ITV Racing Tips: Best Bets for St Leger Saturday at Doncaster

Saturday afternoon sees the ITV crew split their resources between Chester and Doncaster. As ever, the Yorkshire venue takes centre stage at this time of year with the fifth and final Classic of 2025.

First run in 1776, the 1m6½f St Leger Stakes is rapidly closing in on its 250th edition, making it one of the most historic contests in the world. Here, using information presented by NewBettingSites.uk, we pick out our three best bets on the Doncaster card, and highlight a standout new player promotion for sports betting fans.

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1:50pm – Betfred Champagne Stakes

All the money has come for the Andrew Balding-trained Gewan in the opening Group race on the card. Two from two to date, there’s a lot to like about the son of Night Of Thunder. The market leader should go well, but we have been equally impressed with Godolphin’s main hope for the race, Saba Desert. Opening up with a Maiden success at Sandown in June, he stepped up in class to tackle the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at the Newmarket July meeting. Despite a troubled passage, he mastered the Aidan O’Brien runner Italy by 1¼l that day. With Italy finishing 1½l behind Gewan last time out in the Acomb Stakes, Saba Desert looks excellent value at 5/1.

Recommended Bet: Saba Desert to win @ 5/1 with VirginBet.

3:00pm Betfred Park Stakes

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin also have solid claims in the race preceding the St Leger. Not far off the top of the tree in his juvenile campaign, Shadow Of Light kicked off 2025 with a close third in the 2000 Guineas. Fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat last time, he’s the one to beat but is priced accordingly. At more than twice the price of the market leader, the one to carry our cash is Ten Bob Tony. Successful three times over this 7f trip, rain-softened good ground should be ideal for the four-year-old, who mastered 7f specialist Kinross in the John Of Gaunt Stakes. Given a break since that effort in May, he arrives fresher than most and can get on top late.

Recommended Bet: Ten Bob Tony to win @ 5/1 with VirginBet.

3:40pm Betfred St Leger Stakes

Last but by no means least, the big one, as the cream of the three-year-old stayers lock horns in the final Classic of 2025. Successful in each of the past two seasons, Aidan O’Brien is responsible for the warm favourite in the shape of Goodwood Cup hero Scandinavia. A Group 1 winner with guaranteed stamina, he may prove tough to beat. However, we just prefer another. Back in June, Paddy Twomey’s Carmers finished 1½l clear of Scandinavia when claiming the 1m6f Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. Raced only once since, he suffered the first defeat of his career in the Great Voltigeur Stakes. However, the 1m4f trip was always likely to be on the short side, and he stayed on really well to grab second behind the back-to-form Pride Of Arras. That effort should tee him up nicely for this, and he can claim a famous success.

Recommended Bet: Carmers to win @ 4/1 with VirginBet.