Doncaster, Chester, Lingfield and Musselburgh tips – Steve Mullen’s horse racing tips for Saturday, September 16

THEY all have to play second fiddle to STRADIVARIUS in the St Leger at Doncaster (3.35).

Frankie Dettori has picked the wrong one in Classics before and he could have made another rick in preferring Coronet to the Goodwood Cup winner.

Stradivarius was majestic when lowering Big Orange’s colours on the South Downs, digging in to get the better of his older and more experienced rival.

He will have learned plenty from that effort and at least we know he won’t be paddling over the 1m6f distance. A bit of juice in the ground won’t do him any harm and trainer John Gosden has an excellent record in this race with four wins.

Before that Cup win, he won the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot where his stamina was again a massive asset.

Frankie’s snub means we should get a decent price about our fancy and he can prove that Goodwood win was no fluke.

Crystal Ocean’s claims are obvious after he won the Gordon Stakes so convincingly. Connections say he will appreciate the drying ground on Town Moor and he wouldn’t have to improve much to win this.

We’ll see how he fares on this Group 1 debut but he is certainly bred for the challenge being a son of the great Sea The Stars.

The Portland Handicap at 1.50 is so puzzling it could give an aspirin a headache. The five-and-a-half furlong distance catches many horses out.

LEXINGTON ABBEY is at home over both 5f and 6f so fits the bill for us. He’s been knocking on the door this season and was again right in the frame at Ascot last time out. He tried to go from the front in the Shergar Cup there and was just collared late on.

He earlier went well in another hot handicap at the Queen's course in August and it’s interesting to see Ryan Moore riding him for the first time today.

There are dangers galore with Vibrant Chords in excellent form. He looked in need of this extra half-furlong when second to Desert Law over the minimum distance last time. He was staying on strongly at the line so should relish this test.

Pipers Note is an honest performer at this level and will be happier back in a handicap after coming up short in the Listed Beverley Bullet last time. He doesn’t mind a big field and won on his last visit to Doncaster.

A Momentofmadness is another who cannot be ignored. He’s been on the premises in some good races lately including over this distance at York last time. It looks like his turn won’t be far away.

HEIR TO A THRONE can reign supreme in Chester’s 3.15.

Kevin Ryan’s four-year-old has little chance on the Roodee last time from out in the car park. He predictably got stuck behind a wall of horses and could never land a blow.

The handicapper has given him a big chance by dropping him and he’s now 4lb lower than his last win.

A stall three draw is much more helpful today and he could go well at a big price.

Dan Troop is right on the rail and won well here last time out. The handicapper was watching though and has raised him 13lb for that. He could improve enough to defy the hike but this looks a tougher assignment.

DONCASTER

1.50 Lexington Abbey

2.25 Breton Rock

3.00 Mythical Magic

3.35 Stradivarius

4.10 Rhosneigr

4.45 Kryptos

5.55 Game Starter

 CHESTER

1.30 Show Palace

2.05 Viscount Loftus

2.40 Soldier In Action

3.15 Heir To A Throne

3.50 Shaya

4.25 Vettori Rules

5.00 St Mary’s

 LINGFIELD

1.55 Ejayteekay

2.30 Snowy Winter

3.05 Give And Take

3.40 Oh This Is Us

4.15 Curious Fox

4.50 Hajjam

5.25 Western Safari

6.00 Luang Prabang

MUSSELBURGH

2.55 Daffy Jane

3.30 Mail Order

4.05 Set In Stone

4.40 Pantera Negra

5.15 Tor

5.45 Twentysvnthlancers

6.15 Cosmic Sky

6.45 Champion Harbour