The final classic of
the season the St Leger is the feature contest in Britain this afternoon, but
with Irish Champions weekend and a couple of Group 1’s at Longchamp on Sunday,
this is a stellar weekend of flat racing.
We begin our preview at
Doncaster where Pyledriver is the 11/4 favourite for the Leger and is the
highest rated horse in the race and if he were handled by a more fashionable
yard, he would be 6/4 rather than 6/4 such was the ease with which he took the
Gt Voltigeur at York last time. William Muir is an excellent trainer, but I
worry that a colt with so much speed will have the stamina for this extended 1m
6f trip.
Frankie Dettori has
ridden the winner of Leger six times previously – the first 25 years ago aboard
Classic Cliché for Godolphin – including aboard Scorpion for Aidan O’Brien in
2005. The Italian rides Ballydoyle’s Irish Derby winner Santiago (3.45)
this afternoon and gets a narrow vote although he did not appear to quite get
home over two miles at Goodwood behind Stradivarius last time. He will
appreciate this slight drop back in trip. Hukum looks the main danger after
scoring over 1m 5f at Newbury last time for Owen Burrows. Preference for the
Aidan O’Brien-trained colt is marginal.
Matthew Flinders (1.15) was drawn out wide at Sandown last time
when returned to a mile and this straight track should suit although I would
have preferred a draw nearer the centre of the track rather than a gate near
the far rail in stall one. I am not surprised to see King Ottokar drop back to
a mile having pulled too hard at Windsor last time over ten furlongs – there is
a good horse in there somewhere.
My two against the
field in the Portland are 3-y-old Meraas – 14/1 with bet365 – who was
surprisingly allowed to take his chance on soft ground at York last time when
the ground had clearly gone against him and A Momentofmadness (2.25) with
marginal preference for the Charlie Hills-trained seven-year-old. The selection won the
corresponding race in 2018 from an 8lbs higher mark and finished runner up 12
months ago behind subsequent July Cup winner Oxted from a 4lbs higher mark.
The gelding has not seen
the track since running his best race of the season at Goodwood in July and
that was the same race, he took in prior to his success in this competitive
sprint two years ago. The each way selection is 7/1 at William Hill who are
offering five places on the race.
Ghayyaith (3.10) is the highest rated turf horse in the
world and cannot be opposed in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. I
remain convinced that this 10f trip is his optimum distance and he should
bypass the Arc and wait for the Champion Stakes at Ascot if he comes out of
today’s contest with his reputation intact. The terrific mare Magical can again
chase the Godolphin runner home as was the case at York last time in the
Juddmonte International.
Tiger Moth (5.15) has not seen the track since finishing
second to Santiago in the Irish Derby at the Curragh back in July on what was
just his third career start. It was hardly a vintage renewal of the classic and
his subsequent absence from the track is a slight concern, but he remains a
colt of some potential and I will be disappointed if he doesn’t go close with
Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle.
At Chester I hope to
see Alignac (2.05) confirm recent Newbury form with Morando who was well
below his best last time. The seven-year-old is a course winner but I would be
disappointed if he reversed form with the Sir Michael Stoute-trained four-year-old
who has only had seven career starts and is open to further improvement.
The form of Prejudice’s
(2.40) second at Newcastle last time was given a boost when the winner went on
to land a Deauville Group 1 for fillies and mares and a 3lbs rise for that
effort looks fair. The selection looked all over the winner on that occasion in
first-time cheek-pieces until collared on the line. He is taken to go one
better for David Simcock.
