TV TIPS (SUNDAY)

The St Leger Festival draws to a close on Sunday, but there's still plenty of quality action to get stuck into as Doncaster brings the curtain down on its four-day meeting.

Town Moor provides a mixture of competitive handicaps and Group-race action, while across the Irish Sea the Curragh stages another high-class card featuring some of the most exciting runners from Britain and Ireland.

We preview Sunday's televised action from Doncaster and the Curragh and pick out our best bets.

13:25 DONCASTER

Doncaster's final day of the four-day St Leger meeting begins with a competitive sprint handicap and there are several runners who appear generously priced by the bookmakers.

Towards the head of the market, Hypnotised is bidding to go one better after filling the runner-up spot on his last two starts and looks capable of being involved once again.

Maelstrom arrives in even better form having won his last two starts. He showed plenty of battling qualities to score at Ascot last time and, with the same jockey retaining the ride, has every chance of completing the hat-trick.

There are also a couple at much bigger prices who shouldn't be ignored.

Venture Capital won this race in 2024 from a mark 11lb higher than his current rating. It's fair to say he hasn't been in the same form this season, but there was a glimmer of encouragement when fourth at Ripon last time and a return to Doncaster could spark further improvement.

Current outsider Paddy's Day is another interesting proposition. He's yet to win at Doncaster but has never finished outside the first four in three previous visits. His overall form is inconsistent, but that course record suggests he's capable of outperforming his odds if arriving on a going day.

The Man is another who wouldn't surprise if producing a much better performance than we've seen recently.

Maelstrom is the most obvious candidate, but Paddy's Day and Venture Capital provide two potentially rewarding each-way alternatives.

MAELSTROM (E/W) PADDY'S DAY (E/W) VENTURE CAPITAL (E/W)

13:55 DONCASTER

Another competitive handicap to get our teeth into and three contenders stand out from the field.

Asuka has done very little wrong during his short career and remains open to plenty of improvement now tackling this sort of company.

Lakers has progressed with each of his turf appearances and already has experience at Doncaster, where he's performed with credit in the past.

The third runner on the shortlist is Oliver Show, who was a beaten favourite on his latest start but now returns to a Yorkshire venue where he's previously gone close. That course experience is an obvious positive.

Of the trio, Asuka perhaps has the biggest question to answer given his lack of experience in a race of this nature. It would be no surprise to see him take another step forward, but Lakers and Oliver Show look the more attractive betting propositions at their respective prices.

LAKERS (E/W)

OLIVER SHOW (E/W)

14:15 CURRAGH

Star Of State looks to have been found an excellent opportunity to put her Lowther Stakes second behind her.

She produced a big effort to finish runner-up in that Group 2 contest at York and should appreciate the additional half-furlong here. This also appears a less demanding assignment and the presence of Ryan Moore in the saddle only adds to her appeal.

The bookmakers currently rate Atlantic Bridge as the most likely danger, but UK raider Mehmas Star is arguably more interesting.

Karl Burke's runner requires considerable improvement now stepping into stronger company, but he's entitled to progress from his debut and could be capable of picking up another placed finish.

Star Of State is understandably short in the betting, but her price reflects the strength of her claims and she should prove difficult to beat.

STAR OF STATE (WIN)

14:30 DONCASTER

Military Code improved for stepping up in trip after disappointing in a pair of five-furlong contests earlier in the season.

He displayed plenty of ability as a two-year-old and, if capable of rediscovering that earlier promise, has the talent to make his presence felt.

Preference, however, is for Wechaad.

The former course-and-distance winner hasn't tasted success since winning at this meeting 12 months ago, but his four starts this season have provided enough encouragement to suggest another victory isn't far away. Returning to a track where he's already proven himself could be just what he needs.

At a bigger price, the lightly raced Samra Green is an interesting contender for Karl Burke, whose runners have enjoyed plenty of success at Doncaster. She'll need to improve now stepping up in grade, but remains unexposed and could be capable of making the frame.

Wechaad's proven course-and-distance credentials earn him the vote.

WECHAAD (WIN)

14:50 CURRAGH

Former course-and-distance winners Green Empress and Alpha both look capable of putting up a serious challenge, but they'll need to produce something special to lower the colours of Sun Goddess.

The Ballydoyle runner has enjoyed an excellent debut season and already has multiple Group-race victories to her name. She produced another high-class performance when successful at York in August and arrives here setting a clear standard for the opposition.

It might be the obvious selection and there won't be any fancy prices available, but sometimes the obvious answer is also the right one.

Green Empress and Alpha can make her work for victory, but it's difficult to envisage anything other than another success for Sun Goddess if she reproduces her best form.

SUN GODDESS (WIN)

15:05 DONCASTER

The only Group race on Sunday's Doncaster card provides a much trickier puzzle and, with a sizeable field going to post, searching for some value away from the market leaders looks the sensible approach.

Forty Years On and Touleen deserve their positions towards the head of the betting and both are more than capable of adding another victory to their respective records. From a punting perspective, however, neither makes enormous appeal at such short odds in a competitive field.

The runner who looks overpriced at the time of writing is Arabian Dusk.

He made a belated seasonal return last month and produced an encouraging third despite having been off the track for an extended period. He's entitled to improve significantly for that outing and should arrive much fitter this time around.

Previous Doncaster experience is another positive, having finished runner-up on his only appearance at the track, while his yard has already enjoyed success during this meeting.

There are enough positives to suggest Arabian Dusk can take another step forward and he makes considerably more appeal as an each-way proposition than the shorter-priced runners at the head of the market.

ARABIAN DUSK (E/W)

15:25 CURRAGH

Comanche Brave looks to hold a leading chance for Ireland following an impressive victory in the July Cup at Newmarket.

She returns to the Curragh having already tasted success at the track, but the drop to the minimum trip raises a significant question. She's never won over five furlongs and, despite possessing the class required to win, that makes her worth opposing at a short price.

The consistent Time For Sandals has also attracted support, although she shares a similar concern having yet to deliver over the minimum distance.

Mission Central makes greater appeal. He's unbeaten in two previous starts over this course and distance and has already demonstrated his effectiveness over five furlongs. If the market leaders fail to perform to expectations, he looks capable of delivering for the home team.

The Mrs Fitri Hay-owned pair Starlust and Jakajaro are others worthy of consideration and both make viable each-way alternatives.

However, we're going to take a much bigger chance on Partisan Hero.

His latest performance at York can readily be forgiven, but two starts earlier he produced a strong effort over this course and distance. This represents a tougher assignment, yet a repeat of that previous Curragh performance could be enough to see him outrun substantial odds.

It's certainly a tentative selection, but at the likely price he's worth a small each-way interest.

PARTISAN HERO (E/W)

15:40 DONCASTER

Ernst Blofeld endured a slightly luckless passage when finishing two places behind today's rival Say What You See last time and looks capable of reversing that form.

If Callum Rodriguez can ensure his mount enjoys a cleaner run through the race, there's every reason to believe he can get considerably closer this time.

Godolphin's Valedictory has enjoyed a productive season but may now be feeling the effects of the handicapper, with his last two performances suggesting his current mark is beginning to prove restrictive.

Dancing In Paris would also command respect on the pick of his form, although he's expected to take up his Saturday engagement instead and therefore looks unlikely to line up here.

In another competitive handicap, Ernst Blofeld looks capable of outperforming his odds and earns the each-way vote.

ERNST BLOFELD (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock