Hoo Ya Mal trimmed for St Leger and Search For A Song backed for Irish hat-trick

He shocked punters when second in the Derby at 150-1 earlier in the summer, but Hoo Ya Mal has been popular in the betting for the Cazoo St Leger (3.55) at Doncaster today.

The Epsom runner-up boasts the highest official rating in the field and has been backed to threaten the favourite and his Gordon Stakes conqueror New London on Town Moor.

Hoo Ya Mal has been trimmed into as short as 6-1 from 15-2 last night for the final British Classic of the season, after which he will continue his career in Australia.

Despite being by a miler in Territories, he proved his aptitude for this trip when a cosy winner of the Group 3 March Stakes just 15 days ago. It was his first success since last year at York.

While Hurricane Lane justified favouritism in the St Leger last year, the race has also produced 25-1 and 22-1 shocks in the last decade. Those hopeful of other surprise winner have latched on to Lizzie Jean, who was as big as 200-1 on Friday. Her price now ranges between 40-1 and 80-1.

The last filly to win the race was Simple Verse, who triumphed in dramatic circumstances in 2015, and Lizzie Jean represents small Nottinghamshire trainer Ivan Furtado.

Furtado enjoyed Group-race success with Just Beautiful at this fixture last year and has secured the services of Hollie Doyle for the dual winner.

Going update

Significant rain on Thursday prompted a change in going at Doncaster and there has subsequently been a spate of non-runners.

Clerk of the course Paul Barker said: "The going has changed substantially from when horses were declared so I'm not surprised there are non-runners.

"We have had 16mm of rain since racing on Thursday and the going is now soft, good to soft in places on the straight course and good to soft, soft in places on the round."

The racecourse hosted a commemoration of The Queen in the parade ring from midday, when a video celebrating her love of horseracing was played. A two-minute silence was held, followed by the national anthem.

Search backed for third Irish St Leger

Dual winner Search For A Song has been supported to win her third Comer Group Irish St Leger (4.10) at the Curragh, with her price contracting to 12-1 from 16 last night.

The six-year-old mare won successive runnings in 2019 and 2020 and was sixth in the race to Sonnyboyliston last year.

She is owned by Moyglare Stud, who also own a share in the favourite Kyprios, and the colt leads the market at 11-10 following wins in the Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup this season.

Dermot Weld trained Vinnie Roe to win the race a record-breaking four times and he believes she will "run a big race", but she will have to reverse form with the reopposing Raise You, who beat her in the Group 3 trial for this race last time.

Another market mover to note at the Curragh is A Case Of You, who is as short as 5-1 to down Maurice de Gheest and Nunthorpe winner Highfield Princess in the Al Basti Equiworld, Flying Five Stakes (2.25).

Unbeaten filly Meditate is weak in the betting for the Moyglare Stud Stakes (3.00) at 5-4, with support coming for her rivals Tahiyra and Thornbrook.

The going is soft on the straight course and yielding on the round track.

Non-runners

Doncaster

1.00 Shine So Bright (going)
2.10 Night On Earth (going), Zargun (double declaration), Bergerac (going)
2.45 Island Brave (going), Haizoom (going)
3.20 Sacred (going), Jumby (going)
4.30 Astro King (going), Laasudood (going)
5.05 Fair Star (going), Mahrajaan (going)

Curragh

1.15 Verhoyen, Ice Cold In Alex
3.00 Sydneyarms Chelsea
5.20 Belloccio, Longbourn, Mosala, Yofordadoe

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