Who To Follow On Day Two Of Doncaster's St Leger Festival

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Thu 14 Sep 2023 11.07

Doncaster 13:25

11(7)

Flora Of Bermuda

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

N/A

Age: 2

Weight: 9-0

OR: 102

Days: 22

One of the feature events of the afternoon is the Group Two Flying Childers Stakes over 5f and Flora Of Bermuda for Andrew Balding looks the value in the field.

This term she made her debut in a good Novice Stakes on good to soft ground at Sandown when finishing only a 1/2 length back in second.

Seen at Beverley next time out when running an eye-catching race off the pace to finish second behind the talented Midnight Affair.

She was last seen at Royal Ascot in the Group Two Queen Mary Stakes where she was on the wrong side of the track but ran a cracker to win her side and fly home in sixth.

Improving again for her first test on soft ground at Glorious Goodwood when bolting up in a Conditions Stakes from Juniper Berries, who has since gone on to land a competitive Group Three at Salisbury.

Upped to 6f when last seen in the Group Two Lowther Stakes at the Ebor meeting she did not stay the trip and returning to 5f on her preferred 5f she can bounce back here.

Andrew Balding could be set for a huge day on the second day of the St Leger meeting starting in the opener with Lasting Love making her debut and holds a classy pedigree being a 300,000gns purchase.

One of his bigger priced chances of the afternoon comes in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes with Gushing Gold looking to build on her win last time out.

In the first big race of the afternoon Balding fields Glorious Goodwood winner Flora Of Bermuda who gets her preferred soft ground and drops back to 5f in the Group Two Flying Childers Stakes.

One of his best chances of the afternoon is the stable star Coltrane who got back to winning ways last time out and if handling the softer conditions has a big chance to land the Group Two Doncaster Cup.

Another nice runner is The Goat who gets back to his optimum conditions in an easier race than his sixth in the Melrose last time out.

Tom Marquand currently sits second in the Flat Jockey Championship standings and on the second day of the St Leger meeting can boost his chances of taking the title.

In the opener he sits on the debutant Pasha for Freddie & Martyn Meade and then in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes teams up with Roger Varian on last time out winner Warm Spell.

Marquand has landed a big ride on Big Evs for Mick Appleby in the Group Two Flying Childers Stakes and then in the 1m4f handicap he rides for his retained trainer William Haggas on Queen Emma who seeks a hat-trick.

The rider then rides Tactical for Julie Camacho who has been rapidly dropping down the handicap and to finish the afternoon jumps on Kingswood Flyer who has an outstanding chance in the finale.