ATR gave the armchair viewer a real treat by covering all the races from Doncaster over the four days. Channel 4’s coverage of four races on Friday and Saturday was as usual excellent. Highlight on Friday was Septimus showing what a good stayer he is by winning the Doncaster Cup. He looks a ready made replacement for Yeats when he has finished racing. As expected Yeats won the Irish St Leger for Aidan O’Brien but only after a struggle with his stable companion Scorpion. The Aidan O’Brien quartet had to watch Lucarno win the Doncaster St Leger. He was clearly the best horse on the day but I cannot help thinking if the race was run again we would have a different result. Macarthur was hemmed in against the rails when looking full of running and even clipped Mahler’s heels which did not help his run to the line. Johnny Murtagh considered the pace was not quick enough for Honolulu when interviewed after the race. It was certainly Lucarno’s finishing speed that won him the race. John Gosden stated that Lucarno would be kept to the mile and half races next year.

Also at Doncaster, where the crowds were huge on Saturday, Fullanby won the Portland Sprint and could follow up under a penalty in the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday 22nd September.

At the Curragh on Sunday New Approach showed he was something special when winning the National Stakes. He is now ante-post favourite for next years 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Over in France on Sunday Passage of Time showed that she does stay one and half miles when running third in the Prix Vermeille. The excuse for her Oaks flop was that she did not stay.

As usual the Arc trials were not very conclusive. Manduro beat Mandesha in the Prix Foy. Unfortunately Manduro’s racing career has been curtailed through an injury sustained in the race. Andre Fabre has stated that he was the best horse he has trained. Some compliment considering the good horses he has trained over the years. Soldier of Fortune won the Prix Niel. It will be interesting to see who Aidan O’Brien runs in the Arc. He has Soldier of Fortune who would be helped by softish ground, Dylan Thomas, Peeping Fawn and possibly Yeats. It is building up into an interesting race in Paris on Sunday 7th October where Authorized remains the ante-post favourite.