Hollie Doyle, our resident ambassador, shares her insights on the action at Town Moor, offering her perspective on the Doncaster Cup as well as the Flying Childers and Flying Scotsman contests. With uncertainty looming over the marquee attraction Caballo De Mar in the Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (3.00) at Doncaster this Friday, all eyes are turning to Aidan O'Brien, who appears poised to claim the prize for the first time in eighteen years.
The legendary trainer from Ballydoyle has not secured a win in this marathon since Honolulu triumphed in 2008, a full twelve months after Septimus delivered his solitary historic victory. Yet Doyle believes that Queenstown, under the experienced hands of Ryan Moore, will restore the trainer’s dominance after the horse’s recent Group Three win at The Curragh last month.
The six‑year‑old gelding must now build on that success to avenge a previous defeat by Caballo De Mar in last autumn’s Prix du Cadran. Doyle is confident that the son of the great Galileo can rise to the occasion, especially given the conditions that seem tailor‑made for him in this Group Two contest.
There is no doubt about the credentials of George Scott’s likely favourite, a horse boasting two Group One victories on his record. However, he will need to rebound from two puzzling performances in the Gold Cup and the Lonsdale Cup at York last month, where he faded quickly after a promising start. While the Doncaster Cup tests stamina above all, the Group Two Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (2.25), contested over five furlongs, is a pure speed exhibition. Richard Hannon’s Pershaada possesses the raw pace required, and Doyle notes that her trainer has a strong history at this meeting.
The horse offers a prime chance for Middleham Park Racing’s daughter of Persian Force to secure her second Group win of the season after a dazzling display in the Group Three Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, where she pulled away from a solid field that included the subsequent Listed winner Sale Shark. Pershaada fell short against older, more seasoned sprinters in the Nunthorpe at York, but she remains a benchmark for her own generation, especially with the talented Sean Levey aboard.
Doyle also points out that Aidan O'Brien’s Carry The Flag may be slightly underrated. After delivering strong fractions in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville, the colt was only beaten by two lengths on soft ground, suggesting he could be a serious contender over the minimum distance of the Flying Childers.
Another standout is Forgotten Fire, who impressed with a debut win in a Salisbury novice race. Doyle expects the Andrew Balding‑trained filly to step up in class with ease in the Listed Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes (1.15) on Friday.
Jeff Smith’s home‑bred displayed a champion‑like attitude when she dominated rivals over six furlongs, and her impeccable pedigree—being a half‑sister to Group winners See The Fire and Venetian Prince and out of Juddmonte International victor Arabian Queen—should help her handle the longer trip. Godolphin’s Nabati is likely to be a popular pick among punters as he moves up in grade. His sole defeat came in a narrow loss when he challenged Arapaho Gold in the Listed Rose Bowl at Newbury, a race ultimately won by Michael Dods’ colt in the Gimcrack. Charlie Appleby’s son of Night Of Thunder could be a dark horse, as hinted by his entry in the Group One Middle Park, but Doyle feels that Forbidden Fire will ignite the turf at Town Moor.
The British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap (3.35) on Friday promises fierce competition. Doyle highlights Ralph Beckett’s Nochebuena as a standout. The filly, a novice winner over the same course and distance in June, narrowly missed holding on in a strong fillies’ race at Ascot the following month, a contest won by Hoseki. That encouraging handicap debut suggests a modest four‑pound increase may not be enough to stop her from claiming this prize.
A viable alternative is Marco Botti’s Golden Muse, a filly Doyle once backed at Wolverhampton in early spring. Though still early in her turf career, she showed promise over a shorter trip at this venue earlier in the year. Veteran jockeys will be thrilled to take part in the Betfred Leger Legends Classified Stakes (1.50) at Doncaster on Friday. The excitement of returning to the track will be palpable, and Doyle predicts that the recently retired Joe Fanning could become the toast of Town Moor.
Fanning, who concluded an illustrious career this summer, will ride Joe Parr’s Wield, a horse that finished strongly over a mile at Southwell in its last outing. Replicating that performance on turf could see the pair succeed on their eighth attempt. Sammy Joe Bell, a three‑time winner of this race, is expected to perform well again, this time paired with Michael Herrington’s Anthropologist, an All‑Weather specialist.
Since its inception in 2010, the Leger Legends Classified Stakes has captured public imagination and raised more than £1 million for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund. The event is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved, from the jockeys who graciously compete to the behind‑the‑scenes staff who keep the show running smoothly. Doyle’s comments were captured in an interview with Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.
Fans can watch every race of the Betfred St Leger Festival live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 512) from Thursday through Sunday.