Andy Holding picks out a strong each-way alternative in the ante-post market for the St Leger Stakes, currently dominated by odds on favourite New London.
St Leger Stakes 2022
The final Classic of the season looks a little one-sided according to the betting with New London odds on (best price 5/6) to back up his win in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood recently and while that may turn out to be the case, there's simply no way HOO YA MAL should be eight times the price.
Looking back at that race at the Sussex venue - which has worked out incredibly well since - George Boughey's colt was beaten fair and square on the day, but in mitigation it was his first start for a new stable and off a 54-day break, so there may have been several other factors at play.
Since then, the son of Territories has gone on to highlight his wellbeing with smooth success back at the same track a month later and in doing so proved that he can stay the Leger trip.
In what turned out to be a strongly run affair despite the small field, the way he travelled and quickened to depose of the useful filly Perfect Alibi was impressive to say the least and he now looks set to go to Doncaster with his confidence levels peaking at an all-time high.
Good enough to run well over a mile in the Craven Stakes, classy enough to finish runner-up in the Derby and yet to finish out of the first three in all of his eight starts, Hoo Ya Mal (current best price 8/1) makes plenty of appeal as a strong each-way alternative to the favourite.
