Doncaster St Leger Festival 2025 day one betting tips

The St Leger Festival gets underway at Doncaster on Thursday, with Day 1 setting the tone for four days of top-class racing and betting action.

Known for its competitive fields, lively markets, and early chances to spot value, the opening day in South Yorkshire offers punters a perfect opportunity to get ahead in the Festival.

Ladies Day looks a belter and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Moon Target out again in the Group 2 May Hill Stakes. She looks a big filly with plenty of scope for further progression. The action leads nicely into the Doncaster Cup which is the feature race on Friday before the final Classic of the season, the St Leger itself on Saturday.

Top Doncaster St Leger Festival offer

Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 1 (Thursday) tips

• 1.15 Gwen John 11/2 each way
• 1.50 Brussels 4/1 each way
• 2.25 Moon Target 2/1 NAP
• 3.00 Consent 9/2 each way
• 3.35 Hopewell Rock 11/2 each way
• 4.10 Mr Writer 9/2 each way
• 4.43 Mcmurray 9/2 each way
• 5.15 Explode 3/1 NEXT BEST

Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for Doncaster St Leger Festival on Thursday

Find my top tips for today’s racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:

Doncaster 1.15 British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies’ Nursery (Class 2) 61/2f

I have seen enough from GWEN JOHN to think she could be a big player here. She went close on debut before improving to land a gamble at Windsor last month. She was denied a neck at Carlisle last time but got caught wide and I don’t think that track suited. She has more to come back up slightly in trip now pitched into a nursery and I expect her to be better than a mark of 78 so worth chancing at the prices.

Karl Burke does well in this race and Half Sovereign is on an upward curve but there is little value in her price and she might be opposable now. Rogue Temptation was beaten at Ripon but is another one who can do better so might be the danger.

Trends

• 5 of the last 10 winners were favourites or joint favourites
• 2 of the last 8 winners were trained by Karl Burke
• Last year’s winner came from stall 12
• 7 of the last 8 winners carried 9 stone 3lb or less

Bet on GWEN JOHN each way at 11/2 with Midnite

Doncaster 1.50 Weatherbys Scientific 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (Class 2) 6f111y

The drop back to 6f here looks a big plus for BRUSSELS and he should have more to come now. He looked a nice prospect winning at the Curragh on debut and while he has been beaten twice since he hasn’t done a great deal wrong and just seemed to get outstayed at Tipperary. Soumillon rides and if tucked in behind the pace I can see him swooping late.

Jel Pepper finished in front of the selection at Newmarket but that track would have suited him better. He has been beaten since at Naas but could get back to his best here and emerge as the biggest threat.

Trends

• 2 of the last 6 winners were trained by Andrew Balding
• 5 of the last 8 winners were drawn 3 or lower
• 3 of the last 5 winners won on their last run before
• The last 3 winners have all carried 9 stone 2lb or more

Bet on BRUSSELS each way at 4/1 with talkSPORT BET

Doncaster 2.25 May Hill Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2) 1m (Straight)

I have been waiting to see MOON TARGET run again as I don’t think she lost much in defeat at Goodwood. She had won her first two starts in the style of a nice prospect and then bumped into another improver in the shape of Precise last time. She stuck to the task well suggesting this straight mile will prove ideal and I think there is plenty more to come yet.

Aylin is also going the right way and she impressed winning in testing ground at Goodwood on penultimate start. She was third behind the selection last time and could be the one to give her most to think about here.

Trends

• 5 of the last 12 winners were favourites and 10 of 12 top 3 in the betting
• 7 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before
• 5 of the last 12 winners had a rating of 100 or higher
• 10 of the last 12 winners had at least 2 runs that season and 12 of 12 at least 1 win

Bet on MOON TARGET to win at 2/1 with bet365

Doncaster 3.00 Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Fillies’ & Mares’ Group 2) 1m6f115y

I’m hoping it will be a quick-fire double for trainer Sir Mark Prescott as CONSENT looks a filly going places. She stayed on strongly to win at Newbury on reappearance and then just bumped into one over in France last month. She has bundles of stamina so up in trip again I can see her improving a fair bit and I’m surprised she isn’t closer to the favourite Danielle.

