The Weekend Winners panel reconvened to share their premier selections for the upcoming Saturday fixtures at the St Leger Festival, with a special focus on the headline Betfred St Leger Stakes, scheduled to start at 3:35 p.m. on Saturday and broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing.
At the moment, the betting market lists Enceladus as the front‑runner for trainer Joseph O'Brien, while the Ballydoyle stable contributes two hopefuls – Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard – both of which are also in the mix. Returning rider Tom Marquand, who captured the race last year, will be aboard Amelia Earhart, and Saffie Osborne has been assigned the mount on Highwayman.
"I’m not backing Christmas Day; my preference is Enceladus," explained one of the panelists. "He was my ante‑post pick because we knew he would head to Doncaster after his Goodwood campaign. He possesses a wonderfully progressive staying profile, even though he hasn’t yet proved himself in a Classic.
He’s unbeaten in three starts in 2026, having claimed his maiden at Cork, then taken the King George VI Stakes at Royal Ascot, before stepping up to Group 3 level and winning the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood over just under a mile and a half. His performance at Ascot turned out to be a key indicator, especially since some might have dismissed him as merely a well‑handicapped horse winning on a low weight of 89. The Gordon Stakes confirmed that he belongs in higher‑class company, and he finished his race with a powerful late surge.
Being a son of Sea The Stars, his pedigree and the way he has handled increased distances suggest that stamina, rather than raw speed, is becoming his dominant attribute. The step up to the St Leger’s mile‑and‑six‑and‑a‑half‑furlongs is tailor‑made for a horse with that kind of stamina. Observers have drawn parallels with Galileo Chrome, who also won this race for Joseph O'Brien back in 2020. As for Christmas Day, his Derby win was largely a product of the frailties of his rivals and the specific conditions on the day, rather than an outright display of superiority.
"I’m a Christmas Day backer," the pundit added, "but does the current favourite have enough form to justify being priced shorter than Christmas Day? In my view, I’m not entirely convinced. Enceladus offers a compelling angle with his progressive improvement, and while horses with that profile can certainly succeed in the Leger, I wouldn’t be surprised if the market fluctuates on the day and Christmas Day receives a fresh boost of support. In other racing news, Almeraq is set for a return to Ascot on Champions Day, while Sky Sports Racing’s schedule includes a clash between Deep Havana and Pilu at Yarmouth, a feature race for Fairy Glen in the John Musker Fillies’ Stakes, and the opening of Yarmouth’s Eastern Festival with promising novice action.
Kevin Blake, speaking on behalf of Saffie Osborne, highlighted that there are many jockeys of Leger‑winner calibre who simply need the right opportunity to shine. "I view the York run as a stepping stone toward this race – we’ve seen that pattern before. If the ground turns out to be as soft as it was at Epsom, I have no concerns; the horse handled that going well. The Derby form is still a bit of a mystery, but the Irish Derby second‑place finish behind Benvenuto Cellini was respectable, and I’m inclined to see this as a two‑horse contest now that my confidence in Pierre Bonnard has waned over the season.
I prefer a horse that has already proven itself on a big day. "My instinct tells me this is a fairly average renewal of the Leger, and I’m not convinced the two Ballydoyle entries will make huge strides over the extended trip. Enceladus remains a personal favourite, although I’m curious about the decision to add cheekpieces – he’s looked a bit raw and behind the bridle in recent runs, so perhaps the tack will sharpen his focus.
Still, when you’re adding distance, you generally don’t want to overstimulate the horse, yet he does appear the strongest stayer among the market leaders. "I never imagined I’d start favouring Amelia Earhart, but once you factor in her sex allowance, she becomes an intriguing prospect.
She may not be a lock for victory, but my own calculations show a steady upward trajectory. She started as the favourite for the Oaks after a solid showing in the Cheshire Oaks, only to fall short in the race itself. Perhaps she thrives later in the season, preferring the cooler conditions rather than the firm summer ground, and could be returning to her best form now.
"Her connections have been experimenting with headgear – blinkers, then a hood – and now everything is off, suggesting they have identified something that could eke out a final improvement. She’s a full sister to Cleveland, the Chester Cup winner, and that stamina pedigree should serve her well over the longer Leger distance. Among the Ballydoyle runners, she is the one most likely to benefit from the added trip, and if she does, she won’t need to chase a large purse to be rewarding.
I’ll be backing her to finish in the top three at odds of 11/2. For a full recap of the Weekend Winners analysis, viewers can watch the program on the At The Races YouTube channel. The panel’s insights, combined with the latest form guides and tactical considerations, should help punters navigate the complex betting landscape of the St Leger Festival and make informed selections for what promises to be an exciting day of racing.