Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle turns her attention to the closing day of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster alongside premium action across the Irish Champions Festival at The Curragh, with both meetings offering compelling racing on Sunday 13 September.
Scott filly primed for Pattern breakthrough
Doyle has long been an admirer of Forty Years On, who looks set to make an immediate statement in top-level company when she lines up in the feature race at Town Moor on Sunday, the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies Stakes at 15:05.
Trainer George Scott, fresh from victory with Caballo De Mar in Friday's Doncaster Cup, has identified an ideal opportunity for this progressive daughter of Mayson. The filly demonstrated her credentials emphatically when dominating a valuable handicap at Goodwood last month.
Soft ground plays to her strengths, and she can secure a sixth success from eight starts, potentially at the expense of Shadwell's Touleen. That rival brings respectable Group One credentials to the contest following an unlucky passage in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Touleen showed some signs of awkwardness in the Valiant Stakes on her most recent outing, and the application of cheekpieces could help sharpen her concentration. Planet Seeker appears overpriced judged on her York form and her creditable fourth-place finish in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes at the Goodwood Festival.
According to Racing Post's racecard, the Sceptre Fillies' Stakes is a Class 1 Group 3 race contested over 7 furlongs and 6 yards with 20 runners declared on good ground.
Bailey's gelding suited by extended trip
Say What You See presents few weaknesses in the Betfred Mallard Handicap at 15:40 on Sunday, having strung together a series of consistent performances for trainer Liam Bailey throughout the year.
The gelding narrowly missed out at Southwell before producing an encouraging display at York's Ebor Festival, grinding away from a considerable distance back to claim third place over 12 furlongs. The step up in trip should suit his running style perfectly.
Godolphin's Valedictory merits consideration after showing one-paced tendencies over two miles at York last time, though he had impressed earlier in the season with consecutive victories at Goodwood and Newmarket. He will need to prove himself off his current rating.
Boughey's sprinter ready to shine
Doyle is keen on George Boughey's lightly-raced Asuka in the Betfred 'The Classic Bookmaker' Handicap at 13:55 on Sunday's card.
The Night Of Thunder gelding should have no issues dropping back to six furlongs on such a galloping track. He confirmed his fitness over longer distances at Chester on his most recent start, when an unfavourable draw and a disrupted run prevented him from showing his true ability.
Boughey holds a strong hand in the race, with stable companion Oliver Show also bringing solid form to the table. His effort behind subsequent winner Inspired at Goodwood last time reads encouragingly, and the first-time application of a visor represents an intriguing tactical move.
Easier ground offers Langstone fresh opportunity
Doyle is eager to see Langstone return to a softer surface in the Betfred City Of Doncaster Handicap at 14:30 on Sunday.
Clive Cox's three-year-old broke his maiden over the course and distance in spring before adding an All-Weather success, but struggled with the firm conditions when running in the Britannia at Royal Ascot. Having been absent from the track since that outing, he arrives at Town Moor considerably fresher than his rivals and remains attractively weighted off a slightly reduced mark of 92.
Zooming should also benefit from a more forgiving surface for the first time since capturing her maiden at Newmarket last autumn. She has been campaigned ambitiously this year and makes her handicap debut off what appears a reasonable mark of 94.
Sun Goddess ready for Group One test
Doyle is excited to witness how Sun Goddess performs back at Group One level in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at 14:50 at The Curragh on Sunday, following her commanding display in a valuable sales race at York last month.
Aidan O'Brien's filly faced adversity when encountering trouble on The Knavesmire but her class shone through as she stormed to a six-length victory. This assignment presents considerably stiffer opposition, with the Phoenix Stakes winner tackling seven furlongs for the first time on a more demanding track, though Doyle remains confident she possesses the quality required.
Green Empress travelled smoothly when breaking her maiden in the Group Two Debutante Stakes over course and distance last month, defeating re-opposing Alpha, Ibelieveicanfly and Dancing Destiny, and emerges as the principal threat.
Starlust primed for another big performance
The manner in which Starlust finished behind American raider Bacio in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York suggests he can deliver another impressive display in the BAR 1 Betting Flying Five Stakes at 15:25 at The Curragh.
Ralph Beckett's five-year-old returned from retirement following an unsuccessful spell at stud and appears to have rediscovered the form that earned him the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint two years ago.
Time For Sandals has produced solid efforts in her last two outings, and Doyle is impressed by the way she surged home in the Nunthorpe despite repeatedly encountering trouble in the middle stages. Should fortune favour her, she could prove the one to beat with Kieran Shoemark aboard.
Giant Sequoia positioned for major breakthrough
Juddmonte's Monogram demonstrated his class when winning over course and distance for Joseph O'Brien and appears capable of stepping up to Group One company in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at 16:00.
What the colt lacks, however, is race experience, which could hand Giant Sequoia a significant advantage. Aidan O'Brien's first string captured the Group Two Futurity Stakes at this venue last time and possesses considerable potential.
Based on that performance, the son of Frankel remains open to substantial improvement at the highest level and earns Doyle's vote in what promises to be a compelling renewal.
Scandinavia chasing fifth Group One crown
With a seven-race unbeaten run to his credit, Doyle is eager to see the brilliant Scandinavia add to his reputation in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger at 16:35 on Sunday.
Aidan O'Brien's Gold Cup winner drops back to one mile and six furlongs, a distance that should present no difficulties on such a testing track, and can justify short odds in pursuit of a fifth victory at the highest level. According to the Irish Champions Festival guide, this race closes the Curragh card at 16:35.
Stable companion Jan Brueghel, himself a Doncaster St Leger winner like Scandinavia, represents the obvious danger. He looked as impressive as ever when capturing this season's Coronation Cup and will relish the additional test of stamina.
Festival schedule and what comes next
The St Leger Festival reaches its climax on Sunday 13 September, with Doncaster's final card featuring racing from 15:05, while the Curragh hosts the second day of the Irish Champions Festival. According to The Irish Times, over €5 million in prize money is distributed across 17 races at Leopardstown and the Curragh during the Irish Champions Festival, which includes seven Group 1 races.
Doyle's selections span both venues, offering punters quality racing across the final day of what has been a spectacular festival weekend at Town Moor and a showcase of elite middle-distance and sprint talent at The Curragh.
