Having so nearly become a Classic-winning trainer in his first season, Owen Burrows can get there in his fifth. His Massaat went close in the 2,000 Guineas of 2016 and top-class success has since proved elusive but Hukum (3.35) can give him a day to remember in the St Leger.
This fine-looking colt has already done his bit for the yard, landing a Royal Ascot handicap and the Geoffrey Freer, but both times he has suggested there is plenty more to come and he has the class for this test. That is also true of Pyledriver but stamina could be that one’s undoing, considering how free he was in the early stages of a shorter race last time.
Holes can be picked in the form of Santiago’s wins this year. It is interesting to see his stablemate Mythical being ignored at 50-1, offering an each-way option about a horse who is said to work impressively.
1.50 Doncaster Exciting in landing a Listed prize at Ascot, Chindit can take the Champagne. The otherwise unbeaten runner-up at Ascot has since bagged a Listed race of his own.
2.05 Chester Sir Michael Stoute landed last year’s Stand Cup with Sextant and takes aim this time with a plausible favourite in Alignak. The grey’s main rival here is Morando, who was just behind him when they were third and fourth in the Geoffrey Freer.
2.25 Doncaster A Momentofmadness would have won the Portland for a second time last year, but for the presence of Oxted, a subsequent July Cup winner. Now 4lb below the rating he had then, he will surely go close but there is also a case to be made for Saluti at 16-1. He beat a big field over this course and distance last year and has won two of his last three. He was also a good fifth in the Stewards’ Cup consolation race, which is a strong bit of form.
2.40 Chester With Maydanny a non-runner, Victory Chime becomes the most interesting contender. He was only beaten a couple of lengths at Sandown and it is interesting to see the refitting here of the visor in which he won twice from three attempts last year.
3.00 Doncaster There was no shame for One Master in being bested by the excellent Safe Voyage at York and William Haggas’s grand mare did well to overcome trouble in running at Goodwood before that. Limato is an obvious danger but has to concede the weight.
Quick Guide
Chris Cook’s Saturday tips
Doncaster 1.15 Firmament 1.50 Chindit 2.25 Saluti (nap) 3.00 One Master 3.35 Hukum 4.05 Legend Of Dubai 5.15 Toronto
Fontwell 1.10 Minella Beauty 1.40 Capac 2.15 Getaway Trump 2.50 Historic Heart 3.25 Ashutor 3.55 Yes No Maybe So 4.30 Tanrudy 5.05 Shantou’s Melody
Chester 1.30 Sands In Time 2.05 Alignak 2.40 Victory Chime 3.15 Overhaugh Street 3.45 Dark Illusion 4.20 Bossipop 4.50 Ballylemon
Lingfield 2.45 Her Indoors (nb) 3.20 Shailene 3.50 Russian Rumour 4.25 Company Minx 5.00 Magical Ride 5.30 Little Rollright 6.00 Rock Icon
Musselburgh 3.30 Harswell Prince 4.00 Risk Of Thunder 4.35 Amazing Alba 5.10 Fiveandtwenty 5.40 Fred 6.15 Helmoona 6.45 Talk Now 7.15 The Mackem Torpedo
3.10 Leopardstown Excuses can be made for Albigna but Fancy Blue looks the right favourite for the Matron Stakes. A Group One winner in her last two starts, she has the speed for this step down in trip.
4.10 Leopardstown Ghaiyyath is finally odds-on for a Group One and he fully deserves it. Still, there is the risk that a series of tough races will catch up with him and he has only had three weeks and three days since the last of them. Things will be tough if Magical or Armory take him on from the outset. At 7-1, Sottsass looks value, remembering how good he looked in beating Persian King in last year’s French Derby. He is thought of as a mudlover but desperate ground may have undermined him last time. He could pick up the pieces here if Ghaiyyath runs below his best.