The closing day of the Betfred St Leger Festival brings a showdown between two talented fillies, Toulee n and Forty Years On, in the Group 3 Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes. This race, a highlight of the festival's final card, pits the highly rated Touleen, now under the guidance of jockey David Probert for trainer Owen Burrows, against the rapidly improving Forty Years On, campaigned by George Scott. Touleen enters the contest as the top‑rated runner in the field.
She has demonstrated top‑class ability on her best days, but recent form has been a touch inconsistent, having been beaten in her last two outings, including a narrow loss in this very grade. Her connections have opted to fit cheekpieces in an effort to sharpen her focus and secure her first stakes victory. Many observers felt she was unlucky when she was edged out by Precise in the Coronation Stakes earlier in the season, so there is a strong desire to see her break through at Doncaster. Forty Years On, meanwhile, has been on a steep upward trajectory.
The George Scott‑trained filly has won each of her last two starts and impressed with her turn of foot over the course and distance during her previous run. The momentum she has built suggests she could be a serious threat, especially as the race is set to be run on a softer surface that should suit her running style. Her recent performances have raised her profile, and she will be keen to continue the streak on the final day of the festival.
The betting market also includes several each‑way contenders. Darnation and The Prettiest Star are both listed as viable outsiders, while 102‑rated Magic Basma is looking to snap a long winless run that stretches back to her debut victory thirteen starts ago.
Magic Basma's connections will be hoping the softer ground and the relatively modest field size will provide the conditions needed to end her drought. In another feature of the day, the Betfred City of Doncaster Handicap showcases Wechaad, who will be sent out by the Roger Varian stable. The son of Oasis Dream proved his class last season with a win over the same distance at Doncaster, and although he has been placed in a few respectable defeats this year, the team believes he is primed to improve. After a third‑place finish at Newmarket, the connections expect the track at Doncaster—one that historically suits Oasis Dream progeny—to bring out his best form.
The festival also delivered historic moments beyond the fillies' race. Saffie Osborne became the first woman to win a British Classic when she rode Highwayman to victory in the St Leger, a triumph that sparked an emotional response and cemented her place in racing history.
Headlines celebrated her achievement, with multiple outlets highlighting her tears of joy and the significance of her breakthrough. Other notable stories from the day included Desert Castle being backed at 6/1 for the 2000 Guineas after a strong performance in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, and jockey Hollie Doyle expressing her admiration for Forty Years On in a blog post about the Sceptre Stakes. Sky Sports Racing featured Enceladus taking on the Christmas Day challenge and Pienne Bonnard competing in the 250th St Leger, adding further depth to the day's coverage.
In the Betfred Mallard Handicap, a competitive field of nine sees Valedictory and Say What You See leading the pack. Valedictury, trained by John and Thady Gosden, has been a consistent performer this summer, winning two of his six starts. After a disappointing run at York, his connections have added a visor for the Doncaster outing, hoping it will sharpen his focus. Say What You See, a son of Belardo, continues his upward trend after a strong performance at York and is expected to be a serious contender.
Other horses worth watching include Military Code, who tops the weightings with a useful seven‑pound concession in the Godolphin blue. Although yet to win this season, he showed improved form in his last outing and has been given a further weight reduction.
Langstone, Zooming, and last‑time winner Lion Of Mali round out the list of potential placers. On the Town Moor, the Betfred "The Classic Bookmaker" Handicap at 1.55 pm features Asuka, who is favored by the George Boughey‑Billy Loughnane partnership. Opposing her is Completely Random, who ran a solid fourth in the Stewards' Cup and has been assigned a 104‑pound rating after a two‑pound increase. Further north at Bath, the Loud Hire Production Services Bath Summer Sprint Series Final Handicap at 3.50 pm pits Dark Sun against Geemann, while the Loud Hire Staging Hire Bath Summer Stayers' Series Final Handicap at 3.15 pm sees Boilermaker headline the action.
Across the English Channel, French racing offers its own highlights. Francis‑Henri Graffard's Rayevka is the star of the Prix du Petit Couvert at 1.33 pm, followed by the Prix du Pin at 2.50 pm and the Prix du Prince D'Orange at 3.25 pm, where Daryzan will meet Phineas in a clash of proven milers. Overall, the final day of the St Leger Festival provides a rich tapestry of stories, from the tactical battle between Touleen and Forty Years On to historic milestones and a host of competitive handicaps.
Whether you are a fan of classic distance contests, sprint specialists, or emerging talent, the programme offers something for every racing enthusiast, and the outcomes will shape the narrative of the season as it moves into its final stretch.