Enceladus steps into the spotlight to contest the historic 250th running of the Group 1 Betfred St Leger, taking on the Ballydoyle pair Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard. The meeting promises a thrilling showdown, with Aidan and Joseph O’Brien expected to dominate a field of eleven runners. Joseph O’Brien, who piloted Galileo Chrome to victory in this race back in 2020, now has a strong contender in Enceladus.
The Sea The Stars colt has shown steady improvement with each start, most recently adding a win in the King George V at the Royal meeting to his résumé. A confident preparation in the Gordon Stakes, where he triumphed convincingly, suggests he could head to the start as the market favourite under the guidance of Billy Loughnane.
Aidan O’Brien, a nine‑time champion trainer, will have four runners in the mix, the most notable being Derby winner Christmas Day. The former Epsom champion, now in the hands of Ronan Whelan, looks especially promising if the ground turns soft, recalling his impressive performance on rain‑slicked turf at the Derby.
Adding to his advantage, Christmas Day will be carrying five pounds less than stablemate Pierre Bonnard, who actually finished ahead of him at York earlier in the season. Pierre Bonnard, who was runner‑up in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, should relish the extra distance after being beaten by the Arc hopeful Maltese Cross. Meanwhile, Amelia Earhart offers a quirky but genuine talent; after a strong runner‑up effort in a Group 3 at Cork, she is now stepping up significantly in class and distance, making her a dark horse worth watching.
Among the remaining contenders, Andrew Balding’s pair Galiyan and Hatteen present solid each‑way options. Joseph O’Brien’s second string, Highwayman, will be ridden by Saffie Osborne, while the 2000 Guineas favourite Desert Castle headlines the Group 2 Betfred Champagne Stakes, a race that should provide a useful form guide for the St Leger field. Charlie Appleby’s Frankel colt, who burst onto the scene with a dominant win at Newmarket last month, will be guided again by Billy Loughnane.
Loughnane is eager to add more victories to his tally and keep Oisín Murphy at bay in the jockeys’ championship race. Gentle Hurricane, after a promising debut and a second‑place finish in the Acomb Stakes, is expected to improve further and could be a genuine threat. Jason Watson will replace Oisín Murphy on this mount, as Murphy is otherwise engaged at Leopardstown.
William Muir has spoken enthusiastically about Breacher, who claimed a Salisbury maiden on debut and then ran a respectable third in Group 3 company. That form suggests he could be competitive in the current contest.
Ballydoyle’s Sergei Diaghilev looks the most likely pick among the remaining outsiders, with Rosberg and Silver Dominion also positioned as viable contenders. In the Group 2 Betfred Park Stakes later in the day, More Thunder drops back to seven furlongs. Trained by William Haggas, the five‑year‑old has been a consistent performer this season, and the dip in class and distance should make him a tough nut to crack under Tom Marquand. Never So Brave, a Group 1 winner from last season, has yet to find form this year, as has Wise Approach, the previous year’s Middle Park victor.
Both are likely to be out of contention. Ralph Beckett’s Qirat, the 2025 Sussex Stakes winner, produced a strong effort in defeat when chasing Zavateri at Goodwood and cannot be dismissed outright. Flora Of Bermuda and Volterra round out the shortlist of horses to watch.
The opening 1.10 pm British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes sees Berkshire Regal clash with Hmas Perth for a £25,770 purse. Ed Dunlop, who won the race last year, will be targeting another success with his runner Beloved Country. The day’s programme also includes the Betfred Portland at 2.20 pm, where Getreadytorumble and Twilight Calls are among the market’s top picks. Twilight Calls’s connections have already tasted success at this Festival, with Speed Of Sound winning Thursday’s opener.
Bullet Point leads a field of seventeen in the Pertemps Network Handicap, while Moonfall is likely to attract support for the popular George Boughey‑Billy Loughnane partnership. International action kicks off with Australian Grade 1 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes, where Sir Delius (formerly Delius) meets Sheza Alibi in a classy duel.
Back in the UK, Solar Edge and Kylian will battle in Lingfield’s feature Free Race Replays On at the Races.com Handicap at 4 pm. The evening concludes with top‑class competition at Woodbine. Notable Speech will take on Archivist and others in the Woodbine Mile at 10.20 pm, followed 35 minutes later by the E.P.
Taylor Stakes, where Diamond Rain, Sea The Fire and Jancis all have strong chances. Overall, the 250th St Leger offers a rich tapestry of talent, experience and emerging stars.
Whether Enceladus can convert his recent form into a classic victory, or whether the seasoned Ballydoyle duo will assert their dominance, the race promises to be a memorable highlight of the festival.