Day two at The Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham and it is always great to be back at the home of jump racing. Whilst it is disappointing to see only four runners in the hurdle at 2.55 it is certainly competitive, with Tritonic, I Like To Move It and Stepney Causeway in the field. I’m looking forward to seeing Sky Pirate and Storm Control as they have a good record at Cheltenham and both leave their best performances for Prestbury.

Up at Doncaster, the Group 1 the Futurity Trophy Stakes is an intriguing renewal, with favourite Luxembourg, Royal Lodge Stakes winner Royal Patronage and Champagne Stakes victor Bayside Boy in the line-up.

Enjoy whether at a racecourse or #athome

Cheers

The Wine Tipster   

1.45 Cheltenham – NHS Vaccinating Heroes Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m ½f)

Ingleby Hollow can make the long trip worthwhile for the Rebecca Menzies team with the unexposed runners in the field Samarrive and Timberman given high enough marks.

Ingleby Hollow looked very unlucky when repeatedly denied a clear run in the valuable Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen and has had two narrow defeats since joining his new yard. His last start at Cartmel when second to Alqamar, beaten a neck, looks very solid form. The ground will suit, and he can strike with a typically late challenge.

Unibet 11/1 each way

2.20 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (3m 1f)

Storm Control goes so well at Cheltenham and has a strong chance of winning here again for the inform Kerry Lee yard. Last season Storm Control won at the November meeting and then followed up in December when beating Potters Legend in the Grade 3 Unibet Handicap Chase and he is running off the same mark today. Storm Control will be ready for his first run and Richard Patrick can let him bowl along in front.

Unibet 9/2

3.15 Doncaster – Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes Group 1 (1m)

Bayside Boy was doing all his best work at the finish of the Dewhurst when third to Native Trial over seven furlongs, with the step up to a mile a positive. Bayside Boy won the Champagne Stakes here in September and with concerns about the form of the Aidan O’Brien yard, who runs Luxembourg, then Bayside Boy represents some value.

Unibet 11/2 each way

3.30 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (1m 7f)

Sky Pirate (nap) was first tipped up in my Unibet blog at the December meeting when showing that this trip is really what suits him when winning in good style off a mark of 134. Sky Pirate won next time at Warwick and then ended his season with victory in the Grand Annual. This eight-year-old carries top weight, is now on a mark of 159 and can win on seasonal debut at a course where he goes so well.

Unibet 5/2 win

4.05 Cheltenham – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3m)

Born Patriot has given the impression on more than one occasion that this trip is right for him this year. He was third in the Scottish Stayers Novices’ Hurdle over three miles last season and ran a solid third in competitive Killarney handicap in May and would have needed a recent outing at Navan after a break when fourth to Tullybeg (reopposes today). A good strong gallop will suit as will Prestbury and this five-year-old has plenty of improvement to come.

Unibet 13/2 each way

Push The Tempo won last month at Worcester on good ground on his first start for four months after a breathing operation. He was idling in front that day and if he can come on from that success he has strong each way claims.

Unibet 12/1 each way

The Doncaster St Leger Festival, from the 9th-12th September, is home to some of the most prestigious races of the British calendar and is certainly a meeting to look out for. Chosen as one of the pilot events to welcome crowds back to with racegoers being safely welcomed to the course on the first day under government guidelines, with stringent safety measures in place. However, the Government’s announcement on the 9th September put a stop to Doncaster’s carefully planned return to racing for the remaining three days. Plans will undoubtedly change for the other racecourses chosen to host crowds over the coming months. With the safety of the public in mind, Doncaster have done well to make changes at the last minute to ensure audiences can watch safely from home. Below, The Wine Tipster details his key races of the week and the significance of the meeting.

The Doncaster St Leger is one of the most prestigious race weeks of the British horse racing calendar. The St Leger on Saturday is the oldest of Britain’s five classics (the other four being the 2,000 & 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Epsom Oaks and Epsom Derby) and is the highlight of the four days of top racing. The meeting kicks off on Day 1 with the Leger Legends Day, with the Mondialiste Leger Legends Classified Stakes over a straight mile raising money for important charities with Jack Berry House, the Injured Jockeys Fund and the National Horseracing College. Ladies Day Thursday 10th September features two Group Two races and the female jockeys’ Silk Series final, created by the Arena Racing Company. The penultimate day of the festival, Gentleman’s Day, includes the Doncaster Cup, the oldest race currently run under the rules of horse racing, taking centre stage. St Leger Day brings the meeting to a dramatic close on the Saturday, with the showpiece race, the St Leger Stakes, in what is a fascinating renewal. Certainly not a meeting to be missed, celebrate the 2020 Doncaster St Leger Festival!

Look out for The Wine Tipster’s key races of the week on ITV 3:

Wednesday 9th September

2:10 Scarbrough Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (2yo+)

2:40 Leger Legends Classified Stakes (Class 5) (3yo+ 0-70)

3:15 Sceptre Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) (Class 1) (3yo+)

Thursday 10th September

2:10 May Hill Stakes (Group 2) (Fillies) (Class 1) (2yo)

2:40 Weatherbys Racing Bank £200,000 2-Y-O Stakes (Class 2) (2yo)

3:15 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+)

Friday 11th September

2:40 Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (2yo)

3:15 Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo+)

3:45 Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (2yo)

Saturday 12th September

1:50 Champagne Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo)

2:25 Portland Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+)

3:30 Park Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+)

3:35 Pertemps St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (3yo)

The Wine Tipster will be active on social media throughout the meeting, and will be providing his tips in his Unibet Racing Blog. Subscribe to The Wine Tipster Blog here to get the latest posts straight to your inbox.

With four winners out of seven on Saturday, The Wine Tipster is on winning form. He successfully backed Gentleman Jon (9/1 backed at 14/1) who won the feature Badger Ales Trophy at Wincanton, Thomas Brown, Growl and Un Temps Pour Tout in his On The Box column on Saturday. This sparkling form follows on from his successful tips in recent weeks with Rosie Briar tipped up at Doncaster at 20/1 and Antony in the competitive Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase at 11/1 (backed at 14/1).

This weekend, he will be presenting at The Open at Cheltenham where he will be combining his key passions, talking racing, wine and food. The Open provides three days of adrenalin-packed action with the highlight of the first half of the Jump season, the BetVictor Gold Cup.

Racing also takes place on Sunday (the only Sunday racing that takes place at Cheltenham throughout the year) with entertainment for the whole family to enjoy as well as six races on the card including feature race, The Greatwood Hurdle. Greatwood is the fantastic horse welfare charity who care for retired racehorses and educate disadvantaged children and young adults with special educational needs.
Look out for The Wine Tipster’s selections in On The Box in Racing Plus on Saturday with the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham the main race of the day.

Neil Phillips, racing pundit, twitter tipster, wine connoisseur, Champagne & Sparkling expert and wine performer can be followed @thewinetipster and also at www.thewinetipster.co.uk

Read more

See The Wine Tipster Live

View dates and locations >