Hollie Doyle, our resident racing ambassador, shares her insights on the action at Town Moor, offering a fresh perspective on the Doncaster Cup, the Flying Childers, and the Flying Scotsman. With a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the headline 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 ready to claim the prize for the first time in 18 years. The legendary trainer from Ballydoyle has not lifted the marathon trophy since Honolulu's triumph in 2008, a victory that came a year after Septimus delivered his solitary win in the historic contest.
Yet Doyle believes that Queenstown, under the experienced hands of Ryan Moore, will correct the record after his recent Group Three success at The Curragh last month. The six‑year‑old gelding, a son of the great Galileo, must build on that performance to avenge a loss to Caballo De Mar in last autumn's Prix du Cadran. Doyle is confident that the horse’s stamina and the soft ground conditions will suit him perfectly in this Group Two showdown.
There is no denying the credentials of George Scott’s likely favourite, who already boasts two Group One victories on his résumé. However, the horse must 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 is fundamentally a test of endurance, the Group Two Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (2.25) over five furlongs showcases pure speed, and Richard Hannon’s Pershaada is brimming with the quick‑turning acceleration required for that race. Doyle notes that her former trainer has a solid track record at this meeting and has identified an excellent chance for Middleham Park Racing’s daughter of Persian Force to secure her second Group victory of the season. Pershaada impressed in the Group Three Molecomb Stakes at the Goodwood Festival, where she pulled away from a strong field that included the eventual Listed winner and market rival Sale Shark. Although she struggled against older, battle‑hardened sprinters in the Nunthorpe at York, she remains the benchmark for her own generation, especially with the talented jockey Sean Levey aboard.
Turning to Aidan O'Brien’s Carry The Flag, Doyle feels the colt is slightly underrated after delivering a strong performance in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville. Though he was beaten by only two lengths on soft ground, the race demonstrated his ability to handle a demanding pace, suggesting he could be a serious contender over the minimum distance in the upcoming contest. Doyle was also impressed by Forgotten Fire’s debut win in a Salisbury novice race. The Andrew Balding‑trained filly should not be underestimated as she steps up in class for the Listed Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes (1.15) on Friday.
Jeff Smith’s home‑bred displayed a winning attitude over six furlongs, and her pedigree is impeccable – she is a half‑sister to Group winners See The Fire and Venetian Prince and out of the Juddmonte International champion Arabian Queen. Godolphin’s Nabati is expected to attract a lot of support from punters as he moves up in grade. His only loss came in a narrow defeat to Arapaho Gold in the Listed Rose Bowl at Newbury, a race that Michael Dods’ colt later won in the Gimcrack. Charlie Appleby’s son of Night Of Thunder, entered in the Group One Middle Park, could also surprise, but Doyle suspects that Forbidden Fire will set the Town Moor turf alight.
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 race won by Hoseki. That performance suggests a four‑pound rise in the handicap may not be enough to keep her out of the prize.
A solid alternative is Marco Botti’s Golden Muse, a filly Doyle once backed at Wolverhampton in early spring. While she is still early in her turf career, she showed promise over a shorter trip at the same venue earlier in the year and could improve with the added distance. The Betfred Leger Legends Classified Stakes (1.50) at Doncaster will see former stars return to the track, generating excitement among the crowd.
Doyle predicts that the recently retired Joe Fanning will be the talk of Town Moor, riding Joe Parr’s Wield, who finished strongly over a mile at Southwell in his last outing. If he can replicate that performance on turf, he could secure a win on his eighth attempt. Sammy Joe Bell, a three‑time winner of this race, is also expected to perform well, possibly paired with the Michael Herrington‑trained Anthropologist, an All‑Weather performer with a strong record. Since its inception in 2010, this race has captured the public imagination and raised over £1 million for the Injured Jockeys' Fund, a testament to the dedication of jockeys, trainers, and support staff alike.
Doyle’s comments were recorded during 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.