Dave Metcalf has over 35 years of experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a life-long horse racing and football fan, and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR frontman for major betting firm Betfred.
Dave has written for At The Races, provided betting previews for the 2010 World Cup via a website he owned. It was the first time they had covered any football event. He also appeared weekly on Sing When You’re Winning – football and general sports betting show on MUTV to provide odds and tips alongside former Manchester United striker Lou Macari.
The extended 1m 6f St Leger takes centre stage at Doncaster on Saturday (15:35). In a wide-open looking renewal, the lightly-raced and progressive Hukum looks decent value to land the spoils in the final Classic contest of the season.
This Owen Burrows trained and Hamdan Al Maktoum owned son of Sea The Stars shaped with plenty of promise on debut as a juvenile when staying on in eye-catching fashion under tender handling to finish a six length third to Cherokee Trail.
He then showed the benefit of that experience when opening his account in good style over a mile at Kempton back in November.
Hukum was allotted an opening mark of 90 on the back of that taking success. He made a winning return to action off it at Royal Ascot in the 1m 4f King George V Stakes.
After travelling strongly on the heels of the leaders under Jim Crowley, Hukum took up the running going well two from home and then found plenty to account for Kipps by half-a-length.
Hukum then took the step up into Group 3 company in his stride last time out at Newbury when landing the extended 1m 5f Geoffrey Freer Stakes in impressive fashion.
He again raced powerfully throughout and, after being ridden to take up the running inside the final furlong, forged clear to easily account for Max Vega by 2 1/2 lengths.
Hukum clearly relished the step up trip, so he will have no problem with the extra furlong he now tackles in the St Leger. After just four starts, he is also the least unexposed in the 12-runner line-up.
He appeals as the type who has plenty more to offer. Hukum therefore makes plenty of appeal at the 7/2 on offer with Betway.
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Santiago feared more than Pyledriver
Fellow Royal Ascot scorer Pyledriver is the highest rated in the St Leger line-up following an impressive success last time out in the 1m 4f Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York.
However, he’s unproven over further and stamina doubts persist. The plucky William Muir trained Pyledriver looks opposable.
The one feared most is Santiago, who can be backed at 3/1 with Betfred. He is one three challengers from the yard of serial Irish champion trainer Aidan O’Brien.
Ballydoyle’s maestro seeks a 39th British Classic success and has already landed this year’s Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks and 1000 Guineas.
Santiago won the Group 2 Queen’s Vase over 1m 6f at Royal Ascot on return to action. He then followed-up just eight days later in the Irish Derby at The Curragh.
After being held-up by Seamie Heffernan, Santiago burst from the pack two-and-a-half furlongs out to go clear. He then dug deep, holding on by a head from fast-finishing stablemate Tiger Moth.
Santiago was far from disgraced last time out in his hat-trick bid when a 2 1/4 lengths third to Stradivarius in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup over 2m. He was taking on his elders for the first time there.
O’Brien felt that the son of Authorized did far too much from the front after jumping smartly from the gates, so the drop back in trip is sure to suit.
Santiago has two stable companions in the race in the shape of Dawn Patrol and Mythical.
They may be there to ensure that he doesn’t have to force the pace this time and can be dropped in as in previous races and delivered later on the scene.
Santiago also now gets the services of Frankie Detorri in the saddle whose tally of 258 Group 1 triumphs includes six St Leger victories.
Subjectivist has an each-way St Leger shout
Given that he finished just 1 1/4 lengths behind Hukum in the King George V Stakes when attempting to give him 4lb, Subjectivist could well be overpriced at the odds on offer.
This Mark Johnston trained son of Teofilo went on to land a Listed contest at Hamilton two starts later, before finishing a fine 1 1/2 lengths third in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Subjectivist then failed to fire when a well-beaten seventh of eight to Pyledriver in the Great Voltigeur. However, he quickly bounced back last time out when running out the wide-margin winner of the 1m 6f Group 3 March Stakes at Goodwood.
He made all under Joe Fanning and drew effortlessly clear in the home straight to slam Cabaletta, who had previously finished a solid second in a Group 2, by 15 lengths.
It was a real demolition job as it was a further 21 lengths back to the third home. Subjectivist could not have been more impressive and stamina is clearly his forte.
It’s also interesting that Johnston saddled Sir Ron Priestley to win that contest last year before he finished a fine second to Logician in the St Leger.
Subjectivist has a similar profile to his stablemate and looks sure to make a bold bid to follow-up from the front under Fanning, who is two from four on him.
At 14/1 with William Hill, he thus had to feature as the each-way selection for the St Leger this year.
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