St Leger Meeting 2013: Predictions and Betting Odds for Day 1

The St Leger Festival begins on Wednesday with four days of top-class racing set to take place at Doncaster racecourse.

The event is the most prestigious in Yorkshire, and with live entertainment supplementing each day through to Saturday, it offers something for everyone.

The festival, which first took place in 1776, is now one of the highlights of the flat racing calendar and home to one of the world's most famous races—the St Leger Stakes.

Although the showpiece event doesn't take place until Saturday afternoon, Day 1 of the festival still offers plenty of exciting action for fans to enjoy.

Here's a look at four of Wednesday's key races with betting odds and tips.

Arena Group Nursery Handicap Cl2 7f, 2 p.m. BST

Renowned jockey Frankie Dettori can start the festival by winning the Arena Group Nursery Handicap with Captain Bob.

The race, run over seven furlongs by two-year-olds, is a perfect opportunity for the inexperienced horse to pick up his first win after just missing out at Warwick last month.

Captain Bob has finished second in his last two races, but can go one better here with Dettori in the saddle.

Crown Hotel Bawtry Scarbrough Stakes Cl1 5f, 3 p.m. BST

Run over five furlongs, this race is set to be one of the most competitive of the day, but Medicean Man has enough to come out on top.

Trainer Jeremy Gask has achieved mixed results with the horse this summer, but victory at Haydock in June shows just what he is capable of.

With the ground likely to be quick, seven-year-old Medicean Man has the experience to get over recent disappointments with a win.

Medicean Man 11-2 with Sky Bet

Park Hill Hospital Conditions Stakes Cl2 1m2f60y, 4:10 p.m. BST

William Buick will ride Justineo, a likely challenger with Medicean Man, in the Crown Hotel Bawtry Scarbrough Stakes earlier in the day.

He will then get another realistic shot at glory just over an hour later when he takes control of Gatewood for the Park Hill Hospital Condition Stakes, a race for three- to five-year-olds.

Back from competing around the world and a break afterwards, Gatewood has the energy to win this six-horse race.

Gatewood 3-1 with Sky Bet

Beauty at Doncaster Handicap Cl2 7f, 4.45 p.m. BST

Winner of his last two races, Life Partner is a strong candidate to add a third consecutive victory to his name at Doncaster on Wednesday.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, the three-year-old is continuing to progress under the watchful eye of the recently appointed Godolphin trainer.

Run over seven furlongs and with a large, but mixed, field of competition, Life Partner is an excellent each-way bet.

Life Partner 13-2 with Sky Bet