The United States is marking its 250th birthday, and at the same time the world’s oldest Classic race, the St Leger, is celebrating another milestone. Very few sporting contests can boast such a lengthy history.
As the excitement builds for Saturday’s renewal of the Betfred St Leger, the big question is which horse will emerge victorious. First, it is encouraging to see the Derby champion Christmas Day entered in the field. Very few horses have ever managed to win both the Derby and the St Leger – a feat I learned early in my racing career when even a great like Shergar could only finish fourth in the Leger.
In recent years, Camelot came close to a Triple Crown but fell short at the final leg. The St Leger is just a furlong and a half shy of two miles, so a winner must combine genuine stamina with a good turn of speed. The last four horses to win the Derby and then back it up in the Leger were Never Say Die, St Paddy, Nijinsky and Reference Point, underscoring how rare the double is.
Christmas Day will have to prove he can join that exclusive club. His main stablemate, Pierre Bonnard, is another strong contender, and the race could turn into an intra‑stable duel for Aidan O'Brien, who is eyeing a record‑breaking tenth Leger win.
Adding a twist, O'Brien’s son Joseph, who trains the favourite Enceladus, will be hoping to thwart his father’s ambitions. Jockey: Sean Levey | Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Action, a close relative of last year’s Derby winner Lambourn, has shown flashes of ability.
He placed third in the Royal Lodge Stakes and then stepped up to a strong second in the Group 1 Futurity. This season he improved from a fourth‑place finish in the Sandown Classic Trial to a respectable run in the Dante at York, where he chased the future Juddmonte star Item. Unfortunately, his Derby run was compromised by the first use of cheekpieces, and he has since been relegated to a pacemaking role in the Irish Derby, King George and the Juddmonte.
In the most recent effort he failed to get a clean break and was left well behind the leaders, casting doubt on his ability to stay the longer Leger distance. A more supportive hand on his powerful shoulders might be what he needs. Rider: Rossa Ryan | Trainer: Richard Hannon Alderman impressed many observers in the Derby, finishing a close fifth, just a stride or two from fourth place behind Christmas Day and a solid two and a half lengths ahead of Rebel Rocker. Some pundits suggested he could be aimed at the Leger after that performance.
However, his form dipped in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket on firm ground, where he finished last of five. He remains a five‑race maiden, albeit a talented one, and soft ground could suit him if rain falls this week. Even with a favorable surface, he still faces a steep climb to be competitive over the extended trip. Trainer: Ronan Whelan | Owner: Aidan O'Brien The last horse to win both the Derby and the St Leger was Reference Point in 1987.
Christmas Day now has a genuine chance to become the next dual‑classic winner, especially if the turf becomes softer. His Derby triumph on yielding ground was decisive, beating the Arc‑target Maltese Cross by almost three lengths – arguably the strongest form on the card. Although he did not replicate that performance in the Irish Derby, he fought valiantly, finishing just behind Benvenuto Cellini and a neck ahead of Pierre Bonnard.
The same form line re‑emerged in the Great Voltigeur, where Bonnard turned the tables after receiving five pounds from the Derby winner. Throughout the season, Christmas Day has been remarkably consistent and appears capable of handling the Leger distance, even if he does not improve further. Jockey: Billy Loughnane | Trainer: Joseph O'Brien Enceladus is a big, long‑striding colt who remains unbeaten as a three‑year‑old and seems to improve with each run. His victory in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot has been bolstered by a Group 3 win in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, where he displayed a sharp turn of foot in the final furlong, albeit with a tendency to drift right.
To address this, cheekpieces have been fitted for today’s race. It has been six years since Joseph O'Brien secured his first Leger with Galileo Chrome, and he will be eager to add a second classic with this son of Sea The Stars.
Enceladus also benefits from a half‑brother who excelled over a mile and six furlongs, suggesting stamina runs in the family. Moreover, he arrives at Doncaster fresher than many rivals, leaving room for further improvement. Unfortunately, jockey Dylan Brown McMonagle is still recovering from a serious fall, so Billy Loughnane will don the iconic Niarchos silks. Jockey: Danny Tudhope | Trainer: Andrew Balding Andrew Balding’s hopeful, who broke his maiden at Chester’s Boodles May Festival, entered the Queen’s Vase as the favourite but could manage only sixth behind Limestone.
A respectable second in the Bahrain Trophy hinted at progress, yet a heavy defeat in the Great Voltigeur suggested he may have been over‑faced. Even with new cheekpieces, it will be difficult for him to turn that form around in the Leger. Jockey: Clifford Lee | Trainer: Karl Burke One of the less heralded entrants, this runner has won two of his four starts, including a narrow victory over Del Maro in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood. However, his progress stalled in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was overly keen and faded in the straight.
His full brother Arabian Force stays a mile and six furlongs, indicating that with better settling and further development, he could become a genuine stayer. Jockey: David Probert | Trainer: Andrew Balding With only one win from six starts, this horse has shown steady improvement, securing a comfortable victory over a mile and a half in July and following 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 insiders see potential.
If he can stay the trip, he could be a pleasant surprise. Jockey: Saffie Osborne | Trainer: Joseph O'Brien Enceladus’s stablemate, despite a modest start to his career, has become the most intriguing prospect. After unremarkable performances over six‑furlong to mile distances, he surprised everyone with a dominant nine‑length win over a mile and a half at Killarney.
He then captured the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes over a mile and six furlongs at Leopardstown at 22‑1 odds, finishing strongly with his characteristic high head carriage. These results prove he can stay the distance and may still have untapped ability. Riding him will be Saffie Osborne, and together they could write a new chapter in classic history. Jockey: Wayne Lordan | Trainer: Aidan O'Brien The most experienced runner in the lineup, this colt showed his Leger‑type 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 start to the season, including a seventh‑place finish in the Derby, he has improved, finishing a close third, a neck behind Christmas Day, in the Irish Derby and then reversing the form in the Great Voltigeur when conceding five pounds to his Derby‑winning stablemate. His dam’s half‑sister placed third in the Park Hill, adding further stamina credentials. He is likely to stay the distance and could be a serious challenger. Jockey: Jason Watson | Trainer: Faye Bramley A relatively unexposed colt who finished a well‑run sixth in the Derby and repeated a similar effort in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
He inherits stamina from his dam’s side, but the Leger will test his limits. If he can settle and find a rhythm, he may surprise. Jockey: Tom Marquand | Trainer: Aidan O'Brien The only filly in the field, she captured the Listed Cheshire Oaks but has struggled to make an impact in Group company, including unplaced runs in the Epsom and Curragh Oaks. A disappointing effort in the Lillie Langtry Stakes over a mile and six furlongs suggested she may need a different race plan, yet she performed better in the Give Thanks Stakes back over a mile and a half at Cork.
Named after a personal heroine of the writer, she hopes to prove her staying ability on the Town Moor. Overall, Enceladus arrives on a wave of form for Joseph O'Brien, who is enjoying a superb season. A narrow win could make him the first European classic victor for the Niarchos family since Study Of Man won the French Derby in 2018, and it would be the second classic win of the season for jockey Billy Loughnane.
Christmas Day remains a consistent performer and could still prevail if the ground softens, while Pierre Bonnard, also a Camelot offspring, may be the horse to beat over the extended distance. Highwayman looks a solid fourth‑place candidate, and the O’Brien stable as a whole appears poised to dominate the race.