Talking Horses: Haskoy can emulate famous Queen winner in St Leger

Racing resumes at Doncaster on Sunday following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday with a meeting and a race that was close to the late monarch’s heart throughout her reign.

She paid her first visit to Town Moor on Leger day in 1952, just a few months after inheriting the royal silks and bloodstock following the death of her father, George VI, to see Gay Time finish unplaced in the Classic behind Tulyar, that year’s Derby winner.

A quarter of a century later, in her Silver Jubilee year, Dunfermline followed up her win in the 1977 Oaks and provided the Queen with one of her most prestigious and memorable victories in seven decades as an owner and breeder, staying on strongly past the previously-unbeaten Alleged and Lester Piggott in the final furlong to the delight of a huge crowd at the track.

The decision to move the Leger card from Saturday to Sunday, with the addition of several contests lost on Thursday and Friday, will “provide an opportunity for the sport and its supporters to pay its respects to Her Majesty, for the contribution which she has made to the sport to be marked, and for racing to express its deep gratitude to her”, Julie Harrington, the British Horseracing Authority’s chief executive, said on Friday.

All racecourses staging meetings from Sunday until the Queen’s funeral will fly flags at half mast, a period of silence will be observed before racing and all jockeys will wear black armbands while riding.

The Leger itself has attracted nine runners and New London, seen as a possible Derby horse earlier in the year, is sure to start favourite at around even money.

Charlie Appleby’s colt has won four of his five races to date but does not have as much in hand on ratings as his odds might suggest