St Leger tips and runner-by-runner guide to Doncaster 3.40 on Saturday

A super seven for the last British Classic of the year!

Illinois

By / Horse Racing Tips / 4 days ago

Antepost favourite Illinois is set to face six rivals in the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Queen’s Vase winner – second in the Grand Prix de Paris and Great Voltigeur on his last two starts – spearheads Aidan O’Brien’s formidable squad for the final Classic of the season as unbeaten Jan Brueghel and wide-margin Irish St Leger Trial winner Grosvenor Square are also in the mix.

You Got To Me is bidding to become the first filly to win the St Leger since Simple Verse in 2015 after the Irish Oaks heroine was supplemented at a cost of £50,000.

Sunway has failed to get on the scoreboard in his three-year-old campaign but brings a useful level of form to the table including a second place in the Irish Derby.

Epsom Derby fourth Deira Mile steps up to a staying trip for the first time and the field for Saturday’s 15:40 is completed by C&D scorer Wild Waves.

The latest 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.

St Leger verdict

Timeform: Aidan O’Brien typically holds a strong hand as he bids for a seventh success in the oldest Classic, while Ralph Beckett tries to win this with a filly once again, but SUNWAY looks the value call. His close second in the Irish Derby puts him right up there in terms of form and the longer distance promises to suit. The unbeaten Jan Brueghel has the most potential in the field and rates the main threat, though stablemate Illinois is also well in the mix on his narrow Great Voltigeur second.

*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

St Leger 2024 runners and riders

The following horses have been declared for the St Leger 2024.

Deira Mile

Trainer: Owen Burrows Jockey: Jason Watson Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 6

Wide-margin winner of Windsor novice on return before running a cracker in first-time cheekpieces when 7½ lengths fourth of 16 in Derby at Epsom. Only just failed back from a break in listed race at Windsor 3 weeks ago but free-going ways is a concern going up in distance. Change of headgear.

**

Grosvenor Square

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: G. M. Ryan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 3

Has clearly improved for the step up to this trip, worn down only close home in Curragh Cup before runaway winner of Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh 4 weeks ago, Hard to know exactly what he achieved for latter success (main rivals below form) but respected all the same.

***

Illinois

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: W. M. Lordan Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 7

Progressive sort who proved his stamina for this trip when winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. Good second in Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp next time before going down only narrowly in Great Voltigeur at York. Solid claims.

****

Jan Brueghel

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Sean Levey Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 4

Galileo colt who was a wide-margin winner of a 10-runner maiden at the Curragh on debut and overcame the rise in class/greenness to follow up in 10f Group 3 there. Toughed it out well to maintain his unbeaten record in Gordon Stakes at Goodwood and extra distance promises to suit. Big shout.

****

Sunway

Trainer: David Menuisier Jockey: Christophe Soumillon Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 2

Winner of Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud on final 2-y-o start. Yet to score this season but took form to another level when ¾-length second in Irish Derby, staying on strongly. Again shaped like a stayer when fourth in King George at Ascot so big run expected stepping up in trip.

*****

Wild Waves

Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 3 Weight: 9st 3lbs Draw: 1

Looked very progressive when winning first 2 handicaps, latterly over this C&D. Can have a line put through next run (slipped badly) and got back on the up when fourth of 16 in Melrose at York, coming from further back than the trio that beat him. Remains with potential but this is a big ask.

*

You Got To Me

Trainer: Ralph Beckett Jockey: Hector Crouch Age: 3 Weight: 9st 0lbs Draw: 5

Won Oaks Trial at Lingfield on return before making the frame in Oaks at Epsom and Ribblesdale at Ascot. Took another step forward fitted with a tongue strap when winning the Irish Oaks at the Curragh before good second in Yorkshire Oaks. Likely to stay and receives 3 lb from the colts.

****

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