British Spot Plays: Doncaster for Sept. 10, 2026

The world’s oldest classic, the St Leger (G1), will have its 250th running on Saturday. To put that in perspective, the St Leger predates the Kentucky Derby (G1) by nearly a century. 

Before we get to that, Doncaster will be hosting other Group stakes this week during its St Leger Festival, beginning with a pair of races for fillies on Thursday.

Winning post-time favorites have been the bane of my existence over the past six weeks or so, beating eight of my last 10 selections in this column. I soldier on, though, with a British bankroll sitting at $983.75 from an original starting point of $500. I will wager 5% of the outstanding balance to win on the following selections; the first play is for $49.

Race 4: Park Hill (G2), 10 a.m. ET

The fillies’ version of the Leger over the same extended 1 3/4-length distance has attracted a familiar field of stayers, and the value perhaps lies with #3 Fairy Glen (9-2). 

There wasn’t much separating her and male foe Caballo de Mar (who is bound for Friday’s Doncaster Cup [G2]) earlier this season, with Fairy Glen landing the Dubai Gold Cup (G2) by a half-length and Caballo de Mar returning the favor by less than a length in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (G1). That was a blanket finish to the Longchamp feature, with 2025 Park Hill winner Santorini Star barely missing in second.

Although the layoff of nearly four months is a concern, Fairy Glen has almost always been in the mix, and the projected slightly firmer conditions, based on this week’s forecast, might prove more suitable ground for her.

Race 5: May Hill (G2), 10:35 a.m. ET

I’m not one to endorse many favorites or likely favorites, but sometimes if you can’t beat them, you might as well join them.

I kept going back to #5 Musical Times (8-5), and I think the morning line would be a fair price if it holds, which it might not. The Lope de Vega juvenile has looked quite progressive in winning a pair of novices and now steps up in class in what looks like a modest renewal of this race in terms of depth.

Musical Times’ dam, Dubai Fountain, finished second in this race in 2020, and I don’t think it would take much improvement from her first daughter to make amends for that.