Hollie Doyle, a prominent figure in horse racing, is set for a busy weekend as she participates in six races at Lingfield Park on Saturday before heading to France to ride Spartan Arrow in a Group Three event on Sunday. Doyle is particularly excited about her rides, especially as she prepares to cheer on her husband, Tom Marquand, who is riding in the prestigious Betfred St Leger at Doncaster.
Doyle’s Saturday at Lingfield, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing, includes rides on several horses trained by her mentor, Archie Watson. Among them is the promising Summertime Blues, who aims to build on his recent victory at Chepstow. Previously a challenge at the stalls, this Pinatubo gelding showcased impressive skills with a dominant performance last month. Despite a 7lb increase in his handicap rating, he is well positioned in stall four for the Arc All-Weather £1 Million Bonus Is Back Handicap at 15:55.
Doyle also hopes that the addition of cheekpieces will provide the necessary edge for Typhoon Dancer in the Alan Rae Smith Errant Handicap at 13:25. After a lackluster performance since a strong showing in July, he drops in grade and is expected to perform better at a lower rating.
In the Arc Celebrates Shared Ownership Handicap at 15:13, Doyle rides Ventura Dream, who comes to Lingfield with an attractive mark. Although he has struggled to replicate his debut win at Southwell in February, he enters this race 4lb lighter, which could prove advantageous on the sharper track.
Another contender, Rogue Dynasty, trained by James Owen, is also expected to perform well in the Lady Kim Groves 60th Birthday Fillies’ Handicap at 14:33. Despite a poor showing last month, her previous victories suggest she can regain her form, particularly on the All-Weather surface.
Doyle is optimistic about Francesi, a horse familiar with winning at Lingfield, as he competes in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap at 16:30. Although he has faced challenges since his last victory in 2022, his recent performances indicate he remains competitive, particularly from a favorable draw.
Finally, Doyle looks forward to seeing Fidelius make a strong return in the concluding race, the Free Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap at 17:00. After a solid start to the season, the four-year-old horse has had a three-month break, which should help him in this five-furlong sprint.
Marquand Eyes Second St Leger Title
Doyle’s husband, Tom Marquand, is set to ride the favorite, Scandinavia, in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster, live on Sky Sports Racing. In the absence of the injured Ryan Moore, Marquand has the opportunity to secure a second St Leger title, having previously won in 2020 on Galileo Chrome.
Scandinavia arrives at Town Moor in peak form, following a convincing win in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and a strong performance in the Group One Goodwood Cup. His primary competition may come from Lambourn, a dual Derby winner who is expected to bounce back following a disappointing run in the Voltigeur.
In the same race, the two-year-old Gewan is anticipated to shine in the Group Two Betfred Champagne Stakes at 13:50. After a strong showing in the Acomb Stakes, he is well-positioned to continue his success, with an eye on future challenges as the autumn racing season progresses.
As Doyle balances her commitments at Lingfield and supports her husband at Doncaster, the weekend promises to be filled with excitement and competitive spirit in the world of horse racing.
