Thursday ITV racing tips: Best bets for Doncaster St Leger Festival on day one

The ITV cameras will be showing four races on Thursday, including two Group 2s - May Hill Stakes (1500) and the Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (1535).

We will start off with a quick run through our tips, with the reasons why we've picked them further down the page.

We've also picked selections for the four races that ITV aren't covering, because we are nice like that.

If you fancy a punt or two, check out the Planet Sport race centre which will show you all the live odds, racecards and results.

Doncaster specials in all races: Bet minimum £20+ cash on any runner to earn a £5 free bet, or a £20 free bet for every £100+ cash, if the favourite wins the race (click to see qualifying terms and t&cs)

Good luck and please gamble responsibly.

(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)

 

Thursday's Doncaster selections:

(ITV races in bold)

13:25 (Doncaster) Strong Johnson

13:50 (Doncaster) Chic Columbine

14:25 (Doncaster) Dragon Leader

15:00 (Doncaster) Darnation

15:35 (Doncaster) Sumo Sam

16:10 (Doncaster) Iron Lion

16:45 (Doncaster) City Streak

17:20 (Doncaster) Spanish Blaze

 

13:25 (Doncaster) Strong Johnson

Strong Johnson is expected to be competitive off current mark and justifies favouritism after scoring at Redcar before finishing a close second at Ripon.

The seven-year-old is best over this distance and will be a leading contender.

Rambuso Creek is worth considering based on a Pontefract third and fourth in the last two outings, while Speedacus holds each-way claims after a fourth at the Newmarket July course among similar competition.

 

13:50 (Doncaster) Chic Columbine

Chic Columbine makes a swift return to action in the British Stallion Studs EBF ‘Carrie Red’ Fillies’ Nursery Handicap.

A very cosy winner at Haydock last week, she lines up under a 6lb penalty but is still 3lb well in as the handicapper has hiked her to a mark of 83 after her three-and-a-quarter-length strike.

William Buick rides this George Boughey-trained two-year-old.

 

14:25 (Doncaster) Dragon Leader

Easy ground would be a bit of a question mark for Dragon Leader in the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes, but he remains a tentative pick.

Unbeaten in three runs so far, Dragon Leader was deeply impressive in winning a similar heat to this at York last month, although that victory came on good to firm ground, which appears unlikely here.

Nevertheless, Dragon Leader sneaks in at the bottom of the weights which gives him an edge over the likes of Johannes Brahms.

 

15:00 (Doncaster) Darnation

 

Darnation can make a seamless transition to both Group Two company and a mile in the Betfred May Hill Stakes.

Hailing from the in-form Karl Burke yard, this daughter of Too Darn Hot is yet another classy juvenile for the team that landed the Moyglare Stud Stakes with Fallen Angel last weekend.

While Darnation has yet to reach those Group One heights, her three runs to date have oozed potential, stepping up from a debut third to hack up by 10 lengths in a soft-ground Thirsk maiden.

Immediately upped to Group Three level for the Prestige at Goodwood, Darnation again thrived with cut in the ground as she cruised home by two lengths despite a slightly tardy start, with the reopposing Hard To Resist back in third.

That rival could pose a serious threat again this time having endured a troubled passage, but Darnation appeared to win with a fair bit in hand and looked as though a mile would be well within her compass given how she stayed on in the final furlong.

 

15:35 (Doncaster) Sumo Sam

Sumo Sam was also a Goodwood winner on her most recent start, when she benefitted from an excellent front-running ride by Tom Marquand to run out a wide-margin winner of the Lillie Langtry Stakes.

The ground was very deep that day which certainly played to her strengths and conditions could again be on the easy side on Town Moor, where she will this time be partnered by Rossa Ryan.

Her rivals are unlikely to let her steal as big an early advantage as at Goodwood, but Sumo Sam seems to have found her niche at this 14-furlong distance.

 

16:10 (Doncaster) Iron Lion

Iron Lion impressed when winning at Doncaster last month and can follow up in the Hippo Bamboo Wipes Handicap.

He starts handicap life on a a perch of 84 after thriving with cut when triumphing over 10 furlongs.

 

16:45 (Doncaster) City Streak

City Streak produced an impressive success at Ascot over a mile and half and has strong claims if he can find that form, Oisin Murphy in the saddle will help.

In The Breeze is a consistent type. Two wins and two placings from the past four outings including a victory at Haydock Park. The step up in trip won't pose a problem.

El Jasor and Vaguely Royal are in with each-way shouts.

 

17:20 (Doncaster) Spanish Blaze

Spanish Blaze is going from strength to strength and caught the eye with victory at Sandown Park over 7f at the start of September.

Nellie Leylax carries top weight and is bidding for a hat-trick following successes at Haydock and Doncaster on softer ground. Will be in the mix.

Politico hold each-way claims after success at Chester in early September.

 

READ MORE: The 2023 Group 1 race calendar and results for the UK and Ireland Flat seasons