Tomorrow / 15.35 Doncaster

15.35

Good To Soft

Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)

  • Prize money: £396970
  • 1m 6f 115y
  • Class 1
  • 11 runners
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Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (No Geldings)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 420768

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Front-running second in the Group 2 Dante at York (1m2f, good) in May but well beaten in Group 1s on his four starts since, having again made most of the running on first three occasions; a slow start scuppered pacemaking duties on latest but they may again be intended for him today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(8)

19th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

Action

9st 1lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up to Item in the Dante over C&D (good) in May but well beaten in Group 1s on his next three starts, having made the running each time; looks set for pacemaking duties once more; hard to fancy.

200/1

6th

8

(8)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:35 Ascot

Action

8st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: A P O’Brien

Runner-up in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster (1m, heavy) last October and filled the same position in the Group 2 Dante at York (10.2f, good) in May; however, he's been well beaten in the Derby and Irish Derby on his last two starts, having made the running; hard to fancy.

100/1

Form: 73-255

Last run: 65 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Progressive form in maidens, without a win, prior to his huge run at 100-1 in the Derby at Epsom (1m4f, soft) in June when he came from towards rear to finish about 7l fifth of 14 to Christmas Day; kept on well at the finish that day, as if a longer trip would suit, but he reportedly got "a little bit jarred up" on good to firm when last of five trying 1m5f in Group 3 at Newmarket in July; might have a place squeak with today's ground likely to be more suitable again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(2)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newmarket (July)

Alderman

9st 3lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

A promising, scopey sort from a famous middle-distance family; progressive form in maidens, without a win, prior to his huge run at 100-1 in the Derby at Epsom (1m4f, soft) nearly five weeks ago when he came from towards rear to finish about 7l fifth of 14; kept on well at the finish, as if this longer trip will suit; faces very different ground today (he's unraced on firmer than good) but he's a big player if that is not a problem.

6/1

5th

2

(6)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Epsom

Alderman

9st 2lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Travelled well and challenged from the rear at Newbury (1m3f, good; 17-2) on reappearance seven weeks ago, sticking to his task manfully too while chasing home an exciting prospect at a respectful distance; a promising, scopey sort from a famous middle-distance family but his progressive form in maidens, without a win, does not make him a serious Derby contender.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: -13123 BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Galloped on relentlessly to win the Derby at Epsom, where nearly all the others sank without trace in the gruelling conditions, and ran just as well when he was again ridden prominently in Irish Derby at the Curragh (good ground) and finished second, a neck in front of Pierre Bonnard; not quite at this best in the Great Voltigeur at York (good) but renewed his effort to be about 4l third and gave runner-up Pierre Bonnard 5lb; one of the top two on 1m4f form and leaves a strong impression that he has the required stamina.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(4)

19th Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Christmas Day

9st 7lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Galloped on relentlessly to win the Derby from Maltese Cross at Epsom, where nearly all the others sank without trace in the gruelling conditions, and ran just as well when he was again ridden prominently to finish second in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good; unraced on firmer) three weeks later, a neck in front of Pierre Bonnard; both of those rivals reoppose and he's now 5lb worse off with Pierre Bonnard, but won't go down without a fight.

5/2

2nd

4

(6)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Christmas Day

9st 2lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: A P O’Brien

Maiden success was on heavy going and Group 3 Leopardstown win last October was on good-to-yielding; same going description when landing Group 3 Ballysax at Leopardstown, with James J Braddock back in fifth; outpaced on better ground when third in the Dante, 1 3/4l behind runner-up Action; rose to the occasion when prominently ridden in the Derby, with soft ground evidently in his favour; different conditions now, but his established stamina is a significant positive.

