Blue Hercules was too keen in his race, similar to last time out. Thunder Wonder was dreadful from the beginning.
Thunder Wonder left the stalls like she was half asleep, and then didn't get involved in the race at any stage.
Blue Hercules has ability, but he refuses to settle, which gives him a much lower chance of winning any race. This is probably why he is a maiden, but it doesn't help that they are trying to win these hard maiden races and bumping into smart-looking horses.
King Of Earth 6/1 – Doncaster 2.25
If King Of Earth arrived at Doncaster without the recent flop in a Group 3, then I think he would be at least half the price that he is currently at. The fact that he is 6/1 seems odd and a big overreaction.
If you can focus on his form from the Curragh on his handicap debut, then surely he gives himself a very good chance, especially if he's able to reproduce that type of performance. The form of that race looks strong, with the form boosted by those behind him. To go and win a handicap at the Curragh in a sixteen-runner event as an inexperienced horse is a big task, and he came through it with flying colours.
To add to this, William Haggas' yard is flying at present, and he can do very little wrong with his horses. He's placing his horses in the correct races a lot of the time.
Prizeland 4/1 – Doncaster 3.00
Another yard that can do little wrong is Andrew Balding's yard, and they have been the yard to follow this year. For that reason, I have no doubts about Prizeland getting hiked up in Class, because how can you doubt a trainer with the wins and form of Balding?
In all fairness, it is a decent climb through the ranks for Prizeland, but what we saw from her last time out at York, there's a strong possibility that she can cope with this rise.
York and Doncaster share a lot of similarities; in the same way, it's a left-handed, galloping track, so you'd like to think that she will be perfectly fine with Doncaster. She produced her career best at York, so I rate that as a positive for today's outing.
She has improved on every run this season, and she is getting better and better with experience and as she goes up in trip. This is another step up in trip by two and a half furlongs, but based on her pedigree and her running style, this should suit her to the ground.
Itica 9/2 – Doncaster 5.20
Wrapping up the day one of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster is Itica, who is also trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisin Murphy.
I can see why Itica isn't as fancied as I originally thought, but the money has started to come in for him. He is making his handicap debut after winning a Goodwood seller last time out, which is not the usual route for a three-year-old, especially in a race like this. That seller was a Class 3 seller, so it's not your usual crud on a poor day of racing, but it's still raising eyebrows.
Outside of the favourite, I don't think there are many horses in this race who have room for improvement off their handicap marks. Masterinthewoods is solid, but his run of second-placed finishes suggests that he is in the grips of the handicapper. Which is why I wanted to give a chance to Itica, who is making his handicap debut and is having his second run over a mile, with the first being a comfortable winner at Goodwood over a furlong less.
GambleAware