Doyle backs Waardah for Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster

Hollie Doyle has backed Owen Burrows-trained Waardah to win the Group Two Betfred Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday, the opening day of the Betfred St Leger Festival.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Doyle said Waardah had produced two strong performances in pattern company this year. She pointed to the filly’s effort in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes, where she felt Waardah had paid a price for racing too freely early in the contest.

Doyle expects a first-time hood to help Waardah settle in the race, which is also known as the “Fillies’ Leger” and is run over an extended mile and three-quarters.

She identified Fairy Glen and Musical Times among the principal dangers. Fairy Glen arrives with form over two miles after winning the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in the spring, while Musical Times is unbeaten in novice races at Newmarket and Yarmouth.

Doyle also previewed Thursday’s May Hill Stakes, the Weatherbys £300,000 2-Y-O Stakes and other races on the Doncaster card. Her selection is a pre-race assessment; the source does not report a result, final field or confirmed odds.