St Leger Festival Day 1 Tips and Previews (Thursday 10th September 2026)

Sep 9, 2026 - 16:30

The St Leger meeting always seems to come around quickly but it promises to be a cracking four days of racing at Doncaster. The rain has finally arrived, leaving the ground in perfect condition ahead of the Festival.

Day One is headlined by the Group 2 May Hill Stakes, where Waardah looks to have a great chance of confirming her Glorious Goodwood form and coming out on top.

There is plenty of competitive action elsewhere on the card and hopefully some good value to be found. Fingers crossed we can start the week with a few winners!

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St Leger Festival day 1 (Thursday) tips

1.15 Speed Of Sound – 5/2 with Ladbrokes
1.50 Night In Vegas – 6/4 with bet365 NAP
2.25 Knights Charge – 5/1 each way with William Hill
3.00 Waardah – 11/4 with Betfred
3.35 Musical Times – 7/4 with BetVictor NEXT BEST
4.10 Al Wathba – 5/2 with BoyleSports
4.45 Storm Blade – 7/2 with Paddy Power
5.20 Devil’s Peak – 2/1 with Coral

Joe’s best horse racing betting tips for St Leger Festival Day 1 (Thursday 10th September 2026)

Find my top tips for Thursday 10th September 2026 racing with odds from the best horse racing bookies below:

Doncaster 1.15 British Stallion Studs ‘Carrie Red’ EBF Fillies’ Nursery (Class 2) (2YO only) 61/2f

A lot of potential on display for the opener as you’d expect. This has been won by some nice types down the years and Karl Burke took it 12 months ago with the useful Half Sovereign. Richard Spencer could hold the key this time around with SPEED OF SOUND.

This Sioux Nation filly bumped into Sorrengail at Ascot and then improved to win at Yarmouth. That is strong form with the second and third both winning since and then she ran really well third to Sun Goddess at York last month. She has more to come and is worth keeping on side.

Wondervision looked a bundle of energy winning at Wolverhampton and is obviously unexposed so could improve and put up the most resistance. Art Of Life has run well the last twice and is another one who could take her form up a few notches here.

Bet on SPEED OF SOUND to win at 5/2 with Ladbrokes

Doncaster 1.50 Weatherbys 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2YO only) 61/2f

The money came for NIGHT IN VEGAS at Newmarket last month and he made no mistake switching to the rail and staying on strongly to win with a bit in hand.

The runner-up Zigazig Ah is a very good yardstick so there was a lot to like about that performance. He can improve again and it looks like they have mapped out these sales races for him so I expect him to be really tough to beat again.

Zigazig Ah opposes again and shouldn’t be underestimated as she is progressive herself. God Given Talent was a big eye-catcher at York last month running on strongly having been given a lot to do beaten just a length at the line.

Satellite Of Love is also promising but would need the rain to stay away to enhance his claims.

Bet on NIGHT IN VEGAS to win at 6/4 with bet365

Doncaster 2.25 Pertemps Network Handicap (GBB Plus Race) (Class 2) (3YO only) 1m2f

I was with KNIGHTS CHARGE at Nottingham last time and he improved again to win that. I thought he went through the race like a smart horse and was going away at the line from a heavily punted favourite in Bay Royale in second.

He has more to come now handicapping as his opening mark could be lenient and I want to keep him on side. He is a big strong colt who should have lots more improvement to come.

King Of Earth ran poorly at York last month but is obviously a lot better than that. If he bounces back he would be dangerous as these are calmer waters too.

Besieged is the one I fear most though as he bolted up at Salisbury and could easily take another step forward on handicap debut.

Bet on KNIGHTS CHARGE each way at 5/1 with William Hill

Doncaster 3.00 Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (Fillies’ & Mares’ Group 2) (Class 1) (3YO plus) 1m61/2f

Back from some 224 days off the track WAARDAH ran really well chasing home Estrange at Carlisle. She was given time after that and improved to miss just a head at Glorious Goodwood. Her form stacks up and if she settles better here should have a great chance to come out on top now.

She wears a hood which should help her drop her head and if Consent goes forward and it avoids turning tactical I can see her finishing best.

