The Weekend Winners panel reconvened to share their leading selections for the upcoming Saturday at the St Leger Festival, focusing especially on the headline Betfred St Leger Stakes, scheduled for a 3:35 pm start on Sky Sports Racing. Their analysis highlighted a number of high‑profile contenders, with Joseph O'Brien's Enceladus currently commanding the betting market.
Also in the mix were the Ballydoyle pairings of Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard, while last year’s victorious jockey Tom Marquand will be aboard Amelia Earhart and Saffie Osborne will take the reins on Highwayman. One of the panelists explained his confidence in Enceladus, noting that the horse was his ante‑post favourite because its campaign was always expected to culminate at Doncaster after a solid run at Goodwood.
"Enceladus possesses a beautifully progressive staying profile," he said, "rather than having already proved himself in classic races. He’s unbeaten in three starts in 2026, having broken his maiden at Cork, then taken the King George VI Stakes at Royal Ascot, before stepping up to Group 3 level to win the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood over just under a mile and a half." He continued, "His Royal Ascot performance was especially telling.
Some might have dismissed him as a well‑handicapped horse winning on a low rating of 89, but the Gordon Stakes confirmed he belongs in pattern company, and he finished his race with a strong, sustained finish. Being by Sea The Stars, his pedigree points to stamina, and every indicator since his trip was extended suggests that endurance, not speed, is becoming his dominant attribute." The panelist argued that the St Leger distance of one mile and six‑and‑a‑half furlongs is tailor‑made for Enceladus. He drew a parallel with Galileo Chrome, the 2020 St Leger winner for Joseph O'Brien, and suggested that Enceladus’s Derby form was perhaps undervalued because the competition that day was weak and the ground conditions were unusual.
Another contributor, a self‑confessed backer of Christmas Day, questioned whether the market favourite truly deserved its short odds. "I’m not convinced the shorter odds on the favourite are justified," he said.
"Enceladus’s progressive nature makes him a strong contender, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the betting market flips on the day and Christmas Day receives a surge of support." The discussion then turned to the broader Sky Sports Racing programme, mentioning the flat‑season finale at Windsor, a feature on Saffie Osborne’s emotional reaction after her Doncaster triumph, and a preview of the Touleen versus Forty Years On clash. The panel highlighted Osborne’s historic win on Highwayman, noting that she became the first woman to claim a British Classic when the filly secured the St Leger. The panel also examined the form of Desert Castle, currently priced at 6/1 for the 2000 Guineas after a convincing Champagne Stakes victory at Doncaster, and reminded listeners to stay up‑to‑date with the latest racing news via Sky Sports Racing.
Returning to the York trial, one analyst described it as a stepping stone toward the St Leger, saying, "If the ground is soft like it was at Epsom, I have no concerns – the horse handled that condition well. The Irish Derby second‑place effort behind Benvenuto Cellini was respectable, and I now view this as essentially a two‑horse contest, given my waning confidence in Pierre Bonnard throughout the season.
I prefer the runner that has already ticked the big‑day box." He added a note of caution about Enceladus’s equipment: "I’m curious why they’ve fitted cheekpieces. He’s looked raw and a bit behind the bridle, so perhaps they’re trying to sharpen his focus. Yet when you’re extending the trip, you don’t usually want to ‘light him up’ with extra gear, though he does appear the strongest stayer among the market leaders." A third voice expressed surprise at backing Amelia Earhart. "With her sex‑allowance factored in, she becomes an intriguing prospect.
She hasn’t won yet, but my own calculations show she’s been improving steadily. She was the favourite for the Oaks after a strong showing in the Cheshire Oaks, but fell short there. Perhaps she thrives later in the season and on softer ground, rather than the firm summer turf she’s faced so far." He noted recent equipment changes: "They’ve been experimenting with headgear – blinkers, a hood – and now everything is off.
Clearly the trainers have identified something they can fine‑tune. Amelia is a full sister to Cleveland, the Chester Cup winner, so the stamina pedigree is there. Of all the Ballydoyle horses, she might benefit most from the longer distance, and she doesn’t carry a heavy handicap. I’ll back her to finish in the top three at 11/2." The panel concluded by urging listeners to watch the full Weekend Winners analysis on the At The Races YouTube channel, promising further insight into the St Leger field, betting angles, and the stories behind each contender as the festival approaches.