9/2

Form: 33-111

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden at Cork (10.5f, good to yielding) in April, 19-runner handicap at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) in June and Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood (1m4f, good to firm) in July; now wears cheekpieces first time; scopey sort who's found big improvement at 1m4f on his last two starts, taking him to within striking distance of today's top two on form, and he shapes as if he will stay beyond that; lots to like.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(6)

30th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Enceladus

9st 3lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Won a good duel for maiden at Cork (10.5f, good to yielding) in April and followed up in a 19-runner race for handicap debut at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) six weeks ago, challenging entering the straight and tenaciously keeping the rest at bay; no harm for the Ascot form that the second hacked up last Friday and the third was a close third in Listed race; scopey sort who looks open to further improvement and should be a leading player.

5/2

1st

10

(13)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:05 Ascot

Enceladus

8st 12lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Third in his two maidens as 2yo, before winning one against 15 rivals in a good duel at Cork (10.5f, good to yielding) in April; runner-up took same position behind Cannes three weeks later; Sea The Stars colt who looks scopey and open to plenty of improvement, including at 1m4f; one of four handicap debutants in this for his yard; very much one to note.

9/1

Form: 41625

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Unraced on softer than good; 3l sixth in Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot suggested he stayed 1m6f, but tenacious half-length second in 1m5f Group 3 at Newmarket was further improvement; tailed off at 20-1 when he tried to lock horns with better colts, including two of today's principals, in the Great Voltigeur at York; 1m4f was not ideal that day and cheekpieces are now enlisted, but the overriding impression is that he won't be good enough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1-314 C

Last run: 85 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
2yo winner on soft here; stuck to his task well for his extremely narrow, front-running win in four-runner Listed race at Goodwood (1m3f, good) in May; however, he subsided to a well-beaten fourth of five in Group 2 King Edward VII at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm; made most) and hasn't been seen since; lightly raced and this trip is plausible, but he has tons to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(1)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Golden Story

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Brother to 1m4f Great Voltigeur third Arabian Force; rather pulled himself up in front when winning his only start as 2yo (1m, soft); still green on reappearance at Chester (1m2f, good) behind the subsequent French Derby winner Constitution River, but he stuck to his task well and that was even more the hallmark of his extremely narrow, front-running win in four-runner Listed race at Goodwood (1m3f, good) four weeks ago; the runner-up last time was again beaten a nose in the 1m6f Group 2 here on Wednesday; this one is getting the hang of it and a much bigger performance could be on its way.

9/1

1st

4

(2)

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 3f 44y

Class 1

14:00 Goodwood

Golden Story

9st 2lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Twice-raced colt who is open to additional improvement upped further in trip; won at Doncaster (1m, soft) in the autumn then rallied for third place in the Dee Stakes at Chester (1m2f, good; Listed) on reappearance; one of the main contenders.

3/1

Form: 5-2212 C

Last run: 45 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Impressive in a valuable novice when upped in trip here in July, which got him a free initial St Leger entry; pipped on handicap debut at Glorious Goodwood (again 1m4f on good to firm) three weeks later but the rallying winner got first run on him and the first two stormed clear; that was off a mark of 88, seemingly way removed from Classic standard, but the winner has won well since and this scopey colt looks to have a bright future.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(6)

29th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Hatteen

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Runner-up twice in a row (1m2f, good; including behind Bay Royale) before showing improved form for the step up in trip and getting off the mark at the fifth attempt in a novice at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago; he was impressive last time and is just the type of 3yo from this yard to keep on progressing; firmly in calculations on handicap debut.

9/4

1st

5

(6)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 197y

Class 2

14:45 Doncaster

Hatteen

9st 4lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

No wins in four but he's useful and beat all bar subsequent Queen's Vase fourth Point Of Law over 1m2f at Newbury in mid-May; led that day and should put up another bold show.

