The world’s oldest Classic race celebrates its anniversary in step with the United States’ 250th birthday, a rare coincidence for any sporting event. Few contests can boast such a lengthy history, and the St Leger remains a unique test of both speed and stamina. As the field lines up for Saturday’s Betfred St Leger, the big question is which horse will finally claim the prize.
First, it is encouraging to see the Derby winner Christmas Day back in the saddle. Achieving a double in the Derby and the St Leger is a rare feat; even legendary horses such as Shergar could only manage a fourth‑place finish in the Leger, and Camelot fell just short of a Triple Crown a few years ago. The Leger is only a furlong and a half shy of the classic two‑mile distance, meaning that a horse must combine genuine stamina with a turn of speed to succeed.
Only a handful of recent winners—Never Say Die, St Paddy, Nijinsky and Reference Point—have managed to back up a Derby triumph with a Leger victory, so the odds are certainly stacked against Christmas Day, but his connections remain optimistic. A close rival for the favourite’s honours is stablemate Pierre Bonnard. Aidan O’Brien, who is chasing a record tenth Leger win, may find his own son, Joseph O’Brien, providing the strongest challenge with his own entry, Enceladus. The jockey‑trainer pairings for these top contenders are Sean Levey on Christmas Day (trained by Aidan O’Brien) and Joseph O’Brien on Enceladus.
Action, a close relative of last year’s Derby winner Lambourn, has shown flashes of quality. He placed third to Bow Echo in the Royal Lodge Stakes and then improved to a second‑place finish behind Hawk Mountain in the Group 1 Futurity. His three‑year‑old campaign started well, moving from a fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial to a respectable effort in the Dante at York, where he chased the future Juddmonte star Item.
Unfortunately, his Derby run was compromised by the use of cheekpieces for the first time, causing him to race too freely. Since then he has been employed as a pacemaker in the Irish Derby, the King George, and the Juddmonte, never quite finding the rhythm required to fulfill his potential. The decision to use him as a pacemaker may have taken a toll on his stamina, leaving doubts about his ability to stay the extended Leger distance. Alderman, who impressed many observers with a strong fifth‑place finish (a potential fourth with a little extra effort) behind Christmas Day in the Derby, was tipped by some as a possible Leger contender.
However, his form has since dipped, as evidenced by a last‑place finish in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on firm ground. He remains a talented five‑race maiden, but the soft ground that helped him at Epsom could be decisive; any rain this week would be a welcome advantage for him. The last horse to win both the Derby and the St Leger was Reference Point in 1987, and since Lambourn’s fourth‑place finish last year, the race has been waiting for a new dual winner.
Christmas Day appears to have the best chance, especially if the turf stays soft. His Derby victory on yielding ground was convincing, beating the Arc‑target Maltese Cross by nearly three lengths—arguably the strongest form on offer. Although he was beaten in the Irish Derby, he fought back to finish a close second behind Benvenuto Cellini and a neck ahead of Pierre Bonnard.
The same form line re‑emerged in the Great Voltigeur, where Pierre Bonnard turned the tables after receiving a five‑pound allowance from the Derby winner. Christmas Day has been a model of consistency all season and seems capable of staying the 1 mile 6 furlong trip, even if he is unlikely to improve further. Enceladus, a big, long‑striding colt, is unbeaten as a three‑year‑old and appears to improve with each run. His dominant performance in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot, followed by a Group 3 Gordon Stakes victory at Goodwood, has raised his profile considerably.
He displayed a sharp turn of foot approaching the final furlong at Goodwood, although he tended to drift right—a quirk that may have prompted the use of cheekpieces today. Joseph O’Brien, who won his first Leger six years ago with Galileo Chrome, is eager to add another classic to his résumé, especially with a son of Sea The Stars in his stable. Enceladus’s half‑brother has already proven capable over a mile and six furlongs, adding further confidence that the colt can handle the distance.
He arrives fresher than most of his rivals, and with the possibility of still improving, he is a serious threat. Dylan Brown McMonagle’s unfortunate fall at Bellewstown means that Billy Loughnane will don the iconic Niarchos silks for Enceladus, a detail that underscores the high‑stakes nature of the race. Other notable entries include a promising youngster from Andrew Balding’s yard, who won his maiden at Chester’s Boodles May Festival and was the favourite for the Queen’s Vase before finishing sixth in the Limestone.
A decent second in the Bahrain Trophy hinted at progress, but a heavy defeat in the Great Voltigeur suggests he may struggle to turn things around, even with newly fitted cheekpieces. Clifford Lee’s runner, a relatively unexposed horse with two wins from four starts—including a narrow victory in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood—has yet to prove himself at the highest level. A lackluster effort in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was overly keen and faded in the straight, highlights the need for greater composure. His full brother Arabian Force stays a mile and six furlongs, offering a benchmark for the type of stamina required.
David Probert’s entry has a modest record of one win from six starts but has shown steady improvement, notably a comfortable mile‑and‑a‑half win in July and a clear second in a valuable Goodwood handicap. As the lowest‑rated horse in the field, he faces a steep challenge, yet recent backing suggests some punters see hidden potential. Saffie Osborne will ride Enceladus’s stablemate, a dark horse with an astonishing rise from obscurity.
After modest performances over six‑furlong to mile distances, the colt exploded in a one‑mile race at Naas at 250‑to‑1 odds, then won a mile‑and‑a‑half contest at Killarney by nine lengths, and finally captured the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes over a mile and six furlongs at Leopardstown at 22‑to‑1. His high head carriage and strong finish indicate he can stay the Leger distance, and a partnership with Osborne could produce a memorable upset. Wayne Lordan, the most seasoned runner, displayed classic stamina at two by winning the Group 3 Zetland Stakes at Newmarket and the Group 1 Critérium de Saint‑Cloud over a mile and a quarter.
After a mixed early season—including a seventh‑place Derby finish—he has improved, finishing a neck behind Christmas Day in the Irish Derby and then reversing the form in the Great Voltigeur by beating Maltese Cross. His pedigree, with a dam’s half‑sister placing third in the Park Hill, suggests he will stay the trip well. Jason Watson rides a useful, relatively unexposed colt who ran a solid sixth in the Derby and performed similarly in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
Stamina on the dam’s side offers some hope, though the Leger will test his limits. Tom Marquand is aboard the only filly in the field, a Cheshire Oaks winner who has struggled to replicate that form in Group company, including lackluster runs in the Epsom and Curragh Oaks and a disappointing effort in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood. She showed better form in the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork over a mile and a half, but she must find extra gear to be competitive. In summary, Enceladus arrives on a wave of confidence for Joseph O’Brien, who has enjoyed a superb season and may secure the first European Classic win for the Niarchos family since Study Of Man’s French Derby triumph in 2018.
A narrow vote could see him become the second Classic winner for Billy Loughnane this year. Christmas Day remains a consistent performer, but Pierre Bonnard could again out‑finish him on the softer ground that favors Camelot‑derived stamina.
Highwayman is another contender worth watching, and the O’Brien family appears poised to dominate the race. The St Leger promises a thrilling mix of proven classics, emerging talent, and potential upsets, making Saturday’s showdown a must‑watch for racing enthusiasts.