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Horse Racing

Generation looks great in Sceptre Stakes

September 2024

A return to 1400m can enable Great Generation to get back on the winning trail in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes at Doncaster on Sunday.

Successful on two of her three juvenile starts for Marco Botti last season, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor broke through at Group-race level when landing the Chartwell Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield over this specialist distance in May.

With opportunities over 1400m limited, she dropped back to 1200m for the Summer Stakes at York in July and ran perfectly respectably, beaten just a length into fourth place and finishing only a short head behind last weekend's Sprint Cup third Unequal Love.

Botti's filly had her limitations exposed at Group One level in the Prix Maurice de Gheest last month, but dropping down in class over her favoured distance, she should make her presence felt.

Good Earth can continue his resurgence in the opening Pertemps Network Handicap.

Michael Herrington's sprinter was rated in the low 90s this time last year, but a disappointing start to the current campaign saw him drop to a mark of 76 last month and he took full advantage, scoring comprehensively at Newmarket as a well backed favourite.

The victory clearly did his confidence good as he defied a 5lb rise to follow up at Sandown a week later and he looks well placed to complete his hat-trick on a track where he has won before, despite another 3lb rise.

The fast-improving Ten Pounds is difficult to oppose in the Betfred City Of Doncaster Handicap.

Harry Charlton's charge has not looked back since finishing a promising fourth as a 50-1 shot for his Newbury debut, with comfortable novice wins at Newcastle and Leicester followed by a lucrative Racing League success on his handicap debut.

An opening mark of 90 seriously underestimated the son of Ten Sovereigns as he won with plenty in hand and a 9lb rise does not look insurmountable for a horse who could still have more to give.

It will be interesting to see whether Grand National-winning jockey David Mullins can get a tune out of Heather Main's English Spirit in the Graham Lee Vickers.Bet Leger Legends Classified Stakes.

The six-year-old has not got his head in front since January, but ran well in defeat when third at Epsom last time out and is 2lb below his last winning mark.

It is not too difficult to make a strong case for Al Sayah in the Betting.Bet Win £50 Bath Summer Stayers' Series Final Handicap at Bath.

A dual winner over hurdles in May, Neil Mulholland's filly then switched back to the Flat in June and made a mockery of her mark of 59 with an 8.5-length demolition job.

A 9lb hike is offset slightly by the 3lb claim of Sean D Bowen and another bold bid looks assured if she is the same form after a break.

Dain Ma Nut In can make it back-to-back course and distance wins in the Alexa Play Heart Scotland Handicap at Musselburgh, while there is some top-class action to look forward to on day two of the Irish Champions Festival at the Curragh.

Star stayer Kyprios can stamp his class on the Irish St. Leger, his stablemate Bedtime Story should maintain her unbeaten record in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and Archie Watson's British raider Bradsell is expected to supplement his brilliant Nunthorpe victory in the Flying Five. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

BATH: 14.57 Renesmee, 15.32 Bownder, 16.07 All Ways Glamorous, 16.40 Al Sayah, 17.20 Connie's Rose, 17.55 Wedgewood, 18.30 Vellner.

CURRAGH: 14.50 Torivega, 15.25 Elizabeth Jane, 16.00 Bedtime Story, 16.35 Bradsell, 17.10 Aomori City, 17.45 Kyprios, 18.20 Sky Advocate, 18.55 Wigmore Street.

DONCASTER: 15.05 Venture Capital, 15.40 Ten Pounds, 16.15 GREAT GENERATION (NAP), 16.45 English Spirit, 17.15 King's Lynn, 17.50 French Mistress, 18.25 Aramram.

MUSSELBURGH: 15.10 Hardman, 15.45 Soul Singer, 16.22 Aye Up Lass, 16.55 Dain Ma Nut In, 17.30 Spring Is Sprung, 18.05 Freddy Robinson, 18.35 Space Ninja.

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