4/1

Form: 900811

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Maiden win at Killarney (11.3f, good) came on fifth start but in runaway style with a big step up in trip; carries his head a bit high but asserted his strength in stamina even more clearly in 1m6f Listed race at Leopardstown (good to yielding) and that win was in clearcut fashion; well behind some of these on ratings but the trip will suit and he's heading the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: -72732

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Found his feet properly this season for the first time when 2l third in Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good) in June, producing clearly his best effort overall as he rallied well to finish just a neck behind runner-up Christmas Day; received 5lb from the first and third (Christmas Day) when runner-up in the Great Voltigeur at York last time; half-sister Crepe Suzette was a good third in C&D Park Hill at this meeting last year; good chance he will stay and at least be placed again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(2)

19th Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Pierre Bonnard

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Looked every inch a serious Derby prospect last term, which he failed to confirm behind two of these in the mud at Epsom this June but the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good) three weeks later addressed the doubts when he rallied well to finish just a neck behind runner-up Christmas Day; as he receives 5lb today from that rival and from Maltese Cross, that career-best performance puts him clear top on form.

3/1

3rd

6

(1)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

16:35 Curragh

Pierre Bonnard

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Asserted late on to finish firmly on top last October in two 1m2f Pattern events, the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket (good to firm) and Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud (very soft); 3yo campaign got off to a low-key start behind Christmas Day in the Ballysax at Leopardstown; much more like it when second to James J Braddock in the Derby Trial at the same venue; jury is out following a short-lived Derby challenge.

12/1

Form: 1-264

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
66-1 when he rallied well for sixth of 14 in the Derby at Epsom (1m4f, soft) on just his third start, albeit about 10l behind the winner Christmas Day; while fourth of five against older rivals in Group 3 at Newbury (extended 1m5f, good to firm) backed up that form and came after a ten-week break, it was underwhelming in this context.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: -16552

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 0lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Best ratings on good or firmer; limitations seemingly exposed on last four starts, so it's easy to forget she was 7-4 favourite for the Oaks on first of those, following a Cheshire Oaks win on reappearance; didn't see out 1m6f at Goodwood on penultimate start but rallied well for a close second in 1m4f Group 3 on latest, so a little hope might have been renewed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(2)

14th Aug 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

19:10 Cork

Amelia Earhart

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Leopardstown (1m, y) maiden winner started off season in promising fashion with impressive Cheshire Oaks (1m3f, good) victory; well beat when sent off favourite for Epsom Oaks and limit has probably been found since with fifth place finishes in Irish Oaks and Lillie Langtry; that form still puts her in with a winning chance down in grade.

4/1

5th

7

(5)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Amelia Earhart

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Reappeared with 2l win in the Listed Cheshire Oaks at Chester (11.3f, good); soundly beaten when favourite for the Oaks itself on testing ground at Epsom and put firmly in her place when fifth in Irish Oaks at the Curragh (1m4f, good to firm; 5-1); wore a hood and blinkers on first two starts this season, just cheekpieces on latest; some limitations have seemingly been exposed and others saw the race out better in her two Oaks bids.

8/1

Betting Forcast

100/1 Action, 25/1 Alderman, 2/1 Christmas Day, 2/1 Enceladus, 33/1 Galiyan, 50/1 Golden Story, 12/1 Hatteen, 10/1 Highwayman, 7/2 Pierre Bonnard, 66/1 Rebel Rocker, 25/1 Amelia Earhart

Verdict

Derby winner Christmas Day showed that the Epsom form was no fluke when he took second in the Irish Derby next time and last month's Great Voltigeur third should have been a stepping stone to this prize. With strong encouragement regarding stamina too, he could return to his best here, or at least have a much better stab at it than his stablemate Lambourn (a dual Derby winner) did last year, but that may still not be enough for him to hold the upwardly mobile ENCELADUS at bay. Joseph O'Brien's colt has increasingly looked the part in going 3-3 at lower levels this season and it looks like he'll stay. His cause would seemingly be boosted by good ground. Pierre Bonnard, as well as Christmas Day, gives Aidan O'Brien a second serious chance to win the St Leger for a fourth time in a row, judged on his Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur performances and those three candidates dominate calculations, for all that Highwayman has proved himself at 1m6f, Alderman finished well in the Derby and Hatteen has looked a good prospect in his novice and handicap performances at 1m4f.[Richard Austen]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Enceladus

TOPSPEED:

Christmas Day

POSTDATA:

Amelia Earhart