KEW TIP
Newsboy says Gardens is blooming marvel in St Leger
KEW GARDENS can underline his status as the class horse in the William Hill St Leger (3.35, ITV) by capturing the oldest Classic at Doncaster today.
Ryan Moore’s mount, one of five participants representing Aidan O’Brien (right), is the only runner in the 12-strong lineup who has won at the highest level.
Kew Gardens is a late bloomer – when he returned ninth of 12 behind Masar in the Derby in June, he looked for all the world like a useful but unexceptional colt. But the son of Galileo then ran away with the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot 18 days later, before a top-level triumph in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in July. My selection finished third to
Old Persian in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month, ahead of O’Brien’s The Pentagon (fifth), Nelson (sixth) and Zabriskie (eighth). But Kew Gardens meets the winner on 2lb better terms, and the extra two and a half furlongs will aid his revenge bid.
Lah Ti Dar was forced to miss the Oaks at Epsom in June but trounced her rivals by 10 lengths in York’s Listed Galtres Stakes on her comeback.
The John Gosdentrained daughter of Dubawi is unbeaten, with the promise of more to come — and she is feared most.
DONCASTER’S Portland Handicap began in 1855 opposite the Red House pub and hopefully we’ll be raising a glass or two after finding today’s hero.
Given its long history, the William Hillsponsored sprint has plenty of trends — the most relevant being:
■ Carrying 8st 12lb or more.
■ Five or more runs this season.
■ Aged three, four or five.
That leaves us with a shortlist of four from 22.
You need to go back to 2004 to find the last winner carrying as much as 9st 10lb, so Tis
Marvellous can go. A Momentofmadness may struggle to stay the extra yardage, while
Open Wide usually scores in smaller fields. Hugo Palmer’s
ENCRYPTED won in the style of an improver under Josie Gordon (above) at Chelmsford last time and she can steer the three-year-old home again.
Have 1pt each-way at 18-1 with Paddy Power.