View from connections: St Leger day | Trainer quotes ahead of Doncaster Saturday

William Hill St Leger Stakes

3.35 Doncaster | Click here for full card & free video form

Jockey Jim Crowley on Crystal Ocean: "I got a phone call from Sir Michael asking if I'd like to ride. Obviously, it's a great ride to pick up and I'm looking forward to it. He was probably a little unlucky at Ascot, but he looked very good last time in the Gordon Stakes and it looks like he's improving. I've been lucky enough to pick up a couple of nice rides for Sir Michael this year and I'm looking forward to riding this horse at Doncaster."

Stoute's assistant trainer James Horton: "The Crystal Ocean team are optimistic he will stay the trip, although they would not want the ground too soft. Ascot didn't quite go to plan, but he got beaten by two good horses on the day.

"We were expecting a big run from him at Goodwood. He'd been working very well going into it. We were very pleased with Goodwood and we're very pleased with where he is now. We think he'll stay. He got a mile and a half well at Goodwood and in the Dante he ran huge over a mile and a quarter. He was never nearer than at the line. We see no problem going up to a mile and six. Ideally we'd want good ground - he wouldn't want it too soft."

Aidan O'Brien on Capri, Venice Beach, Douglas Macarthur and The Anvil: "Capri is a horse we always thought would stay further than a mile and a half and he's in good form. He had a break after the Irish Derby. We were playing with the idea of running him in the Voltigeur, but we knew that he would have a 5lb penalty and his scope wasn't 100 per cent, so we just decided to leave him.

"The Irish Derby was a very truly-run race. He was handy all the way, he kicked and kept going. I don't think he was relenting at the line.

"Venice Beach is a horse we always thought would stay further than a mile and a half as well. He had a very good run in France and we gave him a little bit of an easy time going to the Voltigeur, kind of using it to bring him on for the Leger, rather than the Voltigeur being the be-all and end-all. He ran a good race and he will have come forward. We look forward to seeing him the next day.

"Douglas Macarthur had an easy time after the Irish Derby and we were also using the Voltigeur as a stepping stone to Doncaster for him. He's well and we were very happy with his run. We put a hood on him so that he would be relaxed when we went a mile and six with him.

"The Anvil is a straightforward, solid horse who likes nice ground. He'll stay a mile and six and might even stay two miles.

Jockey Andrea Atzeni on Defoe: "My little horse is genuine and has done nothing wrong all season. He's improved all year and has done so again since his last win at Newbury. He's never been flashy in his work, or in his races, but I rode him in his last piece of work and he was really good. He's ready to go again.

"He needs to improve because he's going to a different level, but I'm very happy and think he's going there with a big chance. The rain that's arrived has helped his chances because, while he's won on good ground, he's better on softer. He has a great mind on him and is straightforward to train and ride.

"He's got a different kind of profile to Kingston Hill (also trained by Varian) but, mentally, I'd say they are very similar. It's hard to tell how good he is, or when we are going to get to the bottom of him."

Richard Evans, owners Denford Stud, Coronet: "Ideally we'll get some nice ground. That's not to say she won't run on the soft, but I think she'd prefer good. She ran a good race at York. We were quite happy to accept second behind Enable that day.

"I think the extra distance will definitely suit her and the track should suit her as well. We're hopeful of a decent run."

Brian Meehan on Raheen House: "Each year the Bahrain Trophy is looking like more and more of a pointer for the St Leger. He won it so well and possibly even idled a bit when he got to the front, so I think maybe he had a bit in hand. He's a big horse and I just felt it was always going to better to leave him until the St Leger."

Joseph O'Brien on Rekindling: "He's in good form and gets the trip well. He ran well the last day at the Curragh. We're just hoping the ground isn't too soft for him. It's a very good race but we're hopeful."

Andrew Balding on Count Octave: "He ran a pretty good race in the circumstances at Goodwood last time. We're very happy with him. His run at Ascot (behind Stradivarius) would give him a good each-way shot."

William Hill Portland Handicap

1.50 Doncaster | Click here for full card & free video form

Dean Ivory on Lancelot Du Lac and Stake Acclaim: "The ground at York was very tacky in the end, so the race was never run to suit him. He didn't quite get home over the six, but I think this trip and everything will suit him.

"He comes there in great form. Obviously, we've got Frankie, who won the Stewards' Cup on him the last time. Frankie was keen to ride him before he was even entered so that's all very positive, but he has got a lot of weight.

"Stake Acclaim's in great form. I was a bit harsh with the poor little fella, running him three times in about three weeks, but he never let me down at all. To him, it probably feels like he's had six months off. He is bucking and kicking at home. The trip and everything should all suit him.

"I'm very happy with both horses."

Ed Walker on Captain Colby: "He's not in the same form as last year. We're just scratching our heads with him. He seems to have fallen out of love with the game. We're chancing our arm. He seems to like Doncaster, so let's hope he just bounces back to some kind of form. He's good enough to win it, but he just seems to have lost his love for the game."

Declan Carroll on Justanotherbottle: "He's in good form and he's won over the five and a half here before, so obviously the trip's fine. He should like the ground. He won with cut in the ground earlier in the season and ran a good race at York last time out. I'm looking forward to running him. He's been training well, he's in good nick."

Henry Candy on Vibrant Chords: "He'll cope with the ground, I think,and it's a distance that will suit him. He's in good form so I'd hope he'd do well. His draw (eight) gives him enough options."

Paul D'Arcy on Spring Loaded: "I think at Chester, drawn nine, he was all pushed to be placed. He ran very well, I thought. He could never get in and was always five wide. The only downside is this race is over five and a half furlongs. If it was over six, I'd be more confident."

Howcroft Industrial Supplies Champagne Stakes

3.00 Doncaster | Click here for full racecard & free video form

Charlie Johnston on Dream Today: "We really liked him in the spring and then he had a setback which kept him off until the second half of the season. He's always worked like a very good horse, which is why we decided to run him in the Convivial first time out.

"We were pretty confident going to York and he confirmed what he'd been showing us at home on the track. This is still a big step up, going from a maiden straight into a Group Two, so we'll find out how good he is.

"He's got some lofty entries for the back-end of the season and we'll find out on Saturday whether they're realistic or not."

Charlie Appleby on Mythical Magic: "We've been very pleased with him on his two starts to date and having won on good to soft and soft ground, ground conditions are of no concern. He's a horse we loved in the spring, but he's a really imposing horse and he just went a bit weak on us during the summer.

"We gave him a bit of time to strengthen up and now I think he's ready to step up into this grade. For me, he's the one they've all got to beat and it would be great for a colt like him if we can keep his unbeaten record intact."

James Tate on Hey Gaman: "All his runs when the ground has been on the soft side have been good, so hopefully the ground stays that way for Saturday. He's improving and I thought it was a good performance running into a headwind at Newbury. He sets the standard and I think it will take a good one to beat him."

Simon Crisford on Red Mist: "I'd like to see the ground dry out, but he's in flying form. I think the ground was against him last time. I can't help but feel on quicker ground he can use his turn of foot.

"He's very smart, he's doing well and hopefully he can run a good race."