The ultra-competitive 6f Portland Handicap gets proceedings underway on St Leger Festival day 4 at Doncaster this Saturday (13:50), and Oxted looks cracking each-way value at the 14/1 on offer with BetVictor who are paying five places.
This Roger Teale trained three-year-old is a lightly-raced sort who has won once and been placed twice in just six outings.
After scoring in good style by 2 1/2 lengths om seasonal reappearance at Salisbury, the son of top sprinter Mayson ran a blinder when pitched into Listed company and finding only Khaadem half-a-length too good in the Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury.
The winner, whom he met on level weights, has since gone on to bolt up in the Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood off a mark of 107.
Khaadem was sent off 9/2 co-favourite off a rating of 116 when disappointing in last weekend’s Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock.
Space Traveller, who finished two lengths behind Oxted in third, has gone on to land the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot to be rated 113.
That gives the form an extremely strong look in relation to this. Oxted also comes into the race on the back of a fine half-a-length second to Dazzling Dan at Newmarket. He now meets that rival on 2lb better terms.
It gives him every chance of turning the tables with, and Oxted look potentially very well-treated off his current rating of 105 – judged on his run in the Carnarvon.
He also has the services of top apprentice Cieren Fallon in the saddle, who takes off a handy 3lb with his claim. Taking it into account, Oxted looks weighted to run a huge race.
Dazzling Dan another with each-way claims
Despite being worse off at the weights with Oxted, the aforementioned Dazzling Dan looks sure to give it his best shot and is another well worth considering each-way at 11/1 with William Hill, who also pay five places.
Trained by Pam Sly, this three-year-old has built up a solid profile and won two of his five starts this season.
The son of Dandy Man is a tough and tenacious sort who has won once and finished a head second in two starts over course and distance.
That track form is a big plus and he also has a 50 per cent strike rate in the class 2 grade of this.
With ground conditions also ideal, everything looks in place for a bold bid on St Leger Festival day 4.
Shine So Bright taken to dazzle in Park Stakes
Having taken the scalp of mighty multiple Group 1 winning mare Laurens last time out, Shine So Bright looks to hold outstanding claims of following-up in the 7f Group 2 Park Stakes (14:25).
That victory came in the similar grade City of York Stakes over 7f at the Knavesmire, where the Andrew Balding trained three-year-old set a searching gallop from flagfall and battled on tenaciously when strongly pressed inside the last to prevail by a nose.
Shine So Bright had Sir Dancealot a further four lengths behind in fourth. He’s fully expected to confirm the form with that re-opposing rival, who is now just 4lb better off at the weights.
Prior to that, the son of Oasis dream had made all on seasonal reappearance to beat aforementioned subsequent Jersey Stakes winner Space Traveller by 1 3/4 lengths in the Listed 7f European Free Handicap at Newmarket.
Shine So Bright was then far from disgraced when a 5 1/4 lengths sixth of 19 to Magna Grecia in the 2000 Guineas over a mile at headquarters, where he led the stands’ side group until getting headed at the furlong marker and weakening late on.
The trip found out Shine So Bright that day, but he is two from two over the 7f of this and the highest rated in the six-runner line-up off 115.
He also receives a handy 4lb weight-for-age allowance from Sir Dancealot, who is rated 1lb his inferior, so comes out nicely clear on adjusted figures.
Taking everything into account, there is simply nothing not to like about the chances of Shine So Bright in what doesn’t look the strongest renewals of the Park Hill. He is a strong fancy at 11/8 with Betfred.
Threat can be the toast of St Leger Festival day 4 in Champagne Stakes
In the 7f Group 2 Champagne Stakes for juvenile colts (15:00), Threat looks capable giving weight to his four rivals and bagging the valuable prize to further enhance his Classic claims
This Cheveley Park Stud owned son of Footstepsinthesand, who hails from the yard of Richard Hannon, made a winning debut at Newmarket when beating Electrical Storm in fine style by 2 1/4 lengths.
Threat then ran a cracker when stepped into Group 2 company and staying on strongly to finish a half-length runner-up to Arizona in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He backed that up with a solid three-quarters of a length runner-up to Golden Horde when sent off a heavily-backed 11/8 favourite for the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The winner has since finished a fine 2 3/4 lengths third to the very exciting and unbeaten Earthlight in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville, so the form looks rock solid.
Threat has since resumed winning ways in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes over 6f at York when beating Lord Of The Lodge by 1 1/4 lengths.
After being held-up in the earlier stages, he made good headway two from home and – once taking up the running approaching the final furlong – powered clear to win going away.
The front two pulled nicely ahead of the third home Repartee, who ran a blinder when runner-up in a valuable sales race here earlier in the week.
It was a most taking display which earned Threat quotes of 20/1 for next year’s 2000 Guineas.
Given the way in which he finished off that day, the extra furlong of this looks sure to suit Threat and he looks a worthy em>11/10 favourite with Betfair to follow-up.
