The final British Classic of the season takes place at Doncaster on Saturday at 3.40 pm, and we’re taking a look at all seven St Leger runners, with each contender’s chances rated out of 10.
This one mile and six furlongs stamina test is the oldest of the five UK Classics, having been first run in 1776, and always provides punters with an interesting conundrum.
Here are this year’s declared runners in racecard order, with Irish raiders predicted to dominate again according to the BOYLE Sports St Leger odds.
St Leger Tips
St Leger Tips: Ranking The Doncaster Classic Contenders
Carmers
Carmers (Rating 8) @ 9/2
Paddy Twomey had to wait until May to give this late developer his racecourse debut at Ballinrobe but he repaid that patience with wins there, at Navan and in Royal Ascot’s Group Two Queen’s Vase, where he proved his stamina over this distance.
Was again doing his best work at the business end when second to Pride Of Arras in the Great Voltigeur at York over a mile and a half, with Stay True and Lambourn in behind, so has to be respected.
Furthur
Furthur (Rating 6) @ 12/1
Andrew Balding’s charge has produced mixed results this season but looks Britain’s best hope of a home win on his best form, which includes a close second to Carmers at Ascot and last month’s staying-on success in the Group Three Geoffrey Freer at Newbury.
Lambourn
Lambourn (Rating 8) @ 9/4
Blotted his copybook with a laboured fifth-place finish as an odds-on favourite at the Ebor Festival but Aidan O’Brien insisted the slow early pace didn’t suit that day, declaring: “We just needed to get a race into him.”
Dual Derby heroes don’t become bad horses overnight and recapturing the sparkle of his Epsom and Curragh Classic victories would obviously put him right in the mix. Sean Levey steered Jan Brueghel to victory for O’Brien last year and this time he will partner Lambourn.
Rahiebb
Rahiebb (Rating 4) @ 28/1
Disappointed in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood and Roger Charlton, who has won the St Leger twice previously with Kingston Hill and Eldar Eldarov, is relying on him recovering the form of his Queen’s Vase third just to be competitive here.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia (Rating 9) @ 6/4
Has made great progress since finishing fifth behind Carmers at Ascot, romping home by a wide margin in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and then staying on strongly to upset stablemate Illinois in the Group One Goodwood Cup over two miles.
With stable rider Ryan Moore currently sidelined by a leg injury, 2020 Leger winner Tom Marquand steps in to ride the market leader, who is taken to give O’Brien a third straight win in this race and his ninth victory overall.
Stay True
Stay True (Rating 7) @ 8/1
This lightly raced son of Galileo was having his first run since looking very green as a short-head second in the Lingfield Derby Trial back in May when fourth in the Great Voltigeur after being bang in contention at the furlong pole, so could still be a dark horse to do well, with Mickael Barzalona getting the leg up on O’Brien’s third entry.
Tarriance
Tarriance (Rating 5) @ 22/1
Balding’s second string is clearly on an upward curve after following up July’s game Sandown strike with another gutsy success in the highly competitive Melrose Handicap at York, but this represents a huge step up in class.
St Leger Verdict
St Leger Verdict – Prediction for Doncaster Classic
Carmers and Lambourn both have solid credentials but SCANDINAVIA was impressive when registering a brilliant victory over his elders in the Goodwood Cup and can continue the Ballydoyle dominance of this race.
Bet on Horse Racing Odds at BOYLE Sports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation
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