Ahead of the 250th instalment of the world’s oldest Classic; Kate Tracey, Declan Rix and Sam Boswell discussed their top tips for the St Leger Stakes; Watch the full episode of Weekend Winners on the At The Races YouTube channel The Weekend Winners team return to discuss their top tips for Saturday at the St Leger Festival. The team paid particular attention to the feature Betfred St Leger Stakes – which goes off at 3.35pm on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing. Enceladus currently heads the market for Joseph O’Brien, with the Ballydoyle duo of Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard also in situ. Last year’s winning rider Tom Marquand gets aboard Amelia Earhart, while Saffie Osborne rides Highwayman.
“I’m against Christmas Day with Enceladus. He was my ante-post selection, mainly because we knew he was going to go to Doncaster after Goodwood. He’s just got this lovely, progressive staying profile rather than having already shown his hand in Classics. He’s three from three in 2026, having won his maiden at Cork and the King George VI Stakes at Royal Ascot, before stepping up into Group 3 – winning the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood over just shy of a mile and a half.
His Royal Ascot form has worked out really well, which is important because you could have initially dismissed him as simply being a well-handicapped horse, winning off a mark of 89. The Gordon Stakes demonstrated he belongs in pattern company, and he finished off his race really strongly. He’s by Sea The Stars and everything about his progression since being stepped up in trip suggests stamina rather than speed is increasingly becoming his strength. The step up to a mile and six and a half furlongs in the St Leger is ideal.
Comparisons have been drawn between him and Galileo Chrome, who of course won this race for Joseph O’Brien in 2020. Christmas Day – I just think with that Derby form it was a win because of the frailties of his opposition that day and the conditions. Never miss a story with all the latest racing news, interviews and features on your phone. Find out more “I’m a Christmas Day backer.
Has the favourite really got form to warrant being shorter than Christmas Day? In my book, I’m not so sure. I can see the angle for Enceladus – the progressive nature – and you do get horses who can do that in this race but I wouldn’t be shocked if they flip-flop in the betting come the day and I think there will be some support for Christmas Day. Hollie Doyle: Doncaster Cup can go to Ballydoyle for first time since 2008 Leger Festival: Musical Times 6/1 for 1000 Guineas after May Hill Stakes romp at Doncaster Leger Festival: Fillies’ Mile up next for Musical Times after Doncaster romp, says Charlie Appleby Serious Classic contender!
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The Irish Derby second behind Benvenuto Cellini was a fair enough effort and I think this is a two-horse race, given I’ve lost the faith with Pierre Bonnard throughout the season. I like the horse that has [already] ticked the box on the big day.” “My head is saying this is a pretty average renewal of the Leger and I’m not sure the two Ballydoyle horses are going to take massive steps forward for the trip. Enceladus I really like but I do wonder: why have they put the cheekpieces on? He’s a horse who has looked raw and behind the bridle, so maybe that’s it but going up in trip, surely you don’t want to light him up?
Although, he does look the strongest stayer of the market leaders. “I can’t believe I’ve come around to Amelia Earhart. With her sex allowance factored in, I just think she’s interesting. I’m not sure she’s going to be in love with winning but on my own figures she’s steadily been getting better.
She went off favourite for an Oaks having looked very good in the Cheshire Oaks and she’s just disappointed. Maybe she thrives at this time of year and not on rattling summer ground, she may get back to her best? “They’ve been messing around with headgear. The blinkers have been on, the hood has been on – everything’s off now.
So they’ve clearly seen something [and feel] they can eke out improvement. She’s a full sister to Cleveland, who won a Chester Cup. Surely going up in trip, of all the Ballydoyle horses she will thrive most – and if she does, she doesn’t have loads to find. I’m going to back her in a top three finish at 11/2.
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