16:50 Curragh

Sunday 10 September 2017

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1)

Off time: 16:52 | Winning time: 3m 7.82s

(8)

Benkei⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Colin Keane| T: H Rogers| OR: 96| D

66/1

Ran well in a couple of competitive contests on the Flat prior to winning easily over hurdles at Roscommon (heavy) recently. However he has plenty to find with a number of these and is likely to be playing a minor role in this contest.

Form: 530483

(6)

Dartmouth¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: J A Heffernan| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 115| BF| D

5/1

Made a winning reappearance over this trip at York (soft) in May and followed up a fourth at Royal Ascot by finishing runner-up by a nose over an extended 2m at York (good) last time out. Leading claims of gaining a first Group 1 victory today.

Form: 322-142

(1)

Lord Yeats¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P Mulrennan| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 108

28/1

Dual winner over 1m4f this year including in a Listed contest at Newmarket (good-to-soft) in July. Well held in a Group 3 subsequently and a similar result in the Ebor at York (good) last time out. More needed if he's to take this.

Form: 20-1150

(5)

Order Of St George²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 120| CD

2/5

Winner of this in 2015 but suffered a shock defeat in this contest 12 months ago.. Just touched off in his bid for a repeat Gold Cup victory at Royal Ascot in June but has won a Group 3 since and is likely to prove hard to beat today.

Form: 34-2121

(10)

The Tartan Spartan⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Ronan Whelan| T: J P Shanahan| OR: 102| D

66/1

Listed winner at Down Royal (good-to-yielding) since but well held in two subsequent outings including a Listed handicap off a mark of 102 at Chester (good) earlier this month. Likely to struggle today.

Form: 155177

(3)

Torcedor^p⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: C O'Donoghue| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 110| C| D

14/1

Winner of his first two starts since joining this stable including when defeating Order Of St George over this trip at Navan (good) in April. Respectable effort upped to 2m4f for the Gold Cup at Ascot last time but more needed in this contest.

Form: 570-115

(9)

Twilight Payment^p,t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: K J Manning| T: J S Bolger| OR: 106| C

20/1

Finished in the first three on all five outings since winning over 2m in a Listed contest on heavy ground here last September. Bit to find with a couple of these on running this season and others make more appeal today.

Form: 1-23223

(4)

Western Hymn^p⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Smullen| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 110

14/1

Successful over an extended 1m5f at Chester (good) when wearing cheekpieces fo rhte first time in May but held in two subsequent outings over 1m4f. Step up to this trip looks likely to suit and may surprise a few better fancied rivals in this.

Form: 451-174

(7)

Wicklow Brave²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Chris Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 113| CD

11/1

Winner of this race 12 months ago and successful in a Grade 1 contest over hurdles since. Put in a couple of respectable efforts since but held by Order Of St George on their running over this C&D last month.

Form: 10-4244

(2)

Mount Moriah³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 106| D

14/1

Completed a handicap hat-trick at Ascot (1m6f, good) in July but well held third of five over 1m4f at Goodwood (soft) on his first try in Group company last time out and plenty to find with the principals today.

Form: 421-113

Forecasts

Order Of St George (2/5), Dartmouth (5/1), Wicklow Brave (11/1), Torcedor (14/1), Mount Moriah (14/1), Western Hymn (14/1), Twilight Payment (20/1), Lord Yeats (28/1), The Tartan Spartan (66/1), Benkei (66/1)

ORDER OF ST GEORGE can register his second victory in this Group 1 contest and in doing so make amends for his shock defeat in the 2016 renewal of this race. The 2015 victor holds a number of his rivals on recent running and is taken to get the better of Dartmouth who developed into a classy 1m4f performer last year and proved his stamina over this trip when winning a Group 2 contest in the spring. Of the remainder Western Hymn is trying this trip for the first time but shapes as if it will suit and he can claim third today.