Ten remain for what will be the final Classic either side of the Irish Sea, with the Irish St Leger taking place this Sunday at the Curragh. It is the only Classic open to more age groups than just three-year-olds, and as such Kyprios, Aidan O’Brien’s staying star, is seeking to regain his title.
He is a full brother to Search For A Song, who won this race twice as well, and has bounced superbly back to form this term, winning the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and then the Goodwood Cup in course record time. O’Brien has got him back fighting fit, though should he need backup, there are ready replacements in last year’s Doncaster St Leger winner Continuous and multiple Group race winner Point Lonsdale. The three-year-old The Euphrates could also take his chance for Ballydoyle.
There are two big dangers from outside of O’Brien’s yard according to the market. Marco Botti’s Giavellotto has improved immensely this season, winning a second Goodwood Cup, but then also stepping back to 1mf and winning the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes comfortably too. He was third in the 2022 British St Leger, while Vauban is the other chief Irish hope for Willie Mullins. He took the Lonsdale Cup at York for a first win of the season over 2m last time out.
The only other British-trained runner in the field is the consistent Al Qareem, three times a runner-up in Group races this term. The other Irish runner is Crypto Force, though he seems to have lost his way unless 1m6f revives him.
Unusually, there is continental interest from Germany in the race. Not one but two entrants remain for the nation, with Waldadler and Nastaria both Listed winners over the distance.
Irish St Leger 2024 Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Al Qareem | Karl Burke |
| 2 | Continuous | Aidan O’Brien |
| 3 | Crypto Force | Adrian Murray |
| 4 | Giavelotto | Marco Botti |
| 5 | Kyprios | Aidan O’Brien |
| 6 | Point Lonsdale | Aidan O’Brien |
| 7 | Vauban | Willie Mullins |
| 8 | Waldadler | Pavel Vovcenko |
| 9 | Nastaria | Anna Schleusner-Fruhriep |
| 10 | The Euphrates | Aidan O’Brien |