Kyprios is set to face seven rivals in his bid to regain the Irish St Leger crown at the Curragh on Sunday.
The 2022 winner is back to his best after an injury-hit campaign last year and seeking to make it five wins without defeat this term.
Giavellotto is likely to be Kyprios’ principal rival after bagging back-to-back victories at Group 2 level in authoritative style.
Vauban, who holds an entry for the Melbourne Cup, has nearly 5l to find with Giavellotto from their meeting in May’s Yorkshire Cup, but delivered the goods in last month’s Lonsdale Cup.
Crypto Force takes a significant step up in trip, The Euphrates is Ballydoyle’s second string, Al Qareem has been declared to make the trip across the Irish Sea, while Waldadler and Nastaria provide German interest in Sunday’s 16:45.
The latest Irish St Leger odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Irish St Leger verdict
Timeform: KYPRIOS looked as good as ever when regaining the Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup this summer and he can do the same here having won this 2 years ago (runner-up last year on belated comeback). Giavellotto has looked high-class this year and rates a serious opponent, with Lonsdale Cup winner Vauban the only other realistic threat.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Irish St Leger 2024 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Irish St Leger 2024.
Al Qareem
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Clifford Lee Age: 5 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 2
Smart performer who finished runner-up in Group 3 company for the third time from half-a-dozen starts this year when chasing home Al Aasy in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury (13.3f, good to firm). Good bit to find with the principals here, however.
**
Crypto Force
Trainer: Adrian Murray Jockey: David Egan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 1
Useful colt but looks out of his depth in this.
*
Giavellotto
Trainer: Marco Botti Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 5 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 3
High-class horse who has looked better than ever this season, winning the Yorkshire Cup (beating Vauban) for the second year running in May before defying a penalty in good style in Group 2 at Newmarket 66 days ago. Must be highly respected.
****
Kyprios
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 6 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 4
High-class stayer who looked back to his very best when regaining the Ascot Gold Cup/Goodwood Cup last 2 starts, taking his Group 1 tally to 6. Also won this 2 years ago and the one to beat.
*****
Vauban
Trainer: W. P. Mullins Jockey: William Buick Age: 6 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 6
High-class hurdler and also smart on the Flat. Decent comeback when second in Yorkshire Cup before shaping as though extreme trip of Ascot Gold Cup was too much. Disappointed in Curragh Cup next time but bounced back with a bang when taking Lonsdale Cup at York. Not taken lightly.
***
Waldadler
Trainer: Pavel Vovcenko Jockey: Seamie Heffernan Age: 5 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 7
Useful German raider but doesn’t look up to this level.
*
Nastaria
Trainer: Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep Jockey: M. Lopez Age: 5 Weight: 9st 8lbs Draw: 5
Useful German raider but doesn’t look up to this level.
*
The Euphrates
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 2lbs Draw: 8
Useful but likely to be used as a pacemaker for his stablemate Kyprios.
**
Read More
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- When is the Irish St Leger? Curragh date, start time, runners and betting for 2024
- Flying Five Stakes trends and stats for Curragh 3.35 on Sunday
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