As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the world’s oldest Classic race also celebrates a quarter‑century of history. Few sporting contests can claim such longevity, making the St Leger a truly historic occasion.
The central question for Saturday’s Betfred St Leger is which horse will claim the coveted title. It is encouraging to see the Derby champion Christmas Day entered in the field. Achieving the double – winning both the Derby and the St Leger – is a rare feat; even legendary horses such as Shergar managed only a fourth‑place finish in the Leger, and Camelot narrowly missed a Triple Crown a few years ago. The St Leger covers a distance just a furlong and a half shy of two miles, demanding a blend of speed and stamina.
Historically, only a handful of runners have managed to back up a Derby win with a strong Leger performance – notable examples include Never Say Die, St Paddy, Nijinsky and Reference Point. Christmas Day will be aiming to join that elite company.
His principal rival appears to be stablemate Pierre Bonnard, also trained by Aidan O'Brien. O'Brien, who is chasing a record tenth Leger victory, may find his own son, Joseph O'Brien, in the saddle on the race favourite Enceladus, adding an intriguing family rivalry to the mix.
Jockey: TBC | Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Action, a close relative of last year’s Derby winner Lambourn, has shown promise in his juvenile season with a third‑place finish to Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge Stakes and a strong second to Hawk Mountain in the Group 1 Futurity. His three‑year‑old campaign began positively, improving from a fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial to a respectable run in the Dante at York, where he chased the future Juddmonte star Item. However, his form deteriorated after a too‑free run in the Derby while wearing cheekpieces for the first time.
Since then he has been relegated to pacemaking duties in the Irish Derby, the King George, and the Juddmonte. In the most recent of those, he failed to break well and was unable to fulfill his role, finishing well behind the leaders.
This lack of early speed and the added distance of the Leger do not bode well for his chances. A stronger grip on his powerful shoulders might be needed to improve his performance.
Jockey: Rossa Ryan | Trainer: Richard Hannon Alderman, who impressed many observers in the Derby by finishing a close fifth – effectively a fourth with a little more effort – behind Christmas Day, could be considered a Leger prospect. He was two and a half lengths ahead of Rebel Rocker in that race. Nevertheless, his form slipped in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on firm ground, where he finished last of five. Though still a maiden after five starts, Alderman possesses talent, and soft ground – should rain fall this week – could benefit him, as evidenced by his Derby run on yielding turf.
Still, the step up in distance remains a significant challenge. Jockey: TBC | Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Reference Point remains the last horse to win both the Derby and the St Leger, achieving the double in 1987.
Christmas Day looks poised to replicate that achievement, especially if the Town Moor sees some rain. His Derby victory on soft ground was decisive, beating the Arc‑target Maltese Cross by nearly three lengths – arguably the strongest form on the card. Although he was unable to repeat that performance in the Irish Derby, he fought valiantly, finishing a neck behind Benvenuto Cellini and ahead of Pierre Bonnard. The same form pattern re‑emerged in the Great Voltigeur, where Bonnard reversed the placings after receiving a five‑pound concession from the Derby winner, while both were left trailing the improving Maltese Cross.
Christmas Day has displayed remarkable consistency throughout the season and appears capable of handling the Leger distance, even if he may not improve further. He should be a strong contender.
Jockey: Billy Loughnane | Trainer: Joseph O'Brien Enceladus is a large, long‑striding colt who remains unbeaten as a three‑year‑old and seems to improve with each run. His King George V Handicap win at Royal Ascot received a substantial rating boost, and he followed it up with a Group 3 Gordon Stakes victory at Goodwood. In the Gordon, he demonstrated a sharp turn of foot in the final furlong, though he drifted right – a tendency that was less pronounced at Ascot.
Cheekpieces have been fitted for today to help him stay focused. It has been six years since Joseph O'Brien secured his first Leger triumph with Galileo Chrome, and this season’s wealth of high‑quality horses gives him optimism that his son of Sea The Stars can add another classic to his résumé. The colt’s half‑brother has already proven stamina over a mile and six furlongs, adding further credibility to expectations. Enceladus arrives fresher than many rivals and still has room for improvement.
