15:35 Doncaster

Saturday 14 September 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:55

William Hill St Leger Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 0.27s

(5)

Dashing Willoughby⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: W Buick| T: A M Balding| OR: 113

14/1

Beat Barbados by ½L (Nayef Road third) when taking the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f, soft), and ran as well as could be expected when fifth in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup (2m) latest; appears well held by Sir Dragonet on Chester Vase form.

Form: 8-23145

(2)

Il Paradiso^p²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P B Beggy| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 115

8/1

Last of the O'Brien quintet in the Irish Derby but short of experience there (as a Leopardstown maiden winner); has kicked on positively since displaying stamina in spades; career best when third to Stradivarius at York latest (Group 2 Lonsdale).

Form: 22-1713

(4)

Logician²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 115

5/6

Unbeaten in four starts, progressing through maiden, novice, handicap and pattern company; looked a real stout stayer when comfortably disposing of Constantinople in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York (1m4f, good); a date with destiny awaits?

Form: 1111

(3)

Nayef Road²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 108

40/1

All out to bravely fend off Constantinople in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood (1m4f, good); an earlier form line with Dashing Willoughby (Queen's Vase) can feasibly be reversed yet faces a tough task against Great Voltigeur conqueror Logician.

Form: 653215

(7)

Sir Dragonet²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 117| BF

11/4

Thrashed Dashing Willoughby (third) when an impressive winner of the Chester Vase (1m4½f, soft); fifth in the Derby subsequently (better than the bare result) and possibly needed the run at The Curragh latest; slight stamina and ground concerns.

Form: 1154

(6)

Sir Ron Priestley²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 108

7/1

Prominent-racer; the only blip in a near perfect season (five wins) came in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to soft); 2-2 over 1m6f, taking the step up into a Group 2 (March Stakes) in his stride at Goodwood.

Form: 110111

(8)

Technician²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Rob Hornby| T: M Meade| OR: 109

20/1

Finished behind (sixth) Nayef Road in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, but determined in battle when subsequently taking the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury (1m5½f, soft); reportedly has missed some "minor bugs" within his yard; ground?

Form: 125161

(1)

Western Australia^p1⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M C Hussey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

50/1

Winner of a Listed contest (Yeats Stakes) at Navan (1m5f, good to firm); well beaten in three subsequent starts, including behind Dashing Willoughby in the Grp 2 Queen's Vase; is wearing first-time cheekpieces and arrives fresh off a 62-day absence.

Form: 251078

Forecasts

Logician (5/6), Sir Dragonet (11/4), Sir Ron Priestley (7/1), Il Paradiso (8/1), Dashing Willoughby (14/1), Technician (20/1), Nayef Road (40/1), Western Australia (50/1)

LOGICIAN has been all the rage for the William Hill St Leger since an imperious display in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. Campaigned perfectly so far by the masterful John Gosden, there's every possibility of yet more improvement to come over today's longer trip. However, although fully expected to be up to the task in hand this won't be a stroll in the park with the Derby fifth (and Chester Vase winner) Sir Dragonet arguably boasting the strongest form on offer. He's still lightly-raced under the tutelage of Aidan O'Brien (has won this race six times), while the front-running Sir Ron Priestley will surely seek to exploit any stamina flaws among the wider field.