St Leger Festival 2025: The ultimate betting guide and analysis

The 2025 Flat season might be drawing towards its conclusion, but there is still plenty of top class action to savour before the nights begin to draw in, starting with four-days of action at the Doncaster at this year’s Betfred St Leger Festival. 

While the only Group One on offer at Town Moor is the feature event of the meeting, the Betfred St Leger, there are still plenty of other pattern races which will have a bearing on future top level contests both this year, and next. 

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Although the meeting does not quite possess the same levels of glamour associated with the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at its rival Yorkshire track York, the event still holds an important place in the calendar with its good spread of handicaps and pattern races. 

Day One

It is the ladies that take centre stage on day one of the meeting in the two Group Two contests on offer. 

First up those looking to advance potential Classic claims will bid to do so in the Betfred May Hill Stakes, a race which was won 12 months ago by this year’s Betfred 1000 Guineas winner Desert Flower. 

Following on from that, those with an appetite for a test of stamina will take to the track in the Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes, a race which this year has attracted a useful looking 11 runners. 

While those two contests will have plenty of attention drawn to them they are flanked by some interesting handicaps, which could boast some future pattern race performers in. 

And for those who like a big field to try and crack then the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes is the answer, with 22 juveniles all bidding to waltz away with a first prize of more than £200,000. 

FIRST’s top tip Moon Target to win the Betfred May Hill Stakes (7/4 with Coral)

Moon Target lost her unbeaten record last time when finishing second in the Group Three Prestige Stakes over seven furlongs at Goodwood, but she looks the one to beat back on a more conventional track. 

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The Sir Mark Prescott-trained daughter of Cracksman had looked mighty impressive in her two previous starts at Newmarket and Yarmouth before failing to get into any kind of rhythm on the undulations at Goodwood. 

Given the way she finished on that occasion the step up to a mile should suit her, along with the prospect of slightly softer conditions, which makes her the one to beat. 

Extra tips

Mr Seagull showed a good attitude to get off the mark on his debut at Pontefract before failing to follow up under a penalty when having to settle for second best, conceding seven pounds to a potentially useful newcomer. 

Although this will be a different test to what he has so far faced, he has more scope for progression than a number of those in the field that have already shown their hand. 

If coping with the eight day turnaround, and the slightly slower conditions, then expect the son of Space Blues to be in the shake up. 

Pick: Mr Seagull each-way in the Weatherbys Scientific £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes, four places, at 16/1 with Betfred. 

Hopewell Rock was touted as a potential Classic contender earlier in the season, however while those aspirations are now over he still remains a colt of plenty of potential. 

Although he could only finish third on his handicap debut at Newbury he was entitled to need that run with it being his first appearance in 319 days. 

With that run likely to have sharpened him up considerably he should go close here on ground that would seem ideal. 

Pick: Hopewell Rock to win the Oddschecker Handicap at 11/2 with Betfred

Day Two

Staying is the name of the game in the feature Group Two Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes, which is staged over a stamina sapping two-and-a-quarter miles. 

Last year’s winner Sweet William is back to defend his crown, while old rival, and 2022 winner Coltrane, features among his rivals. 

Some of the fastest two-year-olds in training will bid to blaze a path to glory in the Group Two Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes, including the Ger Lyons-trained speedster Lady Iman, winner of this year’s Group Three Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. 

Elsewhere of note on the card is the Listed Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes, won by none other than Frankel in 2010, and an intriguing looking seven furlong fillies’ maiden.

FIRST’s top tip Lady Iman to win the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childer Stakes odds to follow

Lady Iman failed to cut it against the best older five furlong sprinters around in last month’s Nunthorpe Stakes at York, but against her own age group here she can get back on track. 

Having won the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood her connections decided to roll the dice at York to try and take advantage of the hefty weight allowance she received from her elders.

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A slightly awkward start didn’t help her cause, while she was also denied a clear run later in the race, which further weakened her chances. 

On reflection she can be forgiven that effort and given her previous progress she can resume the winning thread again in more calmer waters. 

Extra tips

Coltrane is not getting any younger at the age of eight, but he has continued to hold his form well this season and he can figure prominently in a race that should suit him well. 

Unlike several of his more fancied rivals he arrives fresh having not raced since winning a Listed contest back at Sandown Park in July. 

