Classy Camelot can claim St Leger crown
Our tipster casts his expert eye over the pick of the weekend's meetings
Friday 14 September 2012
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EmailRACING: Doncaster It's the final Classic of the flat racing season and the big question is - can Camelot complete the Triple Crown in the Ladbrokes St Leger at 3.40 and become the first horse since the 1970 heroics of Nijinsky to achieve that remarkable feat?
The answer is probably yes. The only two starts the 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby winner has struggled with have been when the ground has been genuinely soft and that will not be the case tomorrow.
His breeding and manner of racing are also hugely in his favour as regards the extended mile and three quarters trip, and although it is taking the safe selection route I cannot see him being beaten.
Making a bigger financial gain on the race though means not backing the O'Brien horse at 2/5, but instead having an each-way play on the other Irish raider Ursa Major at around 20/1.
He has risen through the staying handicap ranks this season and readily dismissed that smart stayer Hartani in the Irish St Leger three weeks ago.
The Ladbrokes Portland Handicap at 3.00 promises to be a much more competitive event as 22 horses thunder down five and half furlongs to the winning post.
This intermediate trip is always of interest to me and looks perfect for Kaldoun Kingdom as long as the ground doesn't dry out too much.
A bare five is just too sharp for the seven-year-old, but this extra half furlong gives him time to fill his lungs and reel in the pacesetters.
A draw in stall 20 is perfect and he is reunited with his old pal Paul Hanagan to boot.
The dangers include Rex Imperator, who is worth giving another chance to following his York blowout, and Secret Witness who has been dropped in class here.
Ancient Cross is also interesting as this trip suits best and he ran well in the race last year along with another veteran Tax Free, who had no luck in 2011.
Best of the rest
There is some highly competitive racing at Chester as well where handicaps rule the roost.
The ground looks to have gone against Haydock Park winner Hamoody in the opening sprint at 1.40 and I fancy that Jamesway, following a break, can come late and fast to land the spoils with admirable veteran Green Park on his coat tails.
The feature Listed race over an extended mile and a half at 2.40 should go to Modun after he simply didn't get the run of the race in the September Stakes at Kempton Park last time out.
Elsewhere, I like Galatian (Kempton 9.20), Lujeanie (Bath 1.45) and The Name is Frank (Bath 5.40).
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