The United States is marking its 250th birthday, and at the same time the world’s oldest Classic race, the St Leger, celebrates another milestone. Very few sporting contests can claim such longevity. This year’s renewal, sponsored by Betfred, takes place on Saturday and the field is full of intrigue. First up, the Derby champion Christmas Day is back on the course.
It is a rare feat to contest both the Derby and the St Leger; even legendary horses such as Shergar managed only a fourth‑place finish in the Leger, and Camelot fell just short of a Triple Crown in recent memory. The St Leger is a furlong and a half shorter than the two‑mile distance of the Derby, but it still demands a blend of speed and stamina. Only a handful of horses—Never Say Die, St Paddy, Nijinsky and Reference Point—have managed to win at Epsom and then back that up at Doncaster, so Christmas Day faces a steep challenge.
His stablemate Pierre Bonnard is the other Aidan O'Brien entry, and the Irish trainer is eyeing a record tenth Leger win. However, O'Brien’s own son, Joseph, trains the race 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 a respectable juvenile record—third in the Royal Lodge Stakes and second in the Group 1 Futurity—but his three‑year‑old campaign has been disappointing. After a promising fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial, he ran too freely in the Derby wearing cheekpieces for the first time and has since been consigned to pacemaking duties in the Irish Derby, King George and the Juddmonte. His lack of a sharp turn of foot and the fact that he was left trailing in the Juddmonte suggest he will struggle over the extended distance at Doncaster.
(Jockey: Rossa Ryan; Trainer: Richard Hannon) Alderman impressed many observers in the Derby, finishing a close fifth—effectively a fourth with a little more effort—behind Christmas Day and ahead of Rebel Rocker. Yet his subsequent run in the Bahrain Trophy on firm ground saw him finish last of five. He remains a talented five‑race maiden, but his form indicates he needs softer ground to unleash his full potential.
Any rain this week could be advantageous, though he still faces a steep climb to be competitive in the Leger. (Jockey: Ronan Whelan; 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 could emulate that feat, especially if the Town Moor sees some rain. His Derby victory on soft ground was dominant, beating the Arc‑target Maltese Cross by nearly three lengths—a performance that currently stands as the strongest form in the field.
Although he was beaten in the Irish Derby, he finished a close third behind Benvenuto Cellini and a neck ahead of Pierre Bonnard. The same form pattern repeated in the Great Voltigeur, where Bonnard reversed the placings after receiving a five‑pound allowance. Christmas Day has been a model of consistency all season and appears capable of staying the Leger distance, even if he does not improve further.
(Jockey: Billy Loughnane; Trainer: Joseph O'Brien) Enceladus, a big, long‑striding colt, is unbeaten as a three‑year‑old and seems to improve with each run. His King George V Handicap win at Royal Ascoy received a boost in form after a decisive Group 3 Gordon Stakes victory at Goodwood, where he displayed a turn of foot in the final furlong despite a tendency to drift right—a problem that cheekpieces aim to correct today. Joseph O'Brien, who claimed his first Leger with Galileo Chrome six years ago, hopes to repeat the success with this son of Sea The Stars.
The colt’s half‑brother has already proved capable over a mile and six furlongs, adding confidence that Enceladus will stay the distance. He arrives fresher than most rivals and could still improve. (Jockey: Danny Tudhope; Trainer: Andrew Balding) Andrew Balding’s contender, who broke his maiden at Chester’s Boodles May Festival, was the favourite for the Queen’s Vase but could only manage sixth in that race.
A respectable second in the Bahrain Trophy suggested a return to form, yet a heavy defeat in the Great Voltigeur raised doubts about his ability to turn things around at Doncaster, even with new cheekpieces. (Jockey: Clifford Lee; Trainer: Karl Burke) Clifford Lee’s horse, a relatively unexposed runner with two wins from four starts—including a narrow victory in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood—showed promise but was outclassed 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 a mile and six furlongs, but the younger sibling must learn to settle and improve significantly to be a factor.
(Jockey: David Probert; Trainer: Andrew Balding) David Probert’s entry has only one win from six starts, but that victory came over a mile and a half in July and was followed by a clear second in a valuable Goodwood handicap. As the lowest‑rated runner in the field, he faces a steep uphill battle to stay the Leger trip, though recent backing suggests some bettors see untapped potential. (Jockey: Saffie Osborne; Trainer: Joseph O'Brien) Saffie Osborne rides Enceladus, who has become the most intriguing prospect despite a modest start to his career. After three unremarkable runs at shorter distances, he broke through with a strong showing at Naas over a mile, then a nine‑length victory at Killarney over a mile and a half, and finally a Listed win in the Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown at 22‑1 odds.
His high head carriage and ability to stay the distance make him a genuine threat, and a partnership with Osborne could write a new chapter in Leger history. (Jockey: Wayne Lordan; Trainer: Aidan O'Brien) Wayne Lordan’s mount is the most seasoned runner, having won the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket and the Group 1 Critérium de Saint‑Cloud over a mile and a quarter as a two‑year‑old. After a patchy start to the season—including a seventh‑place finish in the Derby—he has improved, finishing a neck behind Christmas Day in the Irish Derby and then reversing the form in the Great Voltigeur, where he gave Maltese Cross a run for his money.
His pedigree suggests stamina, and his dam’s half‑sister placed third in the Park Hill, giving him a solid chance to stay the distance. Jason Watson rides a useful, relatively unexposed colt who finished sixth in the Derby and ran similarly in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
Though his dam’s side hints at staying power, the Leger will test his limits. (Jockey: Tom Marquand; Trainer: Aidan O'Brien) Tom Marquand is aboard the sole filly, a Cheshire Oaks winner who has struggled to make an impact in Group company, including disappointing runs in the Epsom and Curragh Oaks. She faded in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood over a mile and a half but showed improvement in the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork.
Named after a personal heroine, she hopes to prove her stamina on the Leger trip. In summary, Enceladus arrives on a wave of form for Joseph O'Brien, who could deliver the first European Classic win for the Niarchos family since Study Of Man’s French Derby triumph in 2018.
Christmas Day remains a strong contender, especially if the ground softens, while Pierre Bonnard may still outfinish his stablemate. The O’Brien dynasty is poised to dominate, but the race is wide open, and a surprise performer could emerge from any of the remaining runners.