Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador Hollie Doyle is gearing up for the 250th running of the St Leger at Doncaster this Saturday, with a thrilling undercard also on offer and a live broadcast on Sky Sports Racing. She also turns her attention to the upcoming meeting at Leopardstown.
Aidan O’Brien is eyeing a historic tenth win in the world’s oldest Classic, the Betfred St Leger Stakes (3.35) at Doncaster. The Ballydoyle trainer has entered four runners to celebrate the race’s quarter‑centenary, the most likely of which is the hot favourite Christmas Day. The three‑year‑old aims to become the first Derby winner to claim the St Leger since Reference Point did so 39 years ago. The most plausible challenger to O’Brien’s dominance appears to be his son Joseph O’Brien, who will likely send the impressive Enceladus into the mix.
Enceladus is stepping up to Group One level for the first time after strong performances in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. Despite the strength of the O’Brien stable, I think the key to a tenth triumph lies not with Christmas Day but with the sturdy stablemate Pierre Bonnard.
Bonnard finished ahead of Christmas Day in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month, demonstrating the stamina that the St Leger demands. The longer distance should suit him perfectly, and a win would write a new chapter in O’Brien’s record. For those watching the video highlights, a Chrome browser will provide the most reliable playback experience. Turning to the undercard, Gentle Hurricane showed a marked improvement when he chased home Haffner in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York.
He is now primed for the Betfred Champagne Stakes (1.45) on Saturday. Andrew Balding’s colt will be in familiar territory over seven furlongs at Doncaster, and his recent Group Two experience should serve him well in an open renewal of the race. Desert Castle, the likely favourite for the 2,000 Guineas after an eye‑catching debut on the July Course at Newmarket, faces a significant step up in class. While his early form was impressive, the jump in grade raises questions about whether he can handle the tougher competition.
Willie Muir and Chris Grassick have entered Breacher after a promising third in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown. That performance earns him a place in the conversation for the day’s contests. In other news, Saffie Osborne made history at Doncaster by becoming the first woman to win a British Classic when Highwayman captured the St Leger.
Her emotional post‑race interview captured the significance of the achievement. Today's Sky Sports Racing lineup includes a clash between Touleen and Forty Years On at Doncaster, while the Betfred St Leger will see Osborne’s Highwayman headline the feature race. The Leger Festival also highlights Desert Castle at 6/1 for the 2,000 Guineas after his Champagne Stakes win at Doncaster, and Hollie Doyle expresses her admiration for Forty Years On in the Sceptre Stakes on the final day of the festival.
More Thunder has not featured prominently in top‑mile contests this year, but a return to seven furlongs in the Group Two Betfred Park Stakes (2.55) on Saturday could see him back in the winners’ enclosure. He fell short over a longer trip after winning the Prix Jacques le Marois last month, but a strongly‑run seven‑furlong race should suit his speed.
Qirat, who produced a brilliant run to finish second in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood, is expected to set a solid, end‑to‑end tempo alongside Witness Stand. However, Tom Marquand’s mount has the class to outpace them both. At longer odds, Kevin Ryan’s Volterra is worth watching in his first start since being gelded.
It is unusual to see him thrown straight into a race of this calibre after a runner‑up finish to Docklands at Doncaster in March, but the gamble could pay off. The Betfred Portland Handicap (2.20) on Saturday presents a tough puzzle, but Jack Channon’s GETREADYTORUMBLE could be the dark horse.
The four‑year‑old has handled challenging assignments in Listed and Group company this season and showed his versatility when he won a five‑furlong sprint at Ascot in July, beating all but one rival. To claim victory he would need to surpass his career‑high rating, but his class makes him a plausible contender.
I slightly favor GETREADYTORUMBLE over last year’s winner Eternal Sunshine, who is likely to make another bold attempt under a 5‑pound claimer for Laura Young. The duo previously tuned up with a solid win at Hamilton, while my personal favourite Toca Madera deserves a big handicap win after a series of near‑misses at Goodwood and York.
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (5.00) at Leopardstown on Saturday promises a showdown reminiscent of last month’s Juddmonte International, with the first three finishers from that race expected to clash again. Item, who turned the tables on Almaqam in that dramatic duel, must prove his potency on Leopardstown’s firmer ground. Meanwhile, Aidan O’Brien’s Constitution River will look to silence his critics after a lackluster run on the Knavesmire. I am prepared to overlook the French Derby and Eclipse winner’s defeat, as the colt simply lost his chance early in the race.
If Ryan Moore can settle him better, the horse can demonstrate why he is such a high‑class performer. Almaqam earned considerable credit for nearly winning the International, and a solid performance at Leopardstown would confirm that his previous effort was no fluke. The quicker the pace, the more it benefits Kieran Shoemark’s likable colt.
Andrew Balding’s unbeaten four‑year‑old Blue Bolt can continue his golden summer in the Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes (3.55) at Leopardstown. Unbeaten in four starts this year, she is positioned to claim a third top‑level victory and reaffirm her superiority over Aidan O’Brien’s Precise, who has finished behind her in both the Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Rothschild. While Aidan could try to control the race with Precise and True Love well drawn, I still expect Blue Bolt to emerge victorious. Last year’s winner Fallen Angel, who beat Juddmonte’s star filly in the Sun Chariot, should not be dismissed, especially on ground that will suit her running style.