Horse racing betting tips: Secret looks a Pearl of a bet at Doncaster
Doncaster's four-day Ladbrokes St Leger Festival kicks off on Wednesday with the hugely popular Leger Legends race (3.35pm) taking centre stage.
It’s not really a betting event for me, but plenty of punters piled into AP McCoy’s mount Gannicus 12 months ago, who came home in front at just 7/2.
Joseph O’Brien and Richard Hughes both have their first rides since retiring and they will have plenty of supporters.
I’m more interested in the Listed Scarbrough Stakes (3.00pm) from a betting perspective.
This five-furlong sprint has been won by some top class horses in recent years, including Cotai Glory, Mecca’s Angel and Sole Power.
This renewal doesn’t look the greatest, especially as plenty in the field would prefer quicker conditions.
Muthmir has some decent Group One form, but he’s been disappointing this season and the ground has gone against him.
Thesme ran an excellent race to finish fifth to Mecca’s Angel in last month’s Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, but she’s another who would prefer a sounder surface.
For that reason, I’m going to take a chance on David Barron’s PEARL SECRET at 11/2 with Coral.
He won last year’s Temple Stakes at Haydock and was then fourth behind Profitable in this year’s renewal.
I’d ignore his run in the Nunthorpe last time, as he never got going, and he was unlucky in the King George Stakes the time before that.
There are some progressive, young sprinters in here like Go On Go On Go On and Priceless, but this is a huge step up in class for them against seasoned campaigners.
A number of Wednesday's races look trappy, so I’m going to fire a couple of bullets at the closing five-furlong handicap (5.15pm).
My first selection is Jim Goldie’s THORNTOUN LADY who has sneaked in right at the bottom of the weights.
She has slipped down to her last winning mark, has a good draw in stall 14 and Paul Hanagan is an interesting jockey booking.
Paul Midgley has really hit form over the past week and I’m going to throw a few quid at TYLERY WONDER on his first start for the yard.
This six-year-old had some decent form in Ireland and looks on an attractive mark with Adam Kirby taking the ride.
Pointers
Pearl Secret, 3.00pm Doncaster
Tylery Wonder e/w, 5.15pm Doncaster
Thorntoun Lady e/w, 5.15pm Doncaster