Doncaster St Leger Festival: Akhlaaq and Mount Logan among Wednesday tips
Published:
David Metcalf | September 6, 2016
Akhlaaq holds all the aces in Donny opener
Akhlaaq created a huge impression when scoring on debut and looks the answer to the 6f Conditions Stakes that get proceedings underway on the opening day of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival (14.00).
The Owen Burrows trained colt got up close home to beat Sfumato by a neck in a 13-runner maiden at Salisbury, but the narrow winning margin does not tell the full story.
After tracking the leaders, Akhlaaq got outpaced and ran green three from home before the penny finally began to drop.
The well-bred son of New Approach then quickened up smartly inside the final furlong under a tender hands and heels ride from Paul Hanagan to be well on top at the finish.
It was a most taking performance which suggested Akhlaaq had a huge engine and needed keeping firmly onside, and the form of the race has been given a boost with the runner-up, fifth and eighth having all come out and won since.
Mount Logan can cash-in on class drop
Mount Logan disappointed last time out but can take advantage of a drop in grade to quickly bounce back and land the 1m 2f Conditions Stakes (16.45).
The Roger Varian trained five-year-old ran too bad to be true when sixth to Kinge Fete in a Group 3 at Goodwood, having previously landed a Listed contest at the same venue on seasonal reappearance, before being far from disgraced when fourth to Dartmouth in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
This is a far easier assignment and another plus is that Mount Logan has course course winning form to his name.
The stable is also in good form and has a strike rate of just under 31 per cent at the track in the past 12 months, and this looks a lovely opening for the son of New Approach to bag a sixth career success.
Seve each-way value sprint handicap
Seve has dropped to a dangerous mark and look decent each-way value in the 5f handicap (17.15).
The four-year-old was last successful in a class 4 contest at Wolverhampton back in December when making all to win unchallenged by 2 1/2 lengths off a rating of 84.
Seve has since gone on to finish a fine second in the class 3 contest at Nottingham off 88 and was also far from disgraced in a similar grade affair at York, when ninth of 19 to the ultra-progressive Alpha Delphini.
Tom Dascombe’s charge is now able to race off 85, just 1lb higher than when last victorious, and drops back down into class 4 company in which he has a 75 per cent strike rate (three wins from four starts).
Doncaster tips for Wednesday
14.00: Akhlaaq (NAP)
14.30: Our Charlie Brown
15.00: Muthmir
15.35: Bluff Crag
16.10: Roll On Rory
16.45: Mount Logan (NB)
17.15: Seve (E/W)
Related
There’s more tempting horse racing bets on Coral’s dedicated page.
