Andy Holding has an ante-post tip for the St Leger 2023 at Doncaster.
2023 St Leger Winner
Halfway through the season and with the three of the five Classics safely tucked away in the vaults of history, it’s probably not a bad time to take a glance at the final leg of the quintet, and with most of those towards the head of the market all ploughing a different furrow on-route to Doncaster, spotting where the value lies becomes a tricky business.
2023 St Leger Odds
| Horse | Best Odds | Worst Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gregory | 5/2 | 2/1 |
| Tower of London | 6/1 | 9/2 |
| Espionage | 9/1 | 7/1 |
| Castle Way | 10/1 | 7/1 |
| Savethelastdance | 10/1 | 8/1 |
Who is the favourite for the St Leger?
Gregory currently tops the pile courtesy of his breakthrough success in the Queens Vase at Royal Ascot and looking the type to keep improving, it is easy to see him following in the footsteps of former stable mate, Logician, who also did not race as a two-year-old. That said, 5/2 looks short enough despite his progressive profile and for that reason he is overlooked in favour of several others at this stage.
St Leger Ante-Post Tips | Andy Holding Tips
Bluestocking – 0.5pt each-way @ 33/1
Savethelastdance 1pt win @ 10/1
Having won this race three times in recent years, representatives of Aidan O’Brien are always feared and of those from his current crop with strong-looking profiles, Tower Of London and Espionage both deserve close scrutiny.
The former left the impression he would have enjoyed a stronger gallop when runner-up to Castle Way in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket last time and because of that viewpoint, he rates a strong fancy to turn around the tables with his old rival if they were to meet again.
The latter was good enough to finish runner-up at Group 1 level as a two-year-old, and he kicked off his campaign in the best possible fashion with a cosy success in a listed contest at Roscommon. Stoutly bred on both sides of his family, the son of Galileo should relish distances beyond 1m4f and if the ground were to come up testing on the day, he would be in his element more than most.
It is also worth pointing out, the master of Ballydoyle has two top-class fillies entered in the final Classic of the season and, as they are due to clash in the Irish Oaks this coming weekend, the outcome is likely to have a significant impact on the ante-post books.
SAVETHELASTDANCE is a strong favourite in her bid to make up for the disappointment of her defeat in the English version at Epsom, where fast ground was a genuine excuse for her slightly laboured display. Although she finished an honourable runner-up to Soul Sister, she never looked happy at any stage at the Surrey venue, and it was only her class and tenacious attitude that gave her a degree of respectability on the day.
A 22-length winner of the Cheshire Oaks under testing conditions previously, she would be one of the main players come mid-September if similar conditions were to prevail nearer the time.
Warm Heart has shown her versatility under a variety of conditions and her latest victory in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot suggests she is still going the right way. Although she was in a better position than several of her main rivals turning for home at the Berkshire venue, she did not let her foot off the gas once establishing a clear lead and, as she also has a page to suggest she will relish tests beyond 1m4f, she also must go onto the shortlist.
One of the chief sufferers in how the race panned out at Ascot was BLUESTOCKING (best price 33/1) and if you take the viewpoint, she would have gone close to winning that day with a clearer run, Ralph Beckett’s filly is worth an interest at her current price of 33/1.
Trapped down on the inside fence as the field turned for home, the daughter of Camelot had very little chance of making up the lost leeway in the short home straight, but it was noticeable she did finish off her race quite strongly and when you consider she did so without being unduly punished by Frankie Dettori, her performance is even more praiseworthy.
The type to improve with time, she represents a stable who have won The St Leger with Simple Verse and went close with Haskoy last year and providing she comes through her latest test at the Curragh this weekend with flying colours, a trip to Town Moor would be a distinct possibility.