Much of his form ties in closely with favourite Sweet William, and at the prices, he seems a more attractive proposition to finish in the frame.

Pick: Coltrane each-way in the Betfred Howard Wight Doncaster Cup, three places, at 12/1 with Ladbrokes

Form is thin on the ground in the seven furlong fillies’ maiden, but the debut second of Classic Cuvee at Newmarket reads well. 

The form of that win has been boosted with the third, Deedaydiva, since running out a cosy winner at Sandown Park. 

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While the winner Zanthos suffered an odds-on reversal at Leicester on Tuesday her connections are still keen for a crack at the Group Two Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket, which shows the regard she is held in. 

With natural improvement likely the daughter of Siyouni can get off the ground at the second time of asking. 

Pick: Classic Cuvee to win the Coopers Marquees EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, odds to follow. 

Day Three

The feature race of the entire meeting has finally arrived and once again it looks like a race that could be heading the way of Aidan O’Brien. The likes of English and Irish Derby hero Lambourn and impressive Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia heading the betting. 

Throw into the mix this year’s Queen’s Vase winner Carmers, from the yard of Paddy Twomey and impressive Geoffrey Stakes hero Furthur, and despite the small field, the prospects of a good race look in store. 

All eyes will be on last year’s champion two-year-old in Europe, Shadow Of Light, trying to get back on track in the Group Two Betfred Park Stakes. While Gewan will bid to follow up his Group Three Acomb Stakes success in the Group Two Betfred Champagne Stakes. 

FIRST’s top tip Furthur each-way in the Betfred St Leger, three places, at 9/1 with Betway

On all known form Furthur has work to do to defeat Scandinavia on their clash in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket, Lambourn on their Chester Vase meeting and with Carmers in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. 

However, excuses can be made for his Bahrain Trophy effort when he was too free for his own good, while he didn’t handle the track well at Chester, which plenty of horses have done likewise in the past. 

A change of tactics to being held up at Newbury last time out in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes seemed to unlock more improvement in Furthur given the manner in which he won the race. 

While an element of trust has to be taken on reversing the form of those that have beaten him he has looked an ideal type for this race since winning at Newbury back in April. 

Extra tip

Treble Tee threatened to develop into a pattern race performer after making a sparkling debut at Newmarket last year. 

While those aspirations have had to be subsequently lowered a gelding operation appears to have got him back on the right track with seconds at Thirsk and Goodwood. 

Nudging up another two pounds for his near miss at Goodwood last time doesn’t help his cause, but he has shown that he is clearly up to winning a race of this nature. 

Pick: Treble Tee to win the PJ Towey Construction Handicap at 9/2 with Betfred

Day Four

The final day of the meeting is a much more sedate affair with stars from the past gracing the track once again in the IPM Group Leger Legends Classified Stakes. 

Riders such as former Derby winning jockey Adam Kirby, will be among those to take a trip down memory lane in the mile prize. 

However, while the racing might be low key, there  is still some pattern race action on the card in the form of the Group Three Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes, which featured last year’s 1000 Guineas winner Elmalka. 

FIRST’s top tip God Of War to win the Betfred City Of Doncaster Handicap odds to follow.

God Of War finally delivered on the promise he had shown glimpses of as a two-year-old when revelling in the soft ground, and stiff finish, at Sandown Park over seven furlongs last time out. 

He had suggested the time before at Haydock Park that if settling better his turn would come, which it duly did under a good ride from David Egan. 

Having only received a three pounds rise in the weights for that success, and with the chances of rain hitting the track, he could well go in again, especially with the chances that the race will be run at a decent pace to help him settle. 

Extra tips

The prospect of the ground changing towards the backend of the meeting slightly muddies the picture, however if Cathedral makes an appearance at the track she could be worth a wager.

Although the daughter of Too Darn Hot is without a win this year she has shaped encouragingly enough, both in the Group One Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and in a Group Three over nine-furlongs at Chantilly last time, to suggest she can win a race like this.

It remains to be seen whether the drop back to seven furlongs is a plus, but with her ability to handle ease in the ground she could represent a bit of value against more exposed rivals.

Pick: Cathedral to win the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes at 13/2 with Coral

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Odds correct at the time of writing.