The United States is marking its 250th anniversary, and at the same time the world’s oldest Classic race is celebrating a quarter‑millennium of competition – a rarity in sport. Few contests can boast such longevity, and the upcoming Betfred St Leger on Saturday promises another historic chapter. Who will claim the prize in this special renewal?
First, it is encouraging to see the Derby victor, Christmas Day, entered in the field. Achieving the Derby‑St Leger double is an uncommon feat; even legends like Shergar could only manage a fourth‑place finish in the Leger, and Camelot narrowly missed a Triple Crown not long ago. The Leger, while a furlong and a half shy of two miles, still demands a blend of speed and staying power, making it a true test of a horse’s versatility.
Only a handful of recent winners have managed to back up a Derby triumph at the Leger – Never Say Die, St Paddy, Nijinsky and Reference Point are the most recent examples. That puts additional pressure on Christmas Day to emulate their achievements. A close rival for the colt is stablemate Pierre Bonnard.
Aidan O'Brien, who is chasing his tenth Leger victory, may find his own son, Joseph O'Brien, in the saddle on the favourite Enceladus, adding a family rivalry to the mix. Jockey: Sean Levey | Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Action, a close relative of last year’s Derby winner Lambourn, has shown promise early in his career, finishing third to Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge Stakes and then taking a commendable second to Hawk Mountain in the Group 1 Futurity. His three‑year‑old campaign began well with a fourth‑place finish in the Sandown Classic Trial, before a disappointing run in the Dante at York where he was unable to keep pace with the future Juddmonte star Item. Unfortunately, Action’s form deteriorated after a too‑free ride in the Derby while wearing cheekpieces for the first time.
Since then he has been used as a pacemaker in the Irish Derby, the King George, and the Juddmonte, never getting a clean break and finishing well behind the leaders. Those performances do not bode well for his chances over the longer Leger distance, and he will need a firm grip on his powerful shoulders to stay competitive.
Rossa Ryan | Richard Hannon Alderman attracted attention in the Derby, finishing a respectable fifth – a position that could have been fourth with a slightly better finish – just ahead of Rebel Rocker. After that run, he was listed among the outsiders such as Pierre Bonnard, Ancient Egypt and Item. However, his form faltered in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on firm ground, where he finished last of five.
Though still a maiden, Alderman has shown enough ability that soft ground at York could prove advantageous, but he still faces a steep climb to be competitive over the Leger distance. Ronan Whelan | Aidan O'Brien Since Lambourn’s fourth‑place finish in last year’s Leger, the race has lacked a recent Derby‑Leger double winner. Reference Point remains the last horse to achieve the feat in 1987.
Christmas Day appears poised to become the next, especially if the Town Moor sees some rain. His Derby victory on soft ground was decisive, beating the Arc‑target Maltese Cross by almost three lengths – arguably the strongest form on the card. Although he was unplaced in the Irish Derby, he fought valiantly, finishing a neck behind Benvenuto Cellini and ahead of Pierre Bonnard. The same rivalry played out in the Great Voltigeur, where Pierre Bonnard turned the tables after receiving a five‑pound allowance from the Derby winner.
Christmas Day has been a model of consistency all season and seems capable of handling the extended distance, even if he may not improve further. Billy Loughnane | Joseph O'Brien Enceladus is a big, long‑striding colt who remains unbeaten as a three‑year‑old and improves with each run.
His King George V Handicap win at Royal Ascot has been bolstered by a subsequent Group 3 Gordon Stakes victory at Goodwood, where he displayed a sharp turn of foot in the final furlong, albeit drifting slightly right – a tendency that may have prompted today’s cheekpiece equipment. It has been six years since Joseph O'Brien secured his first Leger with Galileo Chrome, and this season’s strong form gives him confidence that his son of Sea The Stars can follow suit. The colt’s half‑brother’s success over a mile and six furlongs adds to expectations, and Enceladus arrives fresher than most rivals with room for improvement.
Unfortunately, jockey Dylan Brown McMonagle is still recovering from a serious fall, so Billy Loughnane will don the iconic Niarchos silks. Danny Tudhope | 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 suggested progress, yet a heavy defeat in the Great Voltigeur at York highlighted his limitations. Even with newly fitted cheekpieces, it is hard to see him turning that form around for the Leger.
Clifford Lee | Karl Burke One of the less heralded entries, Clifford has won two of his four starts, including a narrow victory over Del Maro in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood. However, his momentum stalled in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot when he was overly keen and faded in the straight. His full brother Arabian Force stays the distance, but Clifford still needs to settle and improve significantly to be a serious contender.
David Probert | Andrew Balding With a record of one win from six starts, David Probert’s mount has been gradually improving, securing a comfortable win 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, yet recent backing suggests some belief in his potential. He could be the first string from a top stable eager to cap a strong campaign. Saffie Osborne | Joseph O'Brien Enceladus’s stablemate, ridden by Saffie Osborne, is arguably the most intriguing outsider.
After modest early starts over six‑and‑a‑half furlongs to a mile, he exploded onto the scene with a surprising performance at Naas, then a nine‑length win over a mile and a half at Killarney, and finally a Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes victory at Leopardstown at 22‑1 odds. His high head carriage and ability to stay the trip hint at untapped potential, and a partnership with Osborne could produce a historic result. Wayne Lordan | Aidan O'Brien The most seasoned runner in the field, this colt displayed classic stamina 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 on differing ground. After a mixed early season, he placed third, a neck behind Christmas Day, in the Irish Derby and then reversed the form in the Great Voltigeur, challenging Maltese Cross until the final yards.
His dam’s half‑sister placed in the Park Hill, reinforcing his staying credentials. Jason Watson | Faye Bramley A useful yet relatively unexposed colt, Watson’s mount finished a respectable sixth in the Derby and replicated that effort in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
With stamina evident on the dam’s side, the Leger will test his limits, but he could surprise if he finds extra reserves. Tom Marquand | Aidan O'Brien The sole filly, Amelia Earhart, captured the Listed Cheshire Oaks but has struggled in Group company, including the Epsom and Curragh Oaks. She faded in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood over a mile and a half, though she showed better form in the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork.
Named after a personal heroine, she hopes to prove her stamina on the Town Moor. Enceladus arrives on a wave of momentum for Joseph O'Brien, who has enjoyed a stellar season.
A narrow win could make him the first European Classic victor for the Niarchos family since Study Of Man’s French Derby triumph in 2018, and the second Classic win for jockey Billy Loughnane. Christmas Day, the Derby winner, has been consistent all year, though his York prep lacked a flash of brilliance.
Pierre Bonnard, also a Camelot offspring, may edge him again over the extended distance. Highwayman is another horse to watch, likely to secure a solid fourth place as the O’Brien dynasty looks set to dominate the race.