Will Pyledriver stay? Can Santiago bounce back? Could Subjectivist make all? Who is the each-way value? Get Ben Linfoot's view on every horse in the St Leger.
Berkshire Rocco
One of the more interesting outsiders at 33/1. A career strike-rate of one from seven tells you he hasn’t been easy to win with, but he’s kept good company since a Chester novice success and has run consistently well in three starts this year. Beaten into second by English King and Santiago at Lingfield and Ascot respectively, he kept on in the Queen’s Vase over 1m6f like a horse that got the trip well, so he wasn’t disgraced in fourth behind Pyledriver in the Great Voltigeur in what was an inadequate test. Winning the Leger might be pushing it, but he’s one to consider each-way.
Dawn Patrol
Well related being a half brother to the Derby winner Pour Moi and his full brother, Giant Redwood, won a two-mile Navan maiden on debut so he’s got plenty of stamina in his blood. Finished over five lengths behind Santiago when third in the Irish Derby and then landed a Naas penalty kick at 1/8 before being no match for Pista, who landed the Park Hill on Thursday, in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown last time out. On his Irish Derby run he has an each-way chance, as he stayed on strongly that day after being hampered, but his weak finish in third when sent off odds-on last time out is a concern.
WATCH: Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy on the St Leger and more
English King
His first preference is the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp where he’ll face Serpentine on Sunday. However, he has been left in the St Leger and he’d certainly be an interesting contender if he did line up given the promise he showed in the Lingfield Derby Trial. His staying-on fifth in the Derby suggested he might be a Leger horse, but his lack of sparkle in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood is a concern. Reportedly working well, it seems like he’s heading to France.
Galileo Chrome
In his short training career Joseph O’Brien has already proven himself a dab hand with stayers and here he could train a Leger winner just seven years after riding one as he partnered Leading Light to Doncaster success in 2013. Galileo Chrome stepped up to 1m5f on just his fourth career start last time and did it easily, by five lengths, in the style of a rapid improver. He might not have the form of those above him in the market, but he’s got the potential to improve and he’s obviously respected given O’Brien decided to bring him over for this rather than taking in the Irish Leger at the Curragh on Sunday.
Hukum
Another lightly-raced one as Owen Burrows’ Hukum has also only had the four starts. His latest outing was a career-best, too, as the son of Sea The Stars fairly cantered to victory in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes over 1m5f at Newbury. They went slow early on in that race and his stamina wouldn’t be assured on the back of that effort, particularly as he looks to have the gears of a very good mile and a half horse. There is a question mark there, but he looks classy and is clearly a leading player here.
Mohican Heights
Given what Subjectivist has done since (see below) Mohican Heights’ convincing win in the Listed Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury last year was a highly encouraging second start. He hasn’t kicked on as a three-year-old, though, as he was four lengths behind Pyledriver on his return in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and then he was one of the horses out the back in the Derby. Hasn’t been seen since Epsom and has plenty to prove now, but he is bred for this sort of trip as he’s a half-brother to those strong stayers Curbyourenthusiasm and Eye Of The Storm.
Mythical
One from seven for Aidan O’Brien and his sole success was by over eight lengths in soft ground at Gowran as a two-year-old. Performed well without winning in testing conditions at a higher level after that as a juvenile, but looks to need the rain if he’s to get his head back in front and running at a lower level might help, too. His best run of the season was his last one, at Leopardstown, and he was a bit unlucky that day after being hampered when travelling well. Plenty to find here and the extra couple of furlongs would have to be a catalyst to major improvement if he’s to get involved.
Pyledriver
Has won at 50/1, 14/1, 18/1 and 10/1 but the bookies won’t be underestimating Pyledriver in this race after his superb success in the pre-eminent trial for the Leger, the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur. He travelled strongly at York and showed a burst of speed to hit the front on the Knavesmire, staying on strongly to beat what looked a good field under a penalty. That gives him a clear form chance in this with the one question mark being his stamina for an extra two and a half furlongs. If he settles in the early stages for Martin Dwyer he’s the one they all have to beat and he can deliver William Muir a maiden Classic success.
WATCH: Jockey Martin Dwyer on Pyledriver
Santiago
The main threat to Pyledriver looks to be Santiago. He proved no match for Stradivarius getting 15lb in the Goodwood Cup but he hardly dented his Leger claims too much given he performed well against his elders over two miles. Dropping back to 1m6f and a bit can help and he holds Dawn Patrol and Berkshire Rocco on his wins at Royal Ascot and in the Irish Derby earlier in the season. Frankie Dettori takes the ride as he bids to win a sixth Leger and a second for Aidan O’Brien after they teamed up back in 2005 with Scorpion.
Subjectivist
Has improved this season for stepping up in trip as befits his pedigree. A half-brother to last year’s Leger runner-up, Sir Ron Priestley, he’s followed a similar path to that horse and both won the March Stakes at Goodwood in their final prep before Doncaster. Mark Johnston says he didn’t really want to run this horse at Goodwood, as he needs time between his races, but his hand was forced after Subjectivist’s no-show in the Great Voltigeur. Getting his own way up front helped at Goodwood – and that could happen in this race, too – but so did soft ground and he could’ve done with a wetter week.
Sunchart
Irish raider whose Vinnie Roe second at Leopardstown was boosted by the winner, Pista, in the Park Hill on Thursday. That was the Teofilo colt’s career-best run and, while he was reeled in that day, it was a race run at a strong gallop and a stamina test looks right up his street. Previously well beaten by Santiago in the Irish Derby, though, and whether he’s good enough is a valid question. On balance, you’d have to say probably not.
Tyson Fury
A fascinating contender who turns up for the season’s final Classic after just one previous career run. That was a convincing and promising success in a 12-furlong novice stakes at this track, and the form has been franked at a much lower level by runner-up Postileo who won a Salisbury handicap off 78 last month. A bold call from connections, but he has plenty to find and his lack of experience could be ruthlessly exposed.
Ben Linfoot’s Verdict
1. PYLEDRIVER
2. Santiago
3. Berkshire Rocco
PYLEDRIVER’s convincing Great Voltigeur success under a penalty is the best form on offer here and he can travel well off a good gallop and claim a first Classic (and Group One) for trainer William Muir. He hit the line hard at York and as long as he settles for Martin Dwyer he can stay the trip and sink Santiago, who looks the biggest threat. Berkshire Rocco remains unexposed over 1m6f and back up in trip he can get closer to the selection than he did at York.
