My Timeform: St Leger Festival

Mafnood (Timeform rating: 93)

Runner-up, 7f handicap, Doncaster, Thursday 14 September

Mafnood had to settle for second on his handicap debut but he shaped well and confirmed the impression that he has entered nurseries from a potentially lenient mark. He had taken a big step forward when getting off the mark in a mile novice at Haydock on his third start and that form has proved strong with three horses winning next time out. Mafnood was unable to make it four subsequent winners at Doncaster, but he ran at least as well as he had at Haydock and found only another nursery debutant who showed much-improved form too strong. He is going the right way, remains open to improvement after only four starts and is well up to winning similar events, either at seven furlongs or back at a mile.

Queen Emma (Timeform rating: 97p)

Runner-up, 1m4f fillies' handicap, Doncaster, Friday 15 September

Four of the six runners in this fillies' handicap were last-time-out winners and it looks potentially strong form, with the likeable Mistressofillusion just holding on to get the verdict by a neck from Queen Emma. Though beaten in her hat-trick bid, Queen Emma is worth crediting with another chunk of improvement as she went down fighting in what was a deeper contest than anything she'd contested previously, doing well to get so close having still looked green under pressure (hung left approaching the final furlong) on just her sixth start. Trained by William Haggas, Queen Emma is in top hands and seems sure to win more races as she gains in experience, the type to pick up black type along the way, too.

Nigiri (Timeform rating: 103p)

Runner-up, Sceptre Fillies' Stakes, Doncaster, Sunday 17 September

Nigiri might've had her winning run ended in this Group 3, but this was still a career-best effort on her first try in pattern company, proving herself well up to this level in filling the runner-up spot. Beaten three and three-quarter lengths at the line, she typically responded well under pressure having not gone with a great deal of fluency early, that possibly due to her fairly busy spell, this her fifth start within the last two months. The form of her previous victory at York had been franked by the runner-up earlier in the week and she's proved herself versatile with regards to going. Very much the type to go on improving, Nigiri will be one to follow in similar company as a four-year-old.