St Leger Festival Thursday Tips – Dan James Racing

Moon Target enters the May Hill Stakes as a highly progressive filly with credentials that make her a standout contender for Group 2 glory. She has already shown a blend of class and composure in her previous outings, handling competitive fields and different ground conditions with professionalism beyond her years.

Doncaster’s mile suits her running style perfectly, offering a long straight that allows her sustained finishing kick to unfold without interruption. Statistically, this race has favoured runners at the head of the market, and her consistent improvement suggests she belongs in that category.

Moon Target’s pedigree points to her thriving over a mile at this stage of her development, and her latest performance hinted there is even more to come as she matures. With the right combination of stamina, acceleration, and race awareness, Moon Target appears poised to dominate her rivals and announce herself as a serious force in middle-distance company.

Half Sovereign arrives in fine form, having completed a hat-trick with a convincing win over 7 furlongs at Newmarket last month. That performance not only highlights her sharp progression but also her ability to handle pressure and finish strongly. With that latest success coming on similar ground, she brings both momentum and confidence into this more competitive nursery.

Her pedigree adds further promise — her dam thrived on heavy going, which suggests Half Sovereign can handle any soft patches on Doncaster’s straight track. Despite a 4lb rise in the weights, this rapid filly looks primed to extend her winning sequence.

Her blend of rising form, adaptability under testing conditions, and clear fighting spirit position her as a compelling candidate for success in the early Doncaster action.

Jel Pepper brings a combination of proven form and a valuable weight advantage that could make him the standout performer in this competitive juvenile sprint. Earlier in the season, he finished third in the prestigious July Stakes behind Zavateri, who has since boosted the form by winning a Group race. This run confirmed Jel Pepper’s ability to handle high-class opposition and maintain his performance under pressure.

At Doncaster, the straight track and likely quick conditions suit his running style, allowing him to use his turn of foot effectively. Importantly, he carries 10lbs less than top-rated rival Brussels, a significant difference at this level and distance. His trainer has timed this entry well, targeting a race that rewards both speed and tactical positioning. If he breaks cleanly and secures a prominent early position, Jel Pepper’s combination of class, experience, and weight could be the winning formula on St Leger’s opening day.