Steve Ryder previews Saturday's St Leger at Doncaster, featuring runners, odds and his tip for the race.
St Leger OddsSee All Odds
The St Leger a Group 1 run at Doncaster over 1m6f and is the final classic of the season. There are currently 12 entries for the race which this scheduled to be run on Saturday 12th September at 15:35.
St Leger Winners, Trends & Stats
The St Leger has been a good pointer towards further Group 1 glory with the likes of Leading Light (2013) and Scandinavia (2025) both winning the Ascot Gold Cup the following season as well as Jan Brueghel (2024) winning the Coronation Cup the following year.
12 of the previous 12 winners had at least 3 runs that season
10 of the previous 12 winners were rated 109 or higher
10 of the previous 12 winners had already won a Group race
10 of the previous 12 winners had at least 3 previous wins
10 of the previous 12 winners had their last run within 65 days
8 of the previous 12 winners had won on their previous start
Who is the favourite to win the 2026 St Leger?
At the time of writing, Christmas Day is the 7/4 favourite to win the St Leger, marginally heading Enceladus at 5/2 in the betting market.
St Leger Runners Guide
CHRISTMAS DAY
Won the Epsom Derby on soft ground before finishing a good 2nd behind stablemate Benvenuto Cellini in the Irish Derby on his next start. He ran well to finish 3rd in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York trying to concede a 5lb penalty looking as though this step up in trip to 1m6f would suit him well.
ENCELADUS
Progressive son of Sea The Stars who has won his three starts this season. The Joseph O’Brien trained colt won the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot before winning the Group 3 Gordon Stakes on his next start in impressive style.
PIERRE BONNARD
A striking winner of the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final start last season, he is yet to win in his five starts so far this year. He was only narrowly behind Christmas Day when 3rd in the Irish Derby before finishing 2nd in the Great Voltigeur last time when receiving 5lbs from stablemate Christmas Day.
HATTEEN
An impressive 4 ¼ length winner of the St Leger Trial Novice Stakes in July which gives him a free initial entry for this race. He finished only a head 2nd in a competitive Goodwood handicap on his next start with the winner Infraad boosting that form since winning the Melrose Handicap at York.
HIGHWAYMAN
Off the mark at the fifth attempt in a Killarney maiden in July before defying odds of 22/1 to win the listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown last time beating his better fancied stablemate Cannes by 2 ¼ lengths. A rating of 101 indicates that he needs to improve to be involved in this.
AMELIA EARHART
An impressive two length winner of the Cheshire Oaks on her reappearance before slightly disappointing when sent off 7/4 favourite in the Epsom Oaks. She was 2nd beaten less than a length in Group 3 company at Cork last time but will need to show improvement back against the colts at Group 1 level.
GALIYAN
Andrew Balding trained colt who ran well to finish 2nd beaten less than a length in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket in July over 1m5f. He finished 5th beaten 21 lengths behind Pierre Bonnard and Christmas Day in the Great Voltigeur Stakes when last seen.
PIAZZA SAN MARCO
Ended last season finishing 6th behind stablemate Puerto Rico in the Group 1 Criterium International before finishing 3rd beaten four lengths behind Highwayman in the listed Vinnie Roe Stakes on his only start so far this season.
ALDERMAN
Richard Hannon trained colt who is yet to win in his five career starts but he outran odds of 100/1 to finish 5th in the Epsom Derby. He finished last of 5 when last seen in the Bahrain Trophy when Galiyan was 2nd.
GOLDEN STORY
Beat Melrose Stakes winner Infraad on his only start last season before finishing 3rd behind Constitution River in the Dee Stakes at Chester. He beat Del Maro at Goodwood in the listed Cocked Hat Stakes on his next start before disappointing last time in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes when last seen.
REBEL ROCKER
Defied odds of 12/1 to make a winning debut on his only start last season before finishing 6th in the Epsom Derby when sent off 66/1. He finished 4th of 5 as the only three-year-old in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes when last seen a month ago.
ACTION
Aidan O’Brien trained colt who finished 2nd in the Great Voltigeur Stakes before finishing well beaten in Group 1 company on his next four starts. Could once again be used as a pacemaker for stablemates in this race.
St Leger Trainers & Jockeys To Watch
Aidan O’Brien has won this race nine times previously including the previous three seasons with Continuous (2023), Jan Brueghel (2024) and Scandinavia (2025).
Ryan Moore has won this race three times recently on board Capri (2017), Kew Gardens (2018) and Continuous (2023) but is likely to be riding at Leopardstown this year once again instead of at Doncaster.
Betting Insights for the St Leger
Jan Brueghel won this race in 2024 having won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on his previous start and hopefully ENCELADUS (best priced at 5/2) can do the same this year. The Joseph O’Brien trained colt has won all three of his starts this season since stepping up in trip. The King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot that he won is working out well and he was a dominant winner of the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood when last seen.
This step up in trip to 1m6f shouldn’t be an inconvenience based on his running style and he can provide his trainer with a second victory in this classic having won this race in 2020 with Galileo Chrome.
Recommended Bet: Enceladus 5/2 (1pt)
