Horse Racing Tips: Ed Quigley’s Doncaster St Festival Best Bets for Saturday

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Written By Ed Quigley | Published at September 12, 2026
Newmarket Horse Race

It's a seven-race afternoon card on Saturday, 12 September, at the Doncaster St Festival, headlined by the Betfred St Leger Stakes.

Horse racing expert Ed Quigley shares his Doncaster best bets and horse racing tips for each race below.

Check out the top horse racing betting sites in the UK to line shop for the best odds for each bet.

Ed Quigley's Doncaster Best Bets for Saturday, 12 September

*All odds via bet365 Sportsbook.

Betfred St Leger Stakes Tips - 1m6f, Group 1 (3.35 Race)

Well, we have the big one, and this looks like a wonderful renewal, with the maestro Aidan O'Brien in search of his fourth consecutive win in this race. The oldest Flat Racing Classic in the world celebrates its 250th year, and Mr O'Brien will be on the hunt for another victory. The Ballydoyle handler is well stocked this time around, with four of the intended 11 runners representing his yard, and according to the market, the Derby winner, Christmas Day, has the best chance of succeeding from his stable. The step up to this trip looks perfect for him, given the ground is what sees him at his best, so any more rain that falls on Town Moor will be appreciated. He has been beaten in both starts since his big day at Epsom, so he will have to raise his game once more in order to become the first horse since Reference Point in 1987 to complete the Derby/St Leger double.

The individual I like here has been supported in recent days, and that is for Aidan's son Joseph O'Brien, and ENCELADUS looks to have major claims of winning for the fourth time in a row. The Sea The Stars colt has been very impressive all season, and was last seen winning the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in impressive fashion, and looks to have all the tools needed to get the job done here. He looks like a relentless galloper with plenty of class, and the opposition will really have to be at the top of their game in order to topple him. Billy Loughnane is having a wonderful season, and he will be relishing the chance to add a massive prize to his CV as Enceladus steps into battle here as a warm favorite.

Of the others, Pierre Bonnard was a very smart 2-year-old, but things haven't quite gone to plan as perhaps connections would have hoped, having been winless this campaign. However, he has been far from poor, including when third in the Irish Derby, and he reversed the form on Christmas Day when finishing one place ahead of him in second at York last month. He is a quirky sort, but this is just the sort of test that ignites his appetite, and he shapes as though a proper test of stamina shouldn't be an issue. Wayne Lordan takes the ride on the colt, and this combination shouldn't be dismissed from the equation.

Best Bet: Enceladus (9/4)

1-2-3 Trifecta Tips for St Leger Stakes

Ed Quigley's Next Best Bet for Doncaster on Saturday: More Thunder @ 2.25

This is a golden opportunity for the William Haggas-trained MORE THUNDER to get back to winning ways, as undoubtedly he is the class act in this encounter. The 5-year-old has been rattling the crossbar in Group 1 company recently, including when beaten just half a length in Group 1 company in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He drops back to 7f for the first time this season, but he has plenty of winning form over this trip, so it shouldn't be an issue coming back down in distance as he has shown he has the raw gears in the past.

On paper, this is a bit easier than some recent assignments, and he can make his superiority count here. On official ratings, he has upwards of 5lb in hand over his rivals and should just have too much for the others here.

Tom Marquand takes the ride, underfoot conditions should be fine, and this combination should prove tough to beat here.

Best Bet: More Thunder (11/10)

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