15:35 Doncaster

Saturday 12 September 2026

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3516:1516:48

Betfred St Leger Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 3m 3.33s

(8)

Action²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S M Levey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111

66/1

Smart effort when second in the Dante at York in May but often used as a pacemaker since, and that looks set to be his role here, too.

Form: 420768

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(2)

Alderman⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon| OR: 106

40/1

Maiden whose standout effort came when a staying-on 7¼ lengths fifth of 13 in the Derby at Epsom. Well held in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket since, but ground might well have been too quick for him that day. Trip/softer conditions will suit, so he could outrun his odds.

Form: 73-255

(5)

Christmas Day²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Ronan Whelan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 118| BF

7/4

Relished the step up in trip and a return to soft ground when a convincing 2¾-length winner of the Derby at Epsom. Showed no ill effects from a hard race there when second in Irish Derby before not disgraced under a penalty when third in the Great Voltigeur at York. Looks tailor-made for this test.

Form: 1-13123

(9)

Enceladus^p1⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Billy Loughnane| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 112

5/2

Knuckled down well in a Cork maiden on reappearance and took a big step forward to win a handicap at Royal Ascot and the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood next 2 starts. Will stay and looks a leading candidate given his rate of progress. Headgear applied.

Form: 33-111

(1)

Galiyan^p1²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: A M Balding| OR: 106

40/1

Looked promising when winning a maiden at Chester in the spring. Ran below expectations in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot but much more like it when second in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket, though he has shaped as if amiss at York since. Headgear now applied.

Form: 41625

(11)

Golden Story⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 102| C

33/1

Successful on sole start at 2 yrs and had clearly derived plenty from his reappearance run in the Dee Stakes at Chester when a narrow winner of the Cocked Hat at Goodwood. However, he pulled too hard in a Group 2 at Ascot next time, so this step up in trip is a big concern on his first run since.

Form: 1-314

(3)

Hatteen⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: F Bughanaim| T: A M Balding| OR: 96| C

22/1

Progressive colt who improved another chunk when landing a valuable novice here (11.9f) by 4¼ lengths. Pulled clear with a subsequent Melrose winner when just edged out in a handicap at Glorious Goodwood since. This is by far his toughest test, but he still has potential.

Form: 35-2212

(7)

Highwayman²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Saffie Osborne| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 101

11/1

Proved a different proposition faced with a more suitable trip when a 9-length winner of a Killarney maiden, and he took another big step forward when following up in a Leopardstown listed event over this trip. This is much tougher again, but he's completely unexposed as a stayer.

Form: 900811

(4)

Pierre Bonnard²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 116

3/1

Group 1 winner at 2 yrs. Failed to meet expectations in the Derby but bounced back with a good third in the Irish Derby. Finished ahead of Christmas Day for the first time when second in the Great Voltigeur, albeit on 5 lb better terms. Likely to stay, so he should be firmly in the mix once more.

Form: 1-72732

(10)

Rebel Rocker²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 103

100/1

Won Kempton maiden on debut in November. Highly tried in his 3 starts this season, running to a useful level each time, but he has been set another mammoth task once again.

Form: 1-264

(6)

Amelia Earhart²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104

22/1

Looked a different proposition stepped up in trip when making a winning return in the Cheshire Oaks, but she has failed to kick on since and she may not be entirely straightforward.

Form: 1-16552

Forecasts

Christmas Day (7/4), Enceladus (5/2), Pierre Bonnard (3/1), Highwayman (11/1), Amelia Earhart (22/1), Hatteen (22/1), Golden Story (33/1), Alderman (40/1), Galiyan (40/1), Action (66/1), Rebel Rocker (100/1)

This test is likely to bring out the best in CHRISTMAS DAY given the manner of his gruelling Derby victory and his 2 starts subsequently, so he can provide Aidan O'Brien with a fourth straight win in Britain's oldest Classic. Joseph O'Brien saddles the progressive pair Enceladus and Highwayman, with the former looking the strongest challenger on form, while the selection's stablemate Pierre Bonnard should be on the premises again.