Nothing Venture-d…

● Midgley’s charge can take it to the Max at Doncaster

Final Venture can defy top weight to claim another Listed victory in the Pepsi Max Scarbrough Stakes on the first day of the St Leger meeting at Doncaster.

Paul Midgley’s stable stalwart must shoulder a penalty for his win in the Achilles Stakes at Haydock in June but, given his excellent form this term, the five-year-old looks up to the task. He has hardly been disgraced in Group One starts at both Royal Ascot and York’s Ebor meeting, but while thetoplevelseemsabitbeyond him, he remains a major player in this kind of race.

He narrowly failed to hit the target at Beverley last time, beaten just a length by Take Cover after giving a bit of trouble at the start which could hardly have been conducive to a top performance.

This actually looks a weaker event than the Beverley Bullet with just a handful of runners and Final Venture is still the best in on official numbers.

Soldier Blue can shed his maiden tag in the Clipper Logistics Leger Legends Classified Stakes.

Now trained by Brian Ellison after starting life with Godolphin, the three-yearold showed a glimpse of promise when third at Pontefract in July and he has a handy little pull in the weights with some more obvious candidates here.

Lethal Impact has been a bit of a damp squib so far but can finally come good in the 32Red Handicap at Kempton.

This Japanese-bred son of Deep Impact possibly needed the run when third over two miles last time and should be a bit sharper for that outing.

Roger Fell took home a nice prize with Burnt Sugar in Ireland over the weekend and Zodiakos can keep up the yard’s good work, albeit at a lower level, in the Andersons Handicap at Carlisle.