Some old friends return to the ring for 12 rounds of thumps in one of Doncaster's most iconic races

On the eve of the final Classic of the campaign, the one where stamina is always the trump card, we have a heavyweight bout between some of the most tenacious thoroughbreds in training. Belligerent brawlers who need all 12 rounds to show their true worth. Staying is the name of the game.

The Betfred Howard Wright Doncaster Cup Stakes (3.35) is named after a paladin of the pen, a heavyweight hack who stayed in the game for well over half a century and broke story after story. Howard had the canny knack of knowing what was happening well before it actually happened. Wright rarely got it wrong.

The proud Donny native never missed a St Leger since attending his first one at the tender age of three way back in 1948. Sadly he won't be at his beloved Town Moor on Saturday to see yet another Ballydoyle battalion bid for Classic glory, as he passed away last month at the age of 79.