Danielle disappointed behind the selection at Goodwood but is better than that and could threaten most if bouncing back. She had won her previous two so she could easily prove dangerous. Prizeland impressed winning easily at York but this looks tougher again.

Bet on WAARDAH to win at 11/4 with Betfred

Doncaster 3.35 Betfred May Hill Stakes (Fillies’ Group 2) (Straight) (Class 1) (2YO only) 1m

I thought MUSICAL TIMES did really well to win on debut as inexperience very nearly got the better of her. She improved to follow up as expected at Yarmouth when last seen, pulling clear firmly on the bridle.

This straight mile should be right up her street and I fully expect her to make it a perfect 3-3 here. She holds a couple of fancy entries in the Rockfel and also the Fillies’ Mile and I think it is fairly obvious they think a fair bit of her.

Scommessa Sicura was just a neck behind the selection at Newmarket earlier in the season but did have an experience edge that day. She has held her form well since though beating Tall Trees next time and then bumped into one at Salisbury. She is consistent and can run well again.

Sea Of Rain has won two of her last three and impressed beating Ballyskeagh at the Curragh last month so is another one to note.

Bet on MUSICAL TIMES to win at 7/4 with BetVictor

Doncaster 4.10 Meadowhall X Flannels Beauty Bar Nursery (GBBPlus Race) (Straight) (Class 3) (2YO only) 1m

Another fascinating race as anything could improve in here but I liked what I saw from AL WATHBA at Kempton last month. He was also second to Haffner on debut which we now know is very strong form. He has more to come now handicapping and may well prove up to the task.

Waasil left his debut run behind to win at Beverley and then followed up at Newbury and that form has been franked with the second Victory Gold winning easily at Sandown since. He will likely go off favourite and does look the obvious threat. Zarakova is going the right way and is another one to note in a good race.

Bet on AL WATHBA to win at 5/2 with BoyleSports

Doncaster 4.45 East Midlands Airport And Jet2 Nursery (Class 3) (2YO only) 7f

I probably found this the toughest race of the day to try and dissect. I have come down on STORM BLADE but it is only a tentative vote. I thought he finished his race off well to close all the way to the line and go down just a length at Chester last time out.

The winner Velociraptor is a nice enough type so if he improves again now pitched into a nursery he could be a big player under Oisin Murphy.

Undiscovered will likely go off favourite but has a bit to prove after blowing out at Goodwood last time. He had looked promising prior to that blip though so he could be dangerous.

Rafe’s Da Man impressed last time and is bred to get even further than 7f in time so if the rain gets in he could be staying on well granted he handles it.

Bet on STORM BLADE to win at 7/2 with Paddy Power

Doncaster 5.20 Pertemps Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 3) (3YO plus) 1m4f

The drop back to a mile and a half looks a good move for DEVIL’S PEAK and with Buick back in the saddle (won on him at Newbury earlier in the season) there are clearly plenty of positives. He should have more to come off this mark over his optimum trip and I expect him to justify favouritism.

Itica impressed winning at Goodwood in testing ground and if the rain comes again he could be a player now handicapping. Masterinthewoods has been consistent since winning at Salisbury and is another one who could get involved in quite an open race on paper.

Bet on DEVIL’S PEAK to win at 2/1 with Coral

My top tip for Day 1 of Doncaster St Leger Festival

It would be great to kick off St Leger week with a winning double and I’m confident we can. NIGHT IN VEGAS is progressive and looks to have been targeted for this and MUSICAL TIMES is unbeaten and looks an exciting horse.

Bet a Win Double on NIGHT IN VEGAS and MUSICAL TIMES at 11/2 with bet365

About the author

Joe Norris

I’m Joe Norris, co-founder and Director of GetYourTipsOut (GYTO), which I launched in 2009 to provide daily sports betting tips, with the main focus on horse racing. Over the years, I’ve earned a reputation for offering reliable and profitable tips, which led to being named “Best Sports Betting Tipster” in 2023. Alongside my work at GYTO, I also contribute predictions to platforms like Oddschecker, allowing me to share my insights with a wide community of sports enthusiasts and bettors.

Find Joe on X: @JoeNorrisGYTO

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