It's the first day of the Doncaster St Leger meeting today and I'm interested to see just how soft the ground actually is. Despite a period of good weather last week a downpour on Monday/Tuesday has led to the clerk of the course calling the ground ‘Soft' ahead of the first day but with Doncaster being such a quick draining track I wouldn't be at all surprised if it were slightly better than that providing no more rain falls.
I hope SEE THE FIRE doesn't mind the ground either way as she looked pretty good on debut in a decent Newmarket maiden. The form has a strong enough look to it and it has been tested once or twice already so that would give you more confidence in Andrew Balding's filly. Apart from the favourite I don't think this race is all that strong with a few trainers chancing their arm when they might not have done had there have been some stronger types in here. The 7/1 last night has disappeared this morning but the selection still rates a good bet at 5/1.
The Park Hill looks an open event on paper and I had a good look at the race last night determined to find the winner of it. My pen eventually fell down on GOLDEN LYRA for the William Haggas team with the step up in trip almost certain to bring about further improvement. Being from a good family I'm sure connections would have expected her to be a top class filly but she hasn't quite fulfilled her potential just yet for whatever reason. However I expect the step up to 1m 6f on soft ground will suit this filly down to the ground and if it does then she could just be a lot better than these.
I've argued with myself plenty this season about WESTERTON about what his best trip is and on what ground and truth is I'm still not too sure now. I think today will tell us plenty about him but I'm going to chance him at 10/1 that 1m 2f is his trip and that he will handle soft ground. He has plenty of form on soft but arguably his best form has come on better ground. However being by Belardo you would expect him to relish the softer conditions so it seems strange why his better form is on quick ground but what I'm pretty sure of is that he is better than his current mark and this race wouldn't be the deepest of races for the grade.
Doncaster 3.00 – See The Fire
Doncaster 3.35 – Golden Lyra
Doncaster 4.10 – Westerton
