Irish raiders dominate the betting for this year’s St Leger as they seek a fourth straight win in Britain’s oldest Classic at Doncaster . However, while the race for first place is expected to be a battle between Aidan O’Brien and son Joseph , we do fancy one home hope to outrun his big odds.
Here is our guide to all 11 of the 2026 St Leger runners , ranked in reverse order:
Action
11. ACTION (AIDAN O’BRIEN) @ 50/1
Finished a narrow second to a Ballydoyle stablemate in a Group One at the end of last season but has not progressed. Was second in the Dante but since then has been running as a supposed pacemaker, although he could not get to the front last time.
Alderman
10. ALDERMAN (RICHARD HANNON) @ 33/1
Is actually still a maiden but made light of 100/1 odds in the Derby when fifth. Strongly fancied for a trial for this race last time but failed to run up to form. Needs to bounce back.
Galiyan
9. GALIYAN (ANDREW BALDING) @ 40/1
His second in the Bahrain Trophy looked a good piece of form but he was beaten a long way in the Great Voltigeur and seems short of the required standard.
Rebel Rocker
8. REBEL ROCKER (FAYE BRAMLEY) @ 100/1
Another to outrun his Derby odds when sixth of 14. That was his first race on soft ground and it may be that he needs it to show his best. Was entitled to need his first run since Epsom against older horses at Newbury last month but place hopes at best.
Amelia Earhart
7. AMELIA EARHART (AIDAN O’BRIEN) @ 28/1
The only filly in the race, she was sent off favourite for the Oaks having impressed at Chester but never got involved. Since then she has failed to reproduce her Roodee form and looks up against it.
Hatteen
6. HATTEEN (ANDREW BALDING) @ 14/1
Won a valuable trial for this race before being upped in grade at Goodwood, where he was narrowly beaten. The winner of that race has since won the Melrose at York easily, so that form is relatively solid, but still a fair bit to find.
Highwayman
5. HIGHWAYMAN (JOSEPH O’BRIEN) @ 11/1
Hard to weigh up as he took five races to get off the mark but then did so by nine lengths when stepped up in trip and has since followed up in easy fashion in Listed company. A bit of a dark horse and has come in for support recently.
Golden Story
4. GOLDEN STORY (KARL BURKE) @ 50/1
Battled on well to defeat Del Maro in a Listed race in May and then did too much too soon at Royal Ascot. Potentially unexposed and not ruled out completely.
Pierre Bonnard
3. PIERRE BONNARD (AIDAN O’BRIEN) @ 3/1
Went into this season as favourite for the Derby after a Group One win at two, but it has not really happened for him. His runs in the Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur were an improvement but still leave him a little short.
Christmas Day
2. CHRISTMAS DAY (AIDAN O’BRIEN) @ 5/2
A mildly surprising winner of the Derby having finished only third in the Dante, but ran another good race in the Irish version when second. Perhaps a little disappointing when only third in the Great Voltigeur, but he did have a penalty to carry.
Enceladus
1. ENCELADUS (JOSEPH O’BRIEN) @ 2/1
Improving at a rate of knots. Only won a handicap at Royal Ascot but stepped up on that when winning the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. That form still leaves him with a bit to find but easy to see him taking another significant step forward.
Verdict
2026 ST LEGER VERDICT
While there is no doubt Christmas Day sets the standard as the Derby winner, it is nearly 40 years since any horse completed the double , showing the task he faces.
The form of ENCELADUS may not be quite as strong yet, but he is clearly still on the upgrade and Joseph O’Brien is a dab hand at training stayers, having already won this once with Galileo Chrome, so he gets our vote .
Do not rule out a good run from Golden Story , who could thrive at this trip for each-way backers.
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