The United States is marking its 250th year of independence, and at the same time the world’s oldest Classic race is celebrating its own remarkable anniversary. Very few sporting contests can claim such longevity. This year’s Betfred St Leger, held on Saturday, promises another historic chapter, and the field is packed with intriguing contenders.
First up is the Derby champion Christmas Day, who returns to the starting gate with a genuine chance of pulling off the elusive Derby‑St Leger double. Very few horses have managed this feat; even the legendary Shergar could only manage a fourth‑place finish when attempting it, and Camelot fell just short of a Triple Crown a few years ago.
The St Leger is only a furlong and a half shy of the two‑mile distance, meaning that a horse must combine stamina with a sharp turn of speed. Past winners such as Never Say Die, St Paddy, Nijinsky and Reference Point have all backed up a Derby win with a St Leger triumph, so the odds are certainly in Christmas Day’s favour. A close rival is stablemate Pierre Bonnard, also trained by Aidan O'Brien.
The O’Brien stable is eyeing a record tenth St Leger victory, but that ambition could be challenged by Joseph O’Brien, who trains the favourite Enceladus. The jockey aboard Christmas Day is Sean Levey, while Pierre Bonnard will also be represented by an O’Brien rider.
Action, a close relative of last year’s Derby winner Lambourn, has shown flashes of quality. He placed third in the Royal Lodge Stakes and then improved to a second‑place finish in the Group 1 Futurity, demonstrating a strong turn of foot.
However, his recent form has been erratic. After a promising run in the Sandown Classic Trial, he was employed as a pacemaker in the Irish Derby, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Juddmonte International. In the latter he failed to get a clean start and was unable to fulfil his role, finishing well behind the leaders.
With a step up in distance on the day, his chances look slim unless he can find a way to settle his powerful stride. Rossa Ryan, writing for Richard Hannon, points out that Alderman could be a late‑season St Leger target after a respectable fifth‑place finish in the Derby, just two lengths behind Christmas Day. Alderman’s subsequent run in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket was disappointing, as he finished last of five on firm ground. He remains a five‑race maiden, but his soft‑ground performance at Epsom suggests that any rain this week could benefit him.
Still, the distance to the St Leger remains a steep climb for the young colt. Ronan Whelan notes that the last horse to win both the Derby and the St Leger was Reference Point in 1987.
Christmas Day appears well‑placed to emulate that achievement, especially if the ground turns soft. His Derby victory on yielding turf was decisive, beating the Arc‑bound Maltese Cross by nearly three lengths – arguably the strongest form in the current field. Although he faded in the Irish Derby, he stayed on strongly behind Benvenuto Cellini and finished a neck ahead of Pierre Bonnard.
The two O’Brien colts also contested the Great Voltigeur, where Bonnard reversed the order, finishing five pounds behind the Derby winner as they were both beaten by the improving Maltese Cross. Christmas Day has been a model of consistency all season and seems capable of handling the St Leger distance, even if he may not improve further. Billy Loughnane, riding for Joseph O’Brien, backs Enceladus, a big, long‑striding colt who remains unbeaten as a three‑year‑old.
Enceladus’s King George V Handicap win at Royal Ascot has been praised, and his subsequent Group 3 Gordon Stakes victory at Goodwood displayed a turn of speed approaching the final furlong, albeit with a tendency to drift right. The addition of cheekpieces for today should help him stay focused. It has been six years since Joseph O’Brien captured his first St Leger with Galileo Chrome, and he is eager to add a second Classic with a son of Sea The Stars.
Enceladus’s half‑brother has already proven stamina over a mile and six furlongs, adding confidence that the colt can stay the trip. He arrives fresher than most rivals and could still improve. Danny Tudhope highlights Andrew Balding’s hopeful, a horse that won a maiden at Chester’s Boodles May Festival and started as favourite for the Queen’s Vase, only to finish sixth to Limestone.
A solid second in the Bahrain Trophy suggested progress, but a heavy defeat in the Great Voltigeur raised doubts about his ability to handle the St Leger distance, even with newly fitted cheekpieces. Clifford Lee points to Karl Burke’s relatively unexposed runner, who has won two of his four starts, including a narrow victory in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood. However, his form stalled in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascet when he was overly keen and faded in the straight. His full brother Arabian Force stays a mile and six furlongs, indicating that the pedigree can manage the distance, but the horse still needs to settle and improve.
David Probert notes another Andrew Balding entry with a modest record of one win from six starts. The colt earned his sole victory over a mile and a half in July and followed it with a clear second in a valuable Goodwood handicap. As the lowest‑rated runner in the field, he faces a steep challenge, but recent backing suggests some punters see hidden potential.
Saffie Osborne rides Joseph O’Brien’s second‑string, Enceladus’s stablemate, a horse whose career has been a remarkable turnaround. After unimpressive early starts over six‑furlong distances, he posted a surprise win at Naas over a mile, then stretched out to a mile and a half at Killarney, winning by nine lengths.
He later captured the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown over a mile and six furlongs at 22‑1 odds, finishing strongly with his characteristic high head carriage. The colt clearly stays the trip and may have more to give, making him an intriguing outsider.
Wayne Lordan, aboard the most experienced runner, a Camelot‑bred colt, has shown his stamina in previous Group races, including a Group 3 Zetland Stakes win at Newmarket and a Group 1 Criterium de Saint‑Cloud victory over a mile and a quarter. After a mixed early season, he placed third, a neck behind Christmas Day, in the Irish Derby and then turned the form on his stablemate in the Great Voltigeur, finishing close to Maltese Cross.
His dam’s half‑sister placed third in the Park Hill, suggesting the stamina genes are present. Jason Watson rides a useful but largely unexposed colt for Faye Bramley. The horse was a well‑held sixth in the Derby and ran similarly in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
While there is stamina on the dam’s side, the St Leger distance remains a demanding test for a horse with limited top‑class experience. Tom Marquand is on board the only filly in the field, a Cheshire Oaks winner who has struggled to replicate that form in Group company, including the Epsom and Curragh Oaks.
She faded in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood over a mile and a half, surprising many given her pedigree. A better performance in the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork suggests she can handle the distance, but she will need to find a decisive turn of foot to be competitive. In summary, Enceladus arrives on a wave of confidence for Joseph O’Brien, who has enjoyed a superb season.
A narrow vote could make him the first European Classic winner for the Niarchos family since Study Of Man’s French Derby triumph in 2018, and it would also be the second Classic victory for jockey Billy Loughnane. Christmas Day, the Derby winner, has shown consistent form and could be challenged by Pierre Bonnard, especially if the ground stays soft.
The O’Brien stable appears poised to dominate, but the race remains open, with several outsiders offering genuine chances for a surprise result.