The latter does look the danger as the yard have done well in this race and she has been knocking on the door recently bumping into Estrange here and then Waardah at Goodwood. Her form is solid so it should be a good race between the pair. I’ll probably be covering a reverse forecast for some insurance.

• 7 of the last 12 winners were aged 3
• 4 of the last 12 winners were favourites or joint favourites
• 8 of the last 12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting
• 6 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before

Bet on CONSENT each way at 9/2 with Betfred

Doncaster 3.35 Oddschecker Handicap (Class 2) 1m2f43y

First Principle won as expected at Windsor last month and has now won 2 of his 3 starts so he is feared but HOPEWELL ROCK looks better value. He won his first two starts before having excuses at Newbury last time. Left off an unchanged mark with this test likely to suit I think he could bounce back with a big run here.

Devil’s Advocate struggled at Windsor last month but it is still early days and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him bounce back and get competitive. Wolf Of Badenoch is another one I expect to get back on track at some point so keep an eye out for him at a huge price.

• Favourites are 0/2 in this race
• The last two winners were priced 9/1 and 10/1
• Jamie Spencer rode the winner last year
• Trainer Hugo Palmer won the race last year

Bet on HOPEWELL ROCK each way at 11/2 with bet365

Doncaster 4.10 JHA Architecture Nursery (Class 3) 7f6y

Now pitched into a nursery if MR WRITER settles better I think he could be a danger to all off an opening mark of just 78 here. Both the track and ground look perfect and if he gets cover early and drops his head I think he could be capable of a big performance with Oisin Murphy an eye-catching jockey booking too.

Moonfall left backers down when last seen but that was in the Superlative so now tried in a nursery should find this easier. Special Dividend should run well too in an open looking race on paper.

• 2 of the last 5 winners were favourites
• 4 of the last 5 winners carried 9 stone 1lb or more
• 3 of the last 4 winners were rated 87 or higher
• 4 of the last 5 winners were drawn 4 or lower

Bet on MR WRITER each way at 9/2 with Midnite

Doncaster 4.43 Yates Drywall Ltd Nursery (Class 3) 1m (Straight)

I wanted to be against Pacifica Pier at a short enough price. He impressed winning on debut but I thought he looked a bit one paced at Newmarket last month and this is more competitive than the betting suggests. I prefer MCMURRAY who showed a smart turn of foot to win going away at Ffos Las last month and should take another step forward now in a nursery tackling a straight mile.

Boiling Over finally got off the mark at Leicester albeit by just a nose and if building on that could be one of the dangers. Laureate Crown could also be suited by this trip so is another one to note.

Bet on MCMURRAY each way at 9/2 with SBK

Doncaster 5.15 Winners Wear Skopes Menswear Handicap (Class 3) 1m3f197y

I’m keen to side with the most unexposed horse in the field here in EXPLODE for James Ferguson. This 3yo by Sottsass left rivals standing to make all and land a gamble at Salisbury last month. I was impressed with how he went through the gears and now tackling a mile and a half on handicap debut there could be even more to come. Oisin Murphy is back in the saddle and it wouldn’t surprise me if he turned into a big market mover.

Muhaajim is likeable and ran well bumping into one at Kempton last time. His win at Pontefract was quite smooth so if back to his best he could make a race of it. Munsif needs to get back on track but could be suited by this test as well so is respected too.

Bet on EXPLODE to win at 3/1 with Betfred

My top tip for Thursday’s racing at the St Leger Festival

The way MOON TARGET won her first two starts she looked an exciting filly and I really don’t think she did much wrong bumping into Precise at Goodwood. She has more to come and the yard are red-hot so she should make it 3 wins from 4 starts. EXPLODE is also a strong play in the lucky last as he is very much the unknown quantity in the race and I think there is a lot of improvement to come yet.

Bet a Win Double on MOON TARGET and EXPLODE at 10/1 with bet365

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.