See Andy Newton’s Doncaster Horse Racing tips on Saturday 12th September – day THREE of the four-day Doncaster St Leger Meeting.

There are five more ITV races to take in on Town Moor – including the St Leger, which is the oldest of the English Classics.

It’s a race trainer Aidan O’Brien has won nine times in total and for the last three years and so all eyes will be on his Derby winner Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard.

So, let’s get going with the day three Doncaster horse racing tips on Saturday.

Andy Newton’s Quickfire Doncaster Horse Racing Tips: Saturday 12th September, 2026:

• 1:45 DONCASTER – DESERT CASTLE / ROSBERG (e/w)
• 2:20 DONCASTER – APOLLO ONE (e/w) / ROSARIO 
• 2:55 DONCASTER – MORE THUNDER
• 3:35 DONCASTER – ENCELADUS 
• 4:15 DONCASTER – CHECKANDCHALLENGE (e/w)

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Andy Newton’s ITV Doncaster Horse Racing Tips On Saturday

 

1:45 DONCASTER Betfred Champagne Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (2yo) 7f ITV

DESERT CASTLE impressed many on debut when winning at Newmarket and should really be going in again.

This Godolphin runner scooted away by 3 1/2 lengths that day over 7f and with a month to get over that race will be ready to take another step forward.

Billy Loughnane was on the last day too and gets the ride and the Charlie Appleby yard also boast a 32% SR with their 2yolds here.

Those against him might look to this race not having a winning favourite since 2019. Plus the form of that win has taken a few knocks since.

But it’s still hard to look away from him and is the call to take this before a possible tilt in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes next month.

While he’s also propping up the 2000 Guineas betting for 2027 at 12/1, so will need a good win here to justify that position at the head of the market.

Of the rest, Aidan O’Brien won this last year with Puerto Rico and has Sergei Diaghilev, who was 9th in the Windsor Castle but won a Listed race in Ireland since.

He gets gate 3 too and 3 of the last 7 winners hailed from this berth.

Breacher has a bit to prove after being given the tag my trainer William Muir as the best he’s trained – but is still raw and could improve still.

I just think he wants stepping up in trip – but what do I know?

Gentle Hurricane and recent Listed French winner ROSBERG are others to respect if the jolly has an off day.

With the last-named interesting if more rain comes – having won on heavy ground last time out.

🥇DESERT CASTLE
🥈ROSBERG
🥉Breacher 

2:20 DONCASTER Betfred Portland Handicap Cl2 (3yo+) 5 1/2f ITV

APOLLO ONE can blast home here after running second in this race for the last two seasons.

He was rated 103 in 2024 and 102 in 2025, so his mark this time of just 90 gives him a standout mark.

Okay, he’s not won a race in 19 and his last win was at Ascot in 2024 – but that did come in a Group 3.

He’s also no spring chicken at 8, but in a race we know he likes he looks a solid e/w option.

With the other plus being he heads here off an eye-catching 4th (of 21) at York and is 8lbs better off this time with the winner Air Force One.

Draw 5 is a small worry, with 19 of the last 24 coming from a double-figure, but we did see a winner from gate 5 in 2021.

Of the rest, we’ve also got last year’s winner Eternal Sunshine back for more – she’s rated 4lbs higher though.

While course winners Getreadytorumble and Twilight Calls are other players – along with recent Sandown winner ROSARIO, who was 3rd in this last year and is 3lbs better off.

🥇APOLLO ONE (e/w)
🥈ROSARIO
🥉Eternal Sunshine

2:55 DONCASTER Betfred Park Stakes (Group 2) Cl1 (3yo+) 7f ITV

MORE THUNDER is given one last chance here after not really having the season many expected.

But, in fairness, he’s been running at the top table in most races this term and not been far away – without winning.

His last success now came in the Hungerford Stakes last August at Newbury.

I think the drop back to 7f will help and, on what is his first run at Donny, the long straight should also suit.

He’s also still the top-rated (119) and so off levels with most of the others is the one to beat to give William Haggas only his second win in this race.

His first coming way back in 1991 with Bog Trotter, who was ridden by none other than his Father-in-Law ……….Lester Piggott.

If Donny gets more rain, Witness Stand could go well at a price. While the other Saeed Suhail runner Never So Brave has a similar profile to More Thunder and could even take silver for a 1-2 for the owner.

Flora Of Bermuda has had a good season with three wins, but needs to bounce back from being 10th in the City Of York.

And, as we know, Qirat does seem to like it more at Goodwood.

🥇MORE THUNDER
🥈Never So Brave
🥉Witness Stand 

3:35 DONCASTER Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) Cl1 (3yo) 1m6½f ITV

ENCELADUS can eclipse his rivals in the St Leger and give trainer Joseph O’Brien his second win in the oldest classic (2020 Galileo Chrome) as a trainer.

Having also ridden the winner in 2013 on Leading Light.

This improving 3yold heads here 3-3 this season after top wins in the King George V Stakes and Gordon Stakes last time and there should be more to come.

He takes on two Aidan O’Brien fancies in Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard – and a big father vs son St Leger battle.

Christmas Day, of course, won the Epsom Derby in June – but will be looking to become the first winner of that race to take the St Leger since Reference Point in 1987.

This will also be his first time over this trip.

The same applies to Pierre Bonnard, who was 7th in the Epsom Derby and more recently second in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York – so both have unknowns over the trip to face.

Yes, the same can be said for Enceladus, who is also yet to run beyond 1m4f too. But looks the sort to stay the extra 2 1/2 furlongs, having finished his races well.

The form of his Ascot win has also been franked many times with horses in-behind winning next time.

With Dylan Browne McMonagle on the sidelines, Joseph O’Brien has turned to Billy Loughnane as he looks for his first St Leger win.

🥇ENCELADUS
🥈Pierre Bonnard
🥉Christmas Day 

4:15 DONCASTER Pertemps Network Handicap Cl2 (3yo+) 1m ITV

CHECKANDCHALLENGE (e/w) is a tentative pick in the final ITV race on Saturday, for the in-form William Knight yard.

Yes, this 7old was well back the last day at York behind The Lost King – but that run can be ignored being slowly away and the blindfold late coming off.

He’s also 23 runs without a win – the last coming at Newmarket in 2023 – but that also came rated 112 and he’s now 99.

Prior to that last run he’d been running well, when 3rd at York to The Lost King again and that horse went close in a G3 last weekend to frank the form.

He’ll need to get away better (obviously) and if he can is not without a squeak from gate 5 – as 70% of the last 10 winners hailed from stalls 7 or lower too.

Of the rest, Inspired is in great form and gets in here off the same mark as his recent York win (85).

While the consistent Ebt’s Guard, Bullet Point, Blue Courvoisier, Scoville and Britannia Stakes Royal Ascot hero Moonfall are others to respect.

🥇CHECKANDCHALLENGE (e/w)
🥈Scoville
🥉Inspired 

WATCH: This Weekend’s Final Furlong Podcast – covering the best of the action from Leopardstown and Doncaster

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ALSO SEE: Andy Newton’s Daily Horse Racing tips and cheat sheet – including NAP, Each-Way picks, Lay Of The Day and Daily Stats.

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