Comer Group International Irish St. Leger (Group 1)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 3m 1.72s

(1)

Dawn Rising²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Declan McDonogh| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 105

7/2

Very useful novice hurdle for this yard last winter and has continued in good form back on the Flat, winning Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot before ½-length second to Shamida in a C&D Group 3 21 days ago. This a lot harder.

Form: 412/312

(2)

Eldar Eldarov⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: D Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 117| D

16/5

Last year's St Leger winner at Doncaster who stepped up on even that form when second under a Group 1 penalty in the Yorkshire Cup on his reappearance. Below that level when seventh in Gold Cup at Ascot and fourth in Goodwood Cup since and will need to be back to his very best to trouble Kyprios

Form: 417-274

(5)

Kyprios³⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 122| CD

4/6

Won 4 Group 1s in an outstanding 2022 season, including this race. Produced one of the best performances by a stayer for years when a remarkable 20-length winner of Cadran at Longchamp on final start. This a belated return after suffering a setback in the spring but he should still be hard to beat.

Form: 111111-

(3)

Yashin^p1¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 105| D

20/1

Smart gelding who had Dawn Rising behind in third when winning 1¾m Leopardstown Group 3 on his reappearance in May. Not in the same form when well beaten behind Emily Dickinson in a C&D Group 2 in July but back to form when 3 lengths seventh of 22 in Ebor at York last month.

Form: 064-167

Non-Runners

(4)

Emily Dickinson⁴⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 4

T: A P O'Brien J: Seamie Heffernan

Forecasts

Kyprios (4/6), Emily Dickinson (3/1), Eldar Eldarov (16/5), Dawn Rising (7/2), Yashin (20/1)

This year's renewal of the Irish St Leger features the much-awaited return to action of the outstanding KYPRIOS who was unstoppable over 1¾m+ last year and can make light of his absence and land a fifth Group 1 win in a row. Stablemate Emily Dickinson can give him most to do.