Unfortunately, regular jockey Dylan Brown McMonagle is still recovering from a serious fall at Bellewstown, so Billy Loughnane will be aboard, wearing the iconic Niarchos silks. Jockey: Danny Tudhope | Trainer: Andrew Balding Andrew Balding’s hopeful, who broke his maiden at Chester’s Boodles May Festival, entered the Queen’s Vase as the favourite but could only manage sixth behind Limestone. A respectable second in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket suggested progress, yet a heavy defeat in the Great Voltigeur at York indicated he may have been over‑raced. Even with newly fitted cheekpieces, it will be difficult for him to reverse that form on Leger ground.
Jockey: Clifford Lee | Trainer: Karl Burke One of the less‑exposed entries, this colt has won two of his four starts, including a narrow victory over Del Maro in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood. However, his performance stalled in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was overly keen and faded in the straight.
His full brother Arabian Force stays a mile and six furlongs, but the colt still needs to settle and improve significantly to emulate that stamina. Jockey: David Probert | Trainer: Andrew Balding With a record of one win from six starts, this horse has shown gradual improvement, securing his sole victory over a mile and a half in July and following it with a clear second in a valuable Goodwood handicap. As the lowest‑rated runner in the field, he faces an uphill battle against the higher‑class horses, and the extended distance may test his limits.
Nonetheless, recent betting trends have quietly supported him, and he could prove a surprise factor from a top stable. Jockey: Saffie Osborne | Trainer: Joseph O'Brien Enceladus’s stablemate, while technically the second string, is perhaps the most intriguing contender. After unimpressive early outings over six‑furlong to a mile distances, he dramatically turned his form on his fourth start, earning a 250‑1 odds and delivering a striking performance at Naas over a mile.
He then stepped up to nearly a mile and a half at Killarney, winning by nine lengths, and later captured the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown over a mile and six furlongs at 22‑1, finishing strongly with his characteristic high head carriage. These results demonstrate his ability to stay the distance, and with Saffie Osborne aboard, they could make history together. Jockey: TBC | Trainer: Aidan O'Brien The most seasoned runner in the field, this colt displayed classic Leger potential at two by winning the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket and the Group 1 Critérium de Saint‑Cloud over a mile and a quarter, beating the well‑regarded A Boy Named Susie. He performed well on both good‑to‑firm and testing ground, suggesting versatility.
After a mixed first half of the season, including a seventh‑place finish in the Derby, he has shown improvement in his last two runs: a close third, a neck behind Christmas Day, in the Irish Derby, and a form reversal in the Great Voltigeur when receiving five pounds from his Derby‑winning stablemate, challenging Maltese Cross to the finish. Given his dam’s half‑sister placed third in the Park Hill, stamina is in his pedigree, and he could be a serious threat. Jockey: Jason Watson | Trainer: Faye Bramley A useful, relatively unexposed colt who ran a respectable sixth in the Derby and matched that effort in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
His dam’s side carries stamina influences, but the Leger distance remains a demanding test for him. Jockey: TBC | Trainer: Aidan O'Brien The sole filly in the lineup, she captured the Listed Cheshire Oaks but has struggled in Group company, including unplaced runs in the Epsom and Curragh Oaks.
In the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood over a mile and six furlongs, she appeared to lack the finishing kick, a surprise given her breeding for longer trips. She performed better in the Give Thanks Stakes back over a mile and a half at Cork, suggesting she can handle the distance when conditions suit. She carries a personal significance to the writer, being named after a heroine related to his American wife.
Enceladus arrives on a wave of confidence for Joseph O'Brien, whose season has been nothing short of spectacular. Though improvement is not guaranteed, the trajectory points upward, and the Leger distance should suit him.
A narrow win would give the Niarchos family their first European Classic victory since Study Of Man’s French Derby triumph in 2018 and mark a second classic win this season for Billy Loughnane. Derby winner Christmas Day has been consistently strong all season, though his York prep lacked a sparkle. Pierre Bonnard could again outfinish him, especially over the longer trip, as both are by Camelot—a proven stamina sire, as is Amelia Earhart. Highwayman, another O'Brien trainee, is expected to finish around fourth place, completing what could be a dominant showing by the O'Brien family in this historic race.