Doncaster's St Leger Festival begins on Thursday afternoon. ITV Racing will be showing the first five races on the card live, including a pair of Group Two contests and the valuable Weatherbys 2-Y-O Stakes.
Here are my best betting tips for Thursday's ITV Races at Doncaster.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Title |
|---|---|
| 1:15pm | British Stallion Studs 'Carrie Red' EBF Fillies' Nursery Handicap (Class 2) 6½f |
| 1:50pm | Weatherbys £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (Class 2) 6½f |
| 2:25pm | Pertemps Network Handicap (Class 2) 1m2f |
| 3:00pm | Betfred Park Hill Fillies' Stakes (Group 2) 1m6½f |
| 3:35pm | Betfred May Hill Stakes (Group 2) 1m |
ITV Racing Tips - Thursday 10th September
1:15pm Doncaster - Carrie Red Fillies' Nursery Handicap Tips
Karl Burke has a strong record in this two-year-old handicap, and he runs KODI BEAR LIGHT (14/1) in Thursday's opener.
A winner on her second outing at Thirsk in May, Kodi Bear Light disappointed as the favourite in the Hilary Needler at Beverley and was barely mentioned in the Super Sprint. Burke then stepped his filly up to seven furlongs at Newmarket last month, and Kodi Bear Light saw out the trip well to claim a narrow victory over the fancied Fire Thunder and 1/2 favourite Eabha.
Kodi Bear Light was only raised two pounds for that victory, and Jack Nicholls reduces her burden to just 8-6. The filly is bred to appreciate a bit of cut in the ground and should have no trouble with this slightly shorter trip.
1:50pm Doncaster - Weatherbys £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes Tips
Night In Vegas landed a big pot in an Auction Stakes at Newmarket last month, and Eve Johnson Houghton's colt is a short price to follow up in this similar contest. At the odds, I'll chance my arm with DORIGO (22/1), in the hope that he can claim his first victory in this valuable event.
Kevin Ryan's charge was narrowly beaten by Big Cigar on debut and then didn't run badly when seventh in the Windsor Castle Stakes. I backed Dorigo in a competitive maiden at Glorious Goodwood, where Kevin Stott looked to have seen the field off from the front, only for his mount to waver late on and open the door for the fast-finishing Agrippa.
Ryan dropped his colt back to five furlongs for the Listed Julia Graves Stakes at York last time out, where Dorigo was badly outpaced early on before staying on through beaten horses to finish fourth. The return to six furlongs should play to his strengths, and stall four looks like a favourable draw.
2:25pm Doncaster - Pertemps Network Handicap Tips
KING OF EARTH (9/2) was out of his depth in the Strensall Stakes at York, but should be much more comfortable back in handicap company on Thursday.
William Haggas' charge won nicely on his sole handicap start in Ireland back in June, where he was well backed before the off and held on gamely to win by a neck. The runner-up that day, Summer Is Tomorrow, has won well since and is now rated 102, while the third, who helped King Of Earth make the running, also scored next time out.
It was presumably the owner's decision to run in the Strensall, as King Of Earth isn't rated nearly high enough to contend at Group Three level. Haggas' four-year-old will shoulder just 9-00 as he returns to handicap company, and there could be plenty more to come in this sphere.
3:00pm Doncaster - Park Hill Stakes Tips
Read our full guide to the 2026 Park Hill Stakes to find out who we've backed in Thursday's feature.
Visit our Park Hill Stakes Live Stream page to watch any of Thursday's races via a mobile or tablet.
3:35pm Doncaster - May Hill Stakes Tips
Seasonal rivals BALLYSKEAGH (11/2) and Sea Of Rain will clash for a fourth time here at Doncaster, and I'm backing Joseph O'Brien's filly to gain revenge on her Irish counterpart.
The two met on debut at Roscommon at the end of June, with Sea Of Rain finishing third, two places ahead of the slow-starting Ballyskeagh. O'Brien's filly then reversed that form in a maiden at Leopardstown, where she was slowly away again but worked her way into contention nicely before pulling half a length clear late on.
Sea Of Rain then held on from the front to beat Ballyskeagh in the Group Three Newtownanner Stud Stakes at the Curragh. Once again, Ballyskeagh was one of the slowest out of the gates and couldn't quite chase down her rival, who made a race-winning burst at the three-furlong pole.
The pair are clearly well matched, but I fancy Ballyskeagh would have won that day with a better start, and softer ground at Doncaster should be in her favour. Hopefully, stall nine won't pose Joey Sheridan with any problems.