Doncaster St Leger Festival: Adaay, Czabo and Harry Hurricane among Saturday tips
David Metcalf | September 9, 2016
Harry Hurricane worth an each-way punt in Portland
The big betting handicap on the final day of Doncaster’s St Leger Festival is the Portland (14.35) and Harry Hurricane looks terrific each-way value in a typically wide open renewal of the 5f contest.
Trained by George Baker, the gelding ran a cracker in the race last year when keeping on well to finish a 1 1/4 length runner-up to Steps off a mark of 95.
The four-year-old is now able to race off the same rating and comes into the contest on the back of some solid efforts this season.
Harry Hurricane showed a good attitude to beat Bogart by a neck in a competitive 15-runner contest at York back in May and his latest runs when fifth in similar affairs at Goodwood and York suggest he remains in good heart.
Another plus is that the gelding has the assistance in the saddle of Robert Winston who partnered him to his last success and from what looks a good middle draw in stall nine a big run looks on the cards.
Adaay the answer to Park Stakes
Trainer William Haggas has his team in flying form at present and Adaay can provide him with another winner in the Group 2 Park Stakes (15.10).
The colt had some very smart form to his name last season when winning three times, and two of those successes came in the grade.
In the first of those Adaay ran on strongly from off the pace to beat Limato in the Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock.
The runner-up is a very smart sort who pulverised a top class field in this year’s Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket and the form reads well in relation to this contest.
Although Adaay has failed to get his head in front in four starts this season, the four-year-old ran well when a head runner-up to Breton Rock in a Group 3 at Newmarket on his penultimate outing on unsuitable heavy ground.
The return to a sounder surface is a big plus and with the stable now on-fire it would be no surprise to see Adaay put in a much improved performance and return to winning ways.
Czabo weighted to go well under SDS
In the 1m handicap (16.50), Czabo looks a big each-way player in the hands of reigning champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa.
The Mick Channon trained filly made a mockery of her mark when easily landing a class 2 handicap at Sandown on return to action back in April, and ran as well as could be expected three starts back when a 12 1/2 length fourth of 12 to Jet Setting in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh.
Guineas winner Minding, who finished runner-up, has since gone on land three Group 1 contests and the ninth home Pretty Perfect has come out and landed a Group 3 by four lengths.
That form reads well in the context of this contest, and Czabo went on to register a smooth 1 1/4 length success in a Listed contest at Deauville before finding the opposition far too hot when last seen in action in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The return to class 2 company, in which Czabo has a 100 per cent record, is sure to see her in a far better light and a handicap mark of 99 should not be beyond the daughter of Sixties Icon judged on the pick of her form.
Doncaster Saturday tips
14.00: Thunder Snow
14.35: Harry Hurricane (E/W)
15.10: Adaay (NB)
15.45: Idaho (NAP)
16.20: Khalidi
16.50: Czabo (E/W)
17.25: Lustrous
18.00: Ajman Bridge
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