Saturday 13th September 2014

If you put just one horse in your notebook / tracker this week ensure its Great Hall. Trained by John Quinn, Great Hall looked on his way back based on yesterday’s confidence boosting effort.

Great Hall was held up at the rear of the field for the entire journey, he was seen moving very well but wasn’t in a position to get competitive at the business end of the race.

Towards the last two furlongs he was asked to improve but the leaders were long gone at this stage. Given just a hands and heels ride Great Hall made a good ten lengths up finishing just behind the placed horses. Clearly all the ability still remains and I would expect him to be ridden differently next time out and go close at a nice price.

The strong confidence in Estimate was never in doubt, jockey Ryan Moore was always sitting pretty on the Queen’s horse and won the Doncaster Cup with ease. It should have been a nice double on the day but Danzeno gave the race away by failing to settle and hanging in the final furlong.

Danzeno will be a classy sprinter once he matures, he can pick up a Group 2 prize at the very least, keep following him.

On to today:

I’ve mentioned Muthmir on his last two runs, won and fifth, I know the William Haggas yard think he’s Group Class and a very smart sprinter. Although backed heavily at Goodwood last time Muthmir could only finish 5^th but things didn’t drop his way during the race, failed to get any cover.

I’m hopeful Paul Hanagan can place him just behind the pace and come with a late challenge towards the business end of the race, we will need luck in running whilst the horse would likely prefer rattling fast ground but he should go very well and is held in the highest regard. The 9-2 EW with 5 places on offer looks fine.

Aljamaaheer steps up a furlong in the 3:15 at Doncaster, Roger Varian has campaigned the horse at sprinting this season and seen him run with credit in some big races. However Aljamaaheer was always doing his best work late and looked in need of an extra furlong.

Today’s trip looks perfect on paper, I think Aljamaaheer has a good chance of getting back to winning ways, priced at 2-1.

The main feature of the day is of course the St Leger, the race revolves around Kingston Hill who has eventually been allowed to line-up. Kingston Hill form is far better than anything else, if the horse stays the trip he will take all the beating.

However If you take the favourite out or don’t think he will stay there’s a lot of EW value to be had, especially with horses who’ve already proven they get one mile six. I’m having couple of small EW bets on Kings Fete 10-1 & Alex My Boy 20-1.

Kings Fete has always been very well thought of and apparently works like a machine at home. I’m hopeful with Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle he can get the Sir Michael Stoute runner settled better than James Doyle has so far.

Kings Fete ran a cracker at Goodwood last time considering how free the horse was, he pulled James Doyle’s arms out for majority but only just failed. He clearly gets the trip and did ever so well after wasting so much energy. With the best jockey in the business riding for the first time Kings Fete looks a fair price, EW at 10-1.

If I’m backing Kings Fete it makes sense to also be with Alex My Boy who beat the previous at Goodwood. Both selections finished behind Forever Now who also lines up but I think they can improve past that one who had the run of the race at Goodwood.

Alex My Boy is getting better with each run, he looks a strong stayer with a turn of foot and is battle hardened over the distance, this is a good profile for the St Leger. The 20-1 EW looks very fair, if he or Kings Fete can finish in the 3 a profit is made.