Doncaster Cup Takes Centre Stage On St Leger Festival Day Two

The 2026 Betfred St Leger Festival continues at Doncaster Racecourse on Friday, with eight races forming a strong Day Two card ahead of Saturday’s historic 250th running of the St Leger Stakes.

The action begins at 1:15pm with the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes before two Group 2 contests take centre stage later in the afternoon. The Flying Childers Stakes is scheduled for 2:25pm, followed by the feature Doncaster Cup at 3:00pm, where Queenstown and dual Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar are among eight declared runners. The going at Doncaster is currently good to soft, good in places.

Racegoers can experience the remaining action from the 2026 Betfred St Leger Festival with Eventmasters hospitality at Doncaster Racecourse. Private Boxes and restaurant options including the Conduit Restaurant, Home Straight Restaurant, Sky Garden Restaurant and Triple Crown Restaurant provide premium ways to enjoy the meeting, with Saturday’s landmark St Leger still to come before the Festival concludes on Sunday.

Nabati Faces Rock Montreal In Flying Scotsman

The opening Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes brings together nine two-year-olds over seven furlongs, with Charlie Appleby’s Nabati among the leading names.

The Night Of Thunder colt has won two of his first three starts, with his only defeat coming when narrowly beaten by subsequent Gimcrack winner Arapaho Gold at Newbury. Nabati returned to winning ways at Newmarket last time and now steps up to seven furlongs for the first time.

Roger Varian’s Rock Montreal provides one of the most interesting alternatives. Purchased for 1,000,000 guineas as a yearling, the Blue Point colt made a winning debut over seven furlongs at Yarmouth in August and heads straight into Listed company for his second start. Forbidden Fire, who impressed when winning on debut at Salisbury, adds further depth to the contest.

Familiar Faces Return For Leger Legends

One of Friday’s most distinctive races follows at 1:50pm with the Betfred Leger Legends Classified Stakes.

The mile contest gives former jockeys and other familiar racing names the chance to return to the saddle while raising money for charity. The race has generated more than £1.2 million since it was established in 2010, with this year’s field including Berry Clever, ridden by former Union J singer Jamie Hamblett, who had an equestrian background before entering the music industry.

A 13-runner field has been declared, with Anthropologist, Celtic Chariot, Nyman and Wield among those prominent in the early market.

Pershaada Steps Back Into Group Company

Speed takes over at 2:25pm in the five-furlong Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes, where Pershaada returns to her own age group following a demanding assignment in the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Richard Hannon’s filly established herself as one of the season’s leading juvenile sprinters when landing the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood in July. She had previously finished fourth in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and now returns to five furlongs in a race which could determine whether connections pursue a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint campaign.

The opposition includes Aidan O’Brien’s Carry The Flag, who drops back to five furlongs after competing at Group 1 level in France, alongside Sale Shark, Flann Sunna and Final Objective. Twelve runners are set to go to post for one of the strongest races on Friday’s card.

Queenstown And Caballo De Mar Meet In Doncaster Cup

The feature race of Day Two arrives at 3:00pm with the Group 2 Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup over two miles and two furlongs.

Queenstown represents Aidan O’Brien after making an impressive winning return at the Curragh last month. The six-year-old has regularly competed at a high level and will be ridden by Ryan Moore as O’Brien looks for his first victory in the Doncaster Cup since 2008.

Standing in his way is Caballo De Mar, who brings proven Group 1 form to Town Moor. George Scott’s five-year-old won the Prix du Cadran at Longchamp in 2025 before adding the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier earlier this season and will have Oisin Murphy on board at Doncaster.

Winday is another notable contender for Emmet Mullins, with William Buick booked after the three-year-old returned to the trainer with a victory on his latest start. Beylerbeyi, Berkshire Sundance, Epic Poet, Ascending and Peace Belle complete the eight-runner field.

Silver Lake Chases Fourth Straight Win

Friday concludes with the British Stallion Studs EBF Premier Fillies’ Handicap at 3:35pm, where the progressive Silver Lake will bid to extend her winning sequence.

The William Haggas-trained filly arrives having won each of her three previous handicap starts and steps into another valuable contest over approximately a mile and a half. Ten runners have been declared for the £85,000 race before three further contests complete the afternoon.

The 4:10pm maiden is followed by a 16-runner nursery at 4:45pm, with the 2026 St Leger Festival Day Two card concluding with a competitive 19-runner handicap at 5:20pm.

Attention Turns To The 250th St Leger

Once Friday’s racing is complete, focus will move immediately towards the biggest afternoon of the meeting.

Saturday marks the 250th anniversary of the St Leger Stakes, the world’s oldest Classic and the final British Classic of the season. Derby winner Christmas Day is among the headline contenders for a race first staged in 1776, with Aidan O’Brien and Joseph O’Brien both strongly represented among the leading candidates.

Eventmasters hospitality offers racegoers the chance to experience the historic occasion from premium facilities around Doncaster Racecourse, with Saturday set to provide the centrepiece of four days of racing on Town Moor.

St Leger Festival Day Two FAQs

When does St Leger Festival Day Two take place?

Day Two of the 2026 Betfred St Leger Festival takes place on Friday 11th September at Doncaster Racecourse. The first race is scheduled for 1:15pm, with the final race at 5:20pm.

What is the biggest race on Friday at the St Leger Festival?

The Group 2 Doncaster Cup is the feature contest at 3:00pm. Queenstown, Caballo De Mar and Winday are among the eight declared runners.

When is the Flying Childers Stakes?

The Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes takes place at 2:25pm on Friday over five furlongs, with Pershaada, Carry The Flag, Sale Shark and Flann Sunna among the field.

When is the 2026 St Leger Stakes?

The 250th St Leger Stakes takes place at Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 12th September 2026.

Can I book St Leger Festival hospitality with Eventmasters?

Yes. Eventmasters offers a range of hospitality experiences at Doncaster Racecourse, including Private Boxes and the Conduit, Home Straight, Sky Garden and Triple Crown restaurants.