major.
Key selections to note:
- Waardah finished ahead of Danielle and Consent at Goodwood and wears a first-time hood
- Fairy Glen was beaten half a length in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May
- Zigazig Ah chased home Night In Vegas at Newmarket after her Super Sprint win
- Ballyskeagh was runner-up in a Group Three at Curragh over the mile
Thursday’s key races at a glance
| Time | Track | Race | Headline names |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 | Doncaster | Weatherbys £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes | Night In Vegas, Mithaaly, Zigazig Ah |
| 2.10 | Worcester | Race | Crebilly, Youdecide, Snipe |
| 3.00 | Doncaster | Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes | Danielle, Consent, Prizeland |
| 3.15 | Lingfield | Race | Marquessofanglesey |
| 3.35 | Doncaster | Betfred May Hill Stakes | Musical Times, Scommessa Sicura, Ballyskeagh |
| N/A | ParisLongchamp | Prix Gladiateur | Midak, Double Major |
The opening day sets up a meeting that builds toward Saturday’s Classic. Thursday’s winners will carry momentum into the weekend.
The St Leger meeting runs through Saturday, with all four days live on Sky Sports Racing.
For punters, the day offers a mix of established stars and unexposed youngsters. Musical Times represents the classic prospect profile, while Consent and Danielle provide proven Group-level form. Night In Vegas carries the weight of expectation in the juvenile contest.
Source: skysports.com
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