Doncaster St Leger Festival 2025 day two betting tips

The Doncaster St Leger Festival rolls into its second day on Friday, and the tempo only quickens.

After a lively opening, Day 2 brings a mix of competitive handicaps, Group level intrigue and the sort of betting puzzles that punters thrive on. With the action building towards Saturday’s showpiece, Friday feels like the point where the festival really hits its stride.

Centre stage is the historic Doncaster Cup, one of the crown jewels for stayers and a race steeped in tradition. It’s backed up by a strong supporting card packed with angles, from big-field handicaps to eye-catching prospects on the rise.

Whether you’re chasing each way value or siding with proven class, there’s no shortage of opportunities for sharp punters to get involved on St Leger Festival Friday.

Top Doncaster St Leger Festival offer

Doncaster St Leger Festival Day 2 (Friday) tips

• 1.15 – Shadow Dance 9/2 each way
• 1.50 – Hankelow 9/2 each way NAP
• 2.25 – Havana Hurricane 7/1 each way
• 3.00 – Hipop De Loire 9/2 each way
• 3.40 – Bosphorus Rose 7/1 each way
• 4.10 – Al Qaysiyya 4/1 each way
• 4.45 – Art Lover 9/2 each way NEXT BEST
• 5.20 – City Captain 6/1 each way

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

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

Doncaster 1.15 Betfred Mallard Handicap (Class 2) 1m61/2f

A tricky race to kick off but SHADOW DANCE will definitely find this easier than recent assignments and he could take a lot of beating here. He was only beaten half a length in this last year and off a similar mark should bounce back with a big run under Ray Dawson. He has only had a couple of runs over this trip so I expect there is more to come yet.

Synergism has been a typical improver for Sir Mark Prescott and despite getting beat at Newcastle last month arrives on a high and should run well again. Beylerbeyi is another one I expect to get competitive at least.

Bet on SHADOW DANCE each way at 9/2 with Midnite

Doncaster 1.50 Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes (Listed) 7f

Bags of potential on show here and any of 3 or 4 could win this but I do like HANKELOW following that impressive debut win at York back in June. He is by Night Of Thunder and certainly knew his job that day going forward and running on strongly to win by 2 and a bit lengths at the line. He will come forward significantly from that and looks a promising colt.

Catullus has more experience than most and won as expected at Yarmouth last month. He has more to come again and heads the dangers. Frescobaldi has a similar profile to the latter and is another one to note for Aidan O’Brien.

Bet on HANKELOW each way at 9/2 with talkSPORT BET

Doncaster 2.25 Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers Stakes (Group 2) 5f

I probably found this one of the toughest races on the card but I am going to give HAVANA HURRICANE another chance. He looked good beating Dickensian to win the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot earlier in the season. I know he has been beaten twice since but he looked unlucky in the Super Sprint and then found 6f against him in the Richmond. This minimum trip is ideal and he could be the one finishing best.

Lady Iman also has bags of speed and if you put a line through that run in the Nunthorpe she could be a big player in this company. Mission Central has been impressive the last twice but this definitely looks tougher and he might be vulnerable.

Trends

• 2 of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 3 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before
• 9 of the last 12 winners had a rating of 101 or higher
• 7 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 Group win

Bet on HAVANA HURRICANE each way at 7/1 with bet365

Doncaster 3.00 Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (Group 2) 2m2f

I know Sweet William won this race 12 months ago but he hasn’t won a race since and finds winning quite tricky these days. He may well go and defend his crown but I wouldn’t want to take a short price about him. HIPOP DE LOIRE makes more appeal for Willie Mullins. He impressed winning at Galway and then suffered a bit of a troublesome trip at York last month. He can do better again back up in trip and looks good value in the market.

Sunway looked a promising horse initially but he has been expensive to follow this season and would need to bounce back in a big way to spring an upset. Pendragon might go better than his price suggests.

• 8 of the last 12 winners were favourites
• 3 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before
• 10 of the last 12 winners were rated 110 or higher
• 8 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 win in a Group race

Bet on HIPOP DE LOIRE each way at 9/2 with Betfred

Doncaster 3.40 British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) 1m4f

Both market leaders Cape Flora and Perfect Your Craft have pressing claims but there isn’t much value in their odds and BOSPHORUS ROSE looks the value play. This filly by Golden Horn has looked hugely progressive and couldn’t have won any easier scoring by 3 lengths at Thirsk only last week. She has now won 4 of her last 5 and 3 straight. If she handles the quick turnaround I think she could be a danger to all in this.

Of the two market leaders Perfect Your Craft is probably the main threat. Chilli Queen arrives on a four-timer and shouldn’t be underestimated either.

Bet on BOSPHORUS ROSE each way at 7/1 with bet365

Doncaster 4.10 Coopers Marquees EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (Class 2) 7f

Whirl won this race last year for Aidan O’Brien so it will be interesting to see if there is another smart filly in action this time around. He saddles Amelia Earhart and while she has been beaten twice already she has shown potential and could do better. I like AL QAYSIYYA for Godolphin though as she looked to need the experience on debut behind Zanthos and should know a lot more this time around.

Classic Cuvee is likely to go off favourite as she was in front of the selection at Newmarket. She can do better so looks the biggest danger. Frankel filly Fractional is the most interesting of the debutants for William Haggas.

Bet on AL QAYSIYYA each way at 4/1 with Midnite

Doncaster 4.45 Tanbry Construction ‘Confined’ Nursery (Class 4) 6f

The way ART LOVER put the race to bed at Ffos Las last month was impressive. He chased home Hilitany before that too and that form looks even better now. He has more to come now pitched into a nursery for the first time and an opening mark of 87 may well underestimate him. Haggas is red-hot and it wouldn’t surprise me to see this colt backed in further.

Pinatubo colt Sword Maker came good at Redcar on his second start and had excuses at Ripon. This track will suit better and if he improves again he could emerge as the danger. Sovereign Spell is another one to note.

Bet on ART LOVER each way at 9/2 with SBK

Doncaster 5.20 Danum Homes Excellence In Build Apprentice Handicap (Class 4) 6f

A wide open finale and if you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know I don’t go mad in these apprentice events. A tentative vote goes to CITY CAPTAIN who won 3 of his first 4 starts for this yard before finishing an excellent fourth beaten less than a length at Southwell last month. That form has been boosted since too and with this long straight ideal he should be going close.

Knebworth was beaten less than a length at Lingfield on return from a short break and if building on that could have a chance in this. Woodstock was denied just a head at Ripon last time and is another one who must enter calculations.

Bet on CITY CAPTAIN each way at 6/1 with Betfred

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

The theme of the day is each way value so perhaps it won’t surprise you I’ve gone for this big double. HANKELOW is armed with a great deal of potential and if he improves again he could have a great chance to make it a perfect 2-2 in the Flying Scotsman. ART LOVER runs later in the day and I can see him being a bit of a gamble tackling handicap company for the first time.

Bet an Each Way Double on HANKELOW and ART LOVER at 30/1 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

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