The St Leger, the oldest Classic in the racing calendar, is celebrating its own milestone alongside the United States' 250th anniversary – a rarity for any sporting event. Few contests can claim such longevity, and the upcoming renewal at Doncaster on Saturday promises a fascinating clash of talent, history, and ambition. At the heart of the field is Derby winner Christmas Day, a colt whose appearance signals a genuine attempt at the coveted double. Achieving victories in both the Derby and the St Leger is an elusive feat; the last horse to do it was Reference Point in 1987.
Even the legendary Shergar could only manage fourth in the St Leger, while Camelot fell just short of a Triple Crown a few years ago. Christmas Day therefore arrives with a rare blend of speed and stamina, having proven he can handle the Derby distance on soft ground with a decisive three‑length win over Maltese Cross, a future Arc contender. His performance in the Irish Derby was less impressive – a fighting fourth behind Benvenuto Cellini – but he rebounded in the Great Voltigeur, where his stablemate Pierre Bonnard turned the tables after receiving a five‑pound concession.
Consistency has been Christmas Day's hallmark throughout the season, and while he may not improve further, he is expected to be a strong contender over the St Leger’s 1 mile 6 furlongs and 115 yards. Close on his heels is fellow Aidan O'Brien trainee Pierre Bonnard, the other Camelot‑sired runner in the race. Bonnard has already demonstrated his class by finishing a close second to Christmas Day in the Derby and then taking the lead in the Great Voltigeur before conceding weight.
If the ground softens, his proven ability on yielding surfaces could give him an edge, especially as both he and Christmas Day share the same stamina‑rich pedigree. Joseph O'Brien, Aidan’s son, will be hoping his favourite Enceladus can emulate the success of his half‑brother Galileo Chrome, the 2016 Leger winner. Enceladus has shown flashes of brilliance, most notably a commanding victory in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot and a Group 3 Gordon Stakes win at Goodwood. The colt’s turn of foot in the final furlong at Goodwood, despite a tendency to drift right, suggests he possesses the acceleration needed to finish strongly.
With cheekpieces now fitted to help him settle, the Niarchos family hopes Enceladus can deliver a historic win for the stable, potentially becoming the first European Classic victor for the Niarchos banner since Study Of Man captured the French Derby in 2018. Action, a close relative of last year’s Derby winner Lambourn, has had a respectable juvenile campaign, including a third‑place finish in the Royal Lodge Stakes and a runner‑up spot in the Group 1 Futurity. However, his three‑year‑old season has been marred by erratic riding and a series of pacemaker duties in the Irish Derby, King George, and Juddmonte.
These roles have left him lacking the sharpness required for a genuine St Leger challenge, and his prospects look dim unless he can rediscover his earlier form and gain a stronger positional advantage. Alderman, who impressed many observers with a fifth‑place finish in the Derby – just a stride or two from fourth – has yet to confirm his stamina over longer trips. A disappointing run in the Bahrain Trophy on firm ground, where he finished last of five, underscores his need for softer conditions.
Should rain fall on the Town Moor, the resulting softer surface could suit his pedigree, but he still faces a steep uphill battle against more seasoned stayers. Rosan Ryan’s entry, a five‑race maiden with evident talent, has shown promise on soft ground, notably at Epsom when the Derby was run in rain. Yet his inexperience over the St Leger distance remains a concern, and he will need a decisive ride to bridge the gap between potential and performance.
The field also includes several other noteworthy runners. Danny Tudhope’s colt, a strong performer in the Chester Boodles May Festival, failed to live up to expectations in the Queen’s Vase, finishing sixth to Limestone. Although he posted a respectable second in the Bahrain Trophy, a heavy defeat in the Great Voltigeur raises doubts about his ability to stay the distance, even with newly fitted cheekpieces. Clifford Lee’s horse, a Listed Cocked Hat Stakes winner, has yet to demonstrate his full capability at the Group level.
A lackluster showing in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was overly keen and faded in the straight, suggests he still needs to learn how to settle and conserve energy for the final stages. David Probert’s entry has a solitary win from six starts, but that victory came over a mile and a half in July, hinting at latent stamina.
A clear second in a Goodwood handicap shows he can compete, yet as the lowest‑rated horse in the lineup, he must overcome a significant rating gap to be a factor. Saffie Osborne will be aboard the second‑string runner for Joseph O’Brien, a colt whose career trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable.
After modest beginnings over six‑furlong trips, he surged to a nine‑length victory at Killarney over a mile and a half, then captured the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown as a 22‑to‑1 outsider. His high head carriage and strong finish indicate he can stay the trip, and a partnership with Osborne could produce a memorable upset.
Wayne Lordan rides the most seasoned horse in the field, a former Group 3 Zetland Stakes winner who also claimed the Group 1 Criterium de Saint‑Cloud as a two‑year‑old. Despite a patchy early season, he has shown improvement, finishing a neck behind Christmas Day in the Irish Derby and then reversing form in the Great Voltigeur by giving weight to Maltese Cross. His dam’s lineage, which includes a third‑place finish in the Park Hill, adds a stamina boost that could see him stay the distance. Jason Watson’s colt, a relatively unexposed but useful runner, placed sixth in the Derby and matched that effort in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
With stamina evident on the dam’s side, he could be a dark horse if the race unfolds favorably. Tom Marquand will guide the sole filly, a Cheshire Oaks winner who has struggled to replicate that form in Group company, notably in the Epsom and Curragh Oaks.
A disappointing run in the Lillie Langtry Stakes over a mile and a half suggests she has yet to find the right rhythm, but a better showing in the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork shows she can handle the distance when conditions align. Overall, the O’Brien family appears poised to dominate the event, with multiple entries spanning a range of form lines and pedigrees. Enceladus may claim a historic win for the Niarchos family, while Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard are likely to contest the top spot.
The softer ground could favor the stamina‑rich Camelot progeny, but the race remains wide open, with several long‑shots capable of causing an upset. Fans can expect a tactical, stamina‑testing contest that will crown a worthy successor to the race’s storied legacy.