Sun readers will LOVE the name of this filly I think has a brilliant chance at Chester on Saturday
I DON’T have a runner in today’s St Leger — so I can give my whole-hearted backing to Desert Hero.
If he can win the race for King Charles and Queen Camilla it will be absolutely incredible for the sport.
I’d love to see Desert Hero win the St Leger – it would be brilliant for our sportPA
We all know how much Queen Elizabeth loved her racing and, for decades, she was one of the industry’s greatest supporters.
The new Royal era started with a fantastic win by Tom Marquand and Desert Hero in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and the pair then went on to win the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
If the William Haggas-trained colt can find a way to continue his winning streak by ending the long Royal wait for a Classic victory — with a horse bred by the late Queen — it would be a great story.
Failing that, Frankie signing off in the St Leger with a win on Arrest, would be a pretty decent back-up.
Frankie and Tom riding out the finish is what I’d love — with (sorry, Frankie!) Tom getting the nod in a photo!
It’s a shame we don’t have anything for the race this year as it has long been one I’d love to win.
It’s got a very rich history and when they increased the prize-money about ten years ago it really gave the race a new lease of life.
We’ve come close a few times — Berkshire Rocco was second in 2020 — and it’s on my bucket list for sure.
In other news, I had an unexpected but pleasant arrival recently when I was sent a beautifully-bred, unraced two-year-old colt by James Wigan.
OFFERS OF THE DAY
Tote: Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Virgin Bet: Bet £10 Get £20 in free bets – CLAIM HERE
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets – CLAIM HERE
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as Cash if it Loses – CLAIM HERE
Sky Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Horse Racing Bets – CLAIM HERE
Tote: New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £5 and win or lose you will receive £20 Tote Credit. £20 Tote Credit rewarded as £10 redeemable against racing bets only and £10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. New UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org
Virgin Bet: New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ begambleaware.org
Betfair: New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+ begambleaware.org
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Sky Bet: 18+NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 3 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ONLY REDEEMABLE ON HORSE RACING. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. NO FREE BET EXPIRY. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+ Begambleaware.org
There is only one problem — he’s called Portsmouth.
As a big Southampton fan, I’ve received no end of grief about it.
I’ve thought about changing his name by deed poll but apparently that’s bad luck.
Hopefully he turns out to be a superstar and it will just about make up for it.
However, given I scribble my thoughts for you guys in this paper every week, I do have a rather brilliantly-named horse running at Chester today.
PAGE THREE, who we recently picked up from Keith Dalgleish, goes in the lucky last and I hope she will run a big one!
But our main chances of the day come at Donny, and we start with good old KING’S LYNN (2.25) in the Portland Handicap.
We haven’t seen him since the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood which was run on atrocious ground.
He has been a great servant to the yard over the years and he is in good form at home, and he has a great record at the track.
I fancy him to run well, for all he is still high enough in the weights off a mark of 104.
The very talented SANDRINE (3.00) has a big chance in the Group 2 Park Stakes.
She was just taking life a bit easy at home and on the track, but it was great to see her respond well to a visor at York last time.
She ran a cracker to finish a close third behind Kinross and Audience, who she takes on again here, and we are hoping she can build on that.
And one thing is for sure — she will love the soft ground.
MASEKELA (4.10) runs in the ten-furlong handicap but you’re better off asking him how he is going to run!
He has become a very frustrating horse, but he has run well at this track in the past and I thought he shaped with a bit of promise at York last time.
It’s his second run since a wind op but, I’ll be honest, we have no idea what to expect.
And we run a lovely two-year-old called BELLUM JUSTUM (4.45) in the mile maiden.
He is a very good-looking son of Sea The Stars and he has shown us a good deal at home.
He was a good second at Newmarket last time out and I’d be hopeful he will take another step forward this afternoon.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.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 chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
