Speedy Axis to rule for Barron

13 April 2012

Take a flyer on Axis when Doncaster's biggest meeting of the year gets under way with the St Leger Yearling Stakes.

Tomorrow's race will do well to emulate last year's renewal, which threw up the top-class sprinters Somnus and Airwave, but there are plenty of useful juveniles chasing a bumper £200,000 prize.

If Paradise and Cop Hill Lad dominated the finish to Newbury's Super Sprint and look sure to figure prominently again, while Cape Fear is a proven Pattern race performer who is entitled to start favourite after staying on well for fifth in the Gimcrack Stakes at York last month.

However, if last year's evidence is any guide those drawn middle-tohigh could have the edge, in which case Axis (nap) will have plenty going for him. David Barron's Pivotal colt is by the same sire as Somnus and is progressing very well indeed, following his Hamilton maiden success with a fine second behind Blue Tomato in a hot nursery at York.

Speed is his forte, so expect him to be bang there from the off, and although he has something to find on the book it would come as no surprise to see him give his followers an excellet each-way run for their money here.

The draw could also have a role to play in what looks a typically complex Tote Trifecta Portland Handicap.

Nick Littmoden's progressive filly Ikan figured high on the short list until she came out of the ballot in stall 2. Last year's winner Halmahera looks to have fared better by drawing stall 15, but Connect and Ted Durcan look the safest option from a position right against the stand rails.

Consistency and a strong finish are this six-year-old's main attributes, and a reproduction of his recent form in equally hot handicaps will give him a fine chance of adding to his York win.

With an extended mile and six furlongs to cover, the draw will have no part to play in the ACMC Park Hill Stakes.

That doesn't make the race they call the fillies' St Leger a great deal easier to solve, but the in-form Durcan looks to have another good chance with Thingmebob.

This Bob Back filly has made steady improvement over the last two months. She had Singleton back in third when staying on strongly for second in the Galtres Stakes at York last month and could prove a better value option than the Irish raider L'Ancresse and last year's runner-up Treble Heights.

Channel 4's coverage gets under way with what looks a wide open EBF Carrie Red Fillies' Nursery at 1.45.

It's a race that should provide some valuable clues as to the effects of the draw, but in the belief that high numbers could be favoured Sky Galaxy (nb) gets the vote.

Ed Dunlop's filly has been given a break since finishing fifth in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and looks open to improvement now that she takes a slight step back in distance.

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Speedy Axis to rule for Barron

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