The Weekend Winners panel reconvened to share their leading selections for the upcoming Saturday at the St Leger Festival. Their focus centred on the headline Betfred St Leger Stakes, scheduled to start at 3.35 pm on Saturday and broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. At the moment, the market leader is Enceladus, trained by Joseph O'Brien.
Also featuring prominently are the Ballydoyle entries Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard. Last year’s victor Tom Marquand will be aboard Amelia Earhart, while Saffie Osborne has a ride on Highwayman.
"I’m leaning against Christmas Day and favour Enceladus," the pundit explained. "Enceladus was my ante‑post pick because we knew he would head to Doncaster after his Goodwood run. He possesses a wonderfully progressive staying profile, even though he hasn’t yet proven himself in a Classic. He’s three‑for‑three in 2026, having won his maiden at Cork, then the King George VI Stakes at Royal Ascot, before stepping up to Group 3 and taking the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood over just under a mile and a half.
His performance at Royal Ascot was a key indicator. Some might have dismissed him as a well‑handicapped horse winning on a modest mark of 89, but the Gordon Stakes win demonstrated he belongs in pattern company, and he finished his race with a strong finish.
He is by Sea The Stars, and everything about his development since being stretched out in distance points to stamina becoming his dominant attribute rather than sheer speed. The step up to the St Leger distance of one mile and six‑and‑a‑half furlongs suits him perfectly. Comparisons have been drawn with Galileo Chrome, who also gave Joseph O’Brien a Classic win in 2020. As for Christmas Day, I think his Derby win was partly due to a weak field and favourable conditions on the day rather than sheer superiority.
Never miss a story with the latest racing news, interviews and features on your phone. Find out more. "I’m a Christmas Day backer," he 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 get horses that thrive over this distance, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the betting market flips on the day. I expect some solid support for Christmas Day as well." Saffie Osborne: "Plenty more jockeys like Leger winner who just need a chance," says Kevin Blake.
Today on Sky Sports Racing: Windsor’s flat season finale headlines Monday’s action. St Leger: History‑maker Saffie Osborne fights back tears after Doncaster triumph. Today on Sky Sports Racing: Touleen faces Forty Years On at Doncaster.
Betfred St Leger: Saffie Osborne becomes first woman to win a British Classic as Highwayman lands Doncaster feature. She’s done it!
Saffie Osborne makes history on Highwayman in the Leger at Doncaster. See the latest horse racing news, interviews and features from Sky Sports Racing. "I view the York run as a stepping‑stone toward this race – we’ve seen that pattern before.
If it rains as it did at Epsom, I have no concerns; he handled that ground well. I do acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding the Derby form. The Irish Derby second‑place behind Benvenuto Cellini was a respectable effort, and I think this looks like a two‑horse contest now that I’ve lost confidence in Pierre Bonnard throughout the season.
I prefer the horse that has already ticked the box on the big day." "My gut says 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. Enceladus is appealing, but I wonder why they’ve added cheek‑pieces.
He has looked raw and behind the bridle before, so perhaps that’s the reason. Still, over the extended distance he appears the strongest stayer among the market leaders. "I can’t believe I’ve come round to Amelia Earhart. With her sex‑allowance factored in, she becomes an intriguing prospect.
I’m not sure she’ll love winning, but my own 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 and on softer ground, rather than the firm summer turf, and could return to her best form now. "They’ve been experimenting with her headgear – blinkers, then a hood, and now everything is off.
Clearly the trainers have spotted something they can fine‑tune. She’s a full sister to Cleveland, who captured the Chester Cup, so stamina is in the pedigree. Of all the Ballydoyle horses, she should benefit most from the longer trip, and if she does, she won’t need much extra weight.
I’ll back her to place in the top three at 11/2 odds. Watch Weekend Winners in full on the At The Races YouTube channel...