The Weekend Winners panel reconvened to lay out their premier selections for the upcoming Saturday at the St Leger Festival, with a sharp focus on the headline Betfred St Leger Stakes, scheduled to start at 3:35 p.m. on Saturday and broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing.
Among the contenders, Enceladus currently tops the betting market for trainer Joseph O'Brien. The Ballydoyle stable also has two strong entries: Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard. Last year’s victorious jockey Tom Marquand will be aboard Amelia Earhart, while Saffie Osborne takes the reins on Highway Man. "I’m not backing Christmas Day, I’m backing Enceladus," one pundit explained.
"He was my ante‑post choice because we knew he would be headed to Doncaster after his Goodwood run. He possesses a lovely, progressive staying profile, even though he hasn’t yet proven himself in a Classic. He’s three‑for‑three in 2026, having broken his maiden at Cork, then taken the King George VI Stakes at Royal Ascot, before stepping up to Group 3 where he won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood over just under a mile and a half.
His form at Royal Ascot has aged well, which is crucial because some might have dismissed him as merely a well‑handicapped horse winning on a low weight of 89. The Gordon Stakes win confirmed his ability to compete at a higher level, and he finished his race with a powerful finishing kick. Being by the legendary Sea The Stars, his pedigree points to stamina, and his recent progression over longer trips suggests endurance is becoming his primary asset. The step up to the St Leger distance of one mile and six‑and‑a‑half furlongs is ideal for him.
Comparisons are being drawn to Galileo Chrome, who also won this race for Joseph O'Brien back in 2020. As for Christmas Day, his Derby form was impressive, but many feel that victory was aided by a weak field and favorable conditions on the day. Never miss a story – get the latest racing news, interviews, and features straight to your phone.
"I’m a Christmas Day backer," another commentator added. "Does the favourite really have the form to justify being shorter than Christmas Day? I’m not convinced.
I can see the appeal of Enceladus – his progressive style – and you do see horses that thrive in this race, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the market flips on the day and we see solid support for Christmas Day as well. Today's Sky Sports Racing schedule includes the flat‑season finale at Windsor, a feature on Saffie Osborne’s emotional reaction after her Doncaster triumph, and a preview of Touleen versus Forty Years On at Doncaster.
The Betfred St Leger will also mark a historic moment as Saffie Osborne becomes the first woman to win a British Classic when Highway Man clinches the feature race. She’s done it! Osborne makes history on Highway Man in the Leger at Doncaster. In the broader Leger Festival, Desert Castle is priced at 6/1 for the 2000 Guineas after a Champagne Stakes win at Doncaster.
For the latest horse‑racing updates, interviews and features, stay tuned to Sky Sports Racing. "I view the York run as a stepping stone toward this race – we’ve seen that pattern before.
If the ground turns out as soft as it was at Epsom, I have no concerns; Enceladus handled that condition well. The question remains what to make of his Derby performance.
He was second in the Irish Derby behind Benvenuto Cellini, a respectable effort, and I think this will be a two‑horse contest now that I’ve lost confidence in Pierre Bonnard after a season of inconsistency. I prefer a horse that has already ticked the box on a big day." "My instinct tells me this is a fairly average renewal of the Leger, and I’m not convinced the two Ballydoyle runners will make huge strides over the longer trip. I like Enceladus, but I wonder why they’ve added cheekpieces – he’s looked raw and behind the bridle previously, so perhaps they’re trying to sharpen his focus.
Still, over a longer distance you’d think you’d want him to run freely, not be restrained. Yet he does appear the strongest stayer among the market leaders. "I never imagined I’d back Amelia Earhart, but with her sex‑allowance factored in, she becomes an intriguing option.
She may not be a guaranteed winner, but my calculations show she’s been improving steadily. She started the season as the favourite for the Oaks after a strong showing in the Cheshire Oaks, only to fall short. Perhaps she thrives later in the year on softer ground, rather than on the firmer summer turf, and could return to her best form now. "They’ve been tinkering with her headgear – blinkers, then a hood, and now everything is off.
Clearly the trainers have spotted something they think can be refined. She’s a full sister to Cleveland, the Chester Cup winner, so stamina runs in the family. Of all the Ballydoyle horses, she is likely to benefit most from the extended distance, and if she does, the odds are generous. I’ll back her to finish in the top three at 11/2.
Watch the full Weekend Winners analysis on the At The Races YouTube channel for deeper insight into each contender, the tactical considerations, and the latest betting trends ahead of the St Leger Festival.