3rd September 2015

Hi ,

Good start to the month with my DOUBLE MAX bet French Press romping in at Hamilton at 5/4 following on from a string of winners at the end of August keeping the troops happy.

News hit the Huntingdon press room on Monday afternoon that Pin up girl Hayley Turner (32) was quiting the saddle to develop her media career I wish Hayley good luck, but please do not go on that dreadful I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here you're better than that.

The 2015 Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster is now just a week away. Britain's final Classic of 2015, the Ladbrokes St Leger, plus the Group Two At The Races Champagne Stakes and the Group Two Saint Gobain Weber Park Stakes on Town moor next Saturday.

All three contests take place on Ladbrokes St Leger Day, which is the fourth and final day of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival at Doncaster.

Order Of St George is one of six horses going forward for Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien in the £650,000 Group One feature, the Ladbrokes St Leger, and is now the 11/4 favourite for the Classic with Coral following a facile seven and half-length victory in the Group Three Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh on August 23.

Storm The Stars is next best at 7/2 after cementing his credentials with a gutsy half-length victory over Bondi Beach in what is usually the best trial for the Classic, the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on August 19.

It was a deserved success for the son of Sea The Stars, who was Classic-placed in both the Investec Derby and Irish Derby over 12 furlongs. He finished third to Golden Horn in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs on June 6 and came second to Jack Hobbs in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 27. Storm The Stars then ran third in another Group One contest over a mile and a half, the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on July 14.

He now steps up in distance to the one mile, six furlongs and 132 yards of the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster on September 12.

The Great Voltigeur Stakes has proved a key trial for Doncaster, with Enke (2012), Mastery (2009) and Lucarno (2007) all using it as a stepping stone to Ladbrokes St Leger glory in recent years.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum, said: "Storm The Stars has come out of York in great form and everything is fine with him."

"I thought it was a good performance in the Voltigeur. He was game and really stuck his head down in the final furlong."

"The form of that race looks strong and I think he is the one they all have to beat at Doncaster. The others need to improve to beat him - I'm not saying they won't but they need to."

"I think he will be more effective over a mile and three quarters. He wants this trip."

John Gosden has won three of the last eight renewals of the final Classic, most recently with Masked Marvel in 2011, and is set to rely on Mr Singh. The son of High Chaparral has not run since making all to win the Group Three Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on July 9.

France has two contenders going forward in the shape of Sumbal, Francis Graffard), who has not run since staying on into fifth in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) in May, and the Mikel Delzangles-trained Vengeur Masque.

Toulon back in 1991 was the last French-trained winner of the Ladbrokes St Leger. Richard Hughes was granted a trainer's licence last week by the BHA the former three time champion jockey is only 5/1 with the bookmakers to get off to a winning start.

Clive Cox was delighted with Kodi Bear's win in the Celebraction Mile at goodwood last week and is now 6/1 for the Queen Elizabeth ll Stakes at Ascot in October.

At Haydock Park on Saturday in the Betfred Sprint Cup Danzeno has been well backed this week 7/1 from 9/1 with Ladbrokes a big run is fully expected by connections in the 6f dash.

Yours in sport.

Back Next Thursday.

Kevan Minter - The Colonel.

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