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Dead-heat in Irish St Leger at the Curragh
4.10pm: Jukebox Jury and Duncan dead-heated to share the honours in the Irish Field St Leger at the Curragh. Duncan (5-1) was providing John Gosden with a famous big-race double as his Masked Marvel had earlier won the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.
The Mark Johnston-trained Jukebox Jury (4-1) set a strong gallop up front throughout, despite racing into a fierce headwind. Johnny Murtagh began to wind up the pace three furlongs out and it was all too much for the odds-on favourite Fame And Glory who was very disappointing.
Duncan looked all set to claim the honours as he cruised up under Eddie Ahern but in typical fashion for a Johnston-trained horse, Jukebox Jury just would not be denied.
Earlier, Power just held the late thrust of Dragon Pulse to land the Goffs National Stakes at the Curragh. PA
Masked Marvel wins St Leger at Doncaster
3.20pm: The St Leger at Doncaster was won in decisive fashion by Masked Marvel, trained by John Gosden and ridden by William Buick. The 15-2 shot was followed home by Brown Panther, also 15-2, with the 2-1 favourite Sea Moon, who stayed on strongly but far too late, in third.
Nocturnal Affair lifts the Portland at Doncaster
2.45pm: The Portland Handicap at Doncaster was won by Nocturnal Affair at 14-1. The Irish-trained runner was ridden by Neil Callan, replacing Joseph O'Brien. Second was Confessional, ahead of Addictive Dream (both also 14-1). Fourth was 20-1 shot Ancient Cross, with the 11-2 favourite York Glory in fifth place.
Will Hayler's best bets
Roger Charlton has landed a couple of memorable gambles in the Cambridgeshire and always has the race at the back of his mind for an improving young miler. Cry Fury (3.45) could fit the bill this year, but he needs to leapfrog a few in the weights if he is to get a run. A 4lb penalty, which he will get if successful at Doncaster this afternoon, ought to help, and that's certainly the plan here. His stablemate Zero Money (2.35) has taken his recent busy schedule well and seems to be thriving, but he would not want rain and could be pulled out if conditions were deemed unsuitable.
Thistle Bird (5.40) has proved more tractable of late than she used to be and is also fancied to go close for the Charlton yard at Goodwood, where the Richard Hannon-trained Bronterre (1.45) is very much one to have in mind in the opener. He lacks the experience of his rivals but is held in high regard by his powerful stable, which has spent some time looking for the right race for him.
Andrew Balding's staff expect Cherry Street (4.00) to take all the beating, but the vibes are less strong for Desert Law (2.50), who could do with a sounder surface.
Sea Moon (3.10) is the logical favourite for the St Leger and has continued to progress in his work since victory in the Great Voltigeur. There are obvious concerns as to whether that form can be trusted but no evident negatives on the basis of his homework.
Don't rule out another Stoute runner, Eleonara Duse (3.45), in the Blandford Stakes at the Curragh tomorrow. Her form has been largely disappointing this year but there have been hints of more sparkle on the gallops in recent weeks.
Will Hayler's bet of the day
Ted's Brother 5.15 Chester
There's more to come from the fast-improving Ted's Brother, who was idling in front again when scrambling home at Newcastle last time. He'll enjoy picking his way through this big field and it looks significant that Paul Hanagan keeps the ride when he could, no doubt, have ridden a few of the others. Never the type to score by too far, he remains sufficiently well treated to win a race such as this.
Seen and heard
A well-known senior racing reporter has been reprimanded by the British Horseracing Authority for his behaviour at Folkestone last month, when he is said to have pursued a jockey into the weighing room before verbally abusing officials who blocked his route. Kate Hills, spokeswoman for Folkestone's owners Arena, said: "There was an incident. I didn't witness it, but I understand that it was reported to the BHA by the clerk of the scales." Security has since been tightened at Folkestone and other tracks, but Hills denied that journalists would be banned from entering as a result.
Word is flying around the training community in Newmarket about the supposed powers that come from adding raw beetroot to a racehorse's diet. One well-known trainer now sends his staff to Newmarket's farmers' market every Saturday to get a huge box of the stuff, while another has starting giving the horses concentrated beetroot juice with their feed.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/sep/10/talking-horses
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