Talking Horses: Doncaster will go back behind closed doors on Thursday

After a single afternoon with a crowd of around 2,500 in attendance, the remainder of Doncaster’s St Leger meeting will return behind closed doors after the local council stepped in to halt the track’s pilot with paying spectators, pre-empting any announcement from the government later on Wednesday.

The capacity at Town Moor was due to increase to just over 6,000 for the final three days of the Leger Festival, including Saturday’s concluding card featuring the sport’s oldest Classic.

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In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Dr Rupert Suckling, Doncaster Council’s director of public health, said that “on the grounds of public health and safety, I have instructed the racecourse to hold the St Leger Festival behind closed doors from tomorrow.

“The day’s racing will continue today as it is safer to manage racegoers on site and with enhanced test and trace, it will be easier to identify where they are from rather than closing the event today and leaving people to their own devices in Doncaster and the borough generally.

“I appreciate this decision may not be met with universal agreement but it is the safest and most appropriate way to move forward for everyone’s best interests in the borough and beyond.”

Further trials with limited crowds are currently scheduled for Warwick and Newmarket later this month but these too could now be cancelled with the government planning to introduce stricter lockdown measures throughout England from Monday. Greg Wood

Chris Cook’s best bets

There are seven races on ITV3, leading up to a big-field handicap at Doncaster in which Starcat (3.45) appeals, even though he tops the market at 9-2. While other yards are losing their form, Hughie Morrison’s has continued to be a regular source of winners and his chestnut can get off the mark for the year after some tougher tests.

Indeed, he started off as an 80-1 shot in the Guineas, finishing in midfield, and may not have liked the rain-softened ground when again well held in the Britannia at Royal Ascot. But there was promise when he was stepped up to 10 furlongs at Glorious Goodwood and finished strongly after, surprise, trouble in running.

This more galloping venue gives him a better chance to express himself and it is interesting to see the tongue tie added.

Moss Gill (2.10) looks the right one in the battle of the sprinters for the Scarborough Stakes, for which he and Dakota Gold are both available at 3-1. Dakota Gold would have preferred a wetter surface and his younger rival is still on an upward curve.

Tips by Chris Cook

Kempton 

12.55 Toptime 1.25 Electric 1.55 Omnivega 2.25 Impatient (nap) 2.55 Andonno 3.30 Mishal Star 4.05 Urban Highway 4.40 Josephine

Doncaster 

1.10 Royal Champion 1.40 Mayaas 2.10 Moss Gill 2.40 Late Arrival 3.15 Jubilosos 3.45 Starcat (nb) 4.15 Teruntum Star

Uttoxeter 

1.30 Giga White 2.00 Blue Jacaranda 2.30 Minella Encore 3.05 Longhouse Sale 3.35 Elysees 4.10 Monty's Award 4.45 Illuminated Beauty 5.15 Hello Fellas

Wolverhampton 

4.00 Qaaraat 4.35 Red Allure 5.10 Electric Blue 5.45 Ghazaaly 6.15 American Anthem 6.45 Pretty Pickle 7.15 Boss Power 7.45 Capla Huntress 8.15 Divine Connection

A gelding operation seems to have been the making of Omnivega (1.55), who achieved little in his first two seasons but started this year with three wins in a row, two of them at this track. His running-on fourth at Ascot last time looks good in the context of today’s lower-class race at Kempton and he is the right favourite.

The nap has been an overnight shortener, from 6-1 into 7-2. Impatient (2.25) finished really strongly here last time and will surely appreciate the step back up to a mile, at which he achieved his only previous win. Itkaann is a serious rival, however.