Doncaster's St Leger meeting gets under way on Thursday, all live on Sky Sports Racing, with a pair of classy Group Two contests taking centre stage. A top-class field has assembled for the Group Two Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes where Consent and Danielle feature among nine runners. Danielle, fourth in this contest last year, ended the campaign with an emphatic nine-length win in Listed company here in November.
A winner of the Bronte Cup on her return this season, she disappointed at Goodwood and will be hoping to bounce back under William Buick. Consent finished a neck second in this race last season before landing Group One honours in the Prix de Royallieu. She has struggled to match those highs since and connections reach for the cheekpieces.
Andrew Balding's Prizeland took the Galtres Stakes at York with plenty to spare and rates an each-way player, while Waardah will enjoy any easing of the ground. She finished ahead of the top pair at Goodwood and must be feared if able to repeat the feat in a first-time hood. Fairy Glen was only beaten half a length in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May and would have claims if fit enough on her return.
Unbeaten Musical Times heads up in grade for this Group Two Betfred May Hill Stakes. The Charlie Appleby-trained filly arrives having impressed on both starts to date and tops the betting under William Buick. Having outpointed the reopposing Scommessa Sicura on her debut at Newmarket, she oozes quality when landing the odds at Yarmouth and deserves a crack at this better contest.
Scommessa Sicura has finished in the top two on her five starts to date and produced a career-best when second a Salisbury last month. Joseph O'Brien saddles Ballyskeagh who ran a huge race to finish runner-up in a Group Three at Curragh over the mile and that gives her solid place claims, while Speckles was fifth that day and may improve again. All eyes will be on Night In Vegas as he bids to plunge another huge pot in this Weatherbys £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes.
Eve Johnson Houghton's colt sets the standard having finished fifth in the Coventry at Royal Ascot before landing the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes on his last start. That entitles him to be a short-priced favourite, and he is weighted to go close. Plenty have chances including George Boughey's Shadwell colt Mithaaly.
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