Ralph Beckett has thrown a spanner in the works of what appeared a Ballydoyle dominated St Leger by supplementing Irish Oaks heroine You Got To Me into a five-day field of ten on Monday. The daughter of Nathaniel was second in the all-age Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks last time out too, and has been introduced at a best price of 7/2 to win the oldest Classic at Doncaster on Saturday, 14th September.
There had rarely been a market quite like that for the 2024 St Leger, with betting centreing on four from the same yard. Unsurprisingly, it is Aidan O’Brien’s, with his trio of Illinois, Jan Breughel, and Grosvenor Square in the running to go off as the St Leger favourite, hinging on jockey bookings. Los Angeles, who had held favouritism after winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes, is an unlikely runner now, though does remain in the remaining field of ten.
At best odds, it is currently Queen’s Vase winner Illinois who is available at the shortest price. He can be backed at 7/4, with the unbeaten Jan Breughel, who has shaped as a thorough stayer in his three career starts, next in at a high of 4/1. Grosvenor Square, the winner of the Irish St Leger Trial by an extraordinary 20 lengths, is backable at 5/1. O’Brien is also responsible for habitual pacemaker Euphoric at 100/1.
Only a four of the ten potential runners hail from British yards. The shortest-priced of those prior to You Got To Me’s supplementation was Irish Derby runner-up Sunway, who has been highly tried for David Menuisier, but held his own on numerous occasions. He shapes as a thorough stayer whose price is 7/1 currently.
Derby fourth Deira Mile is at a price of 20/1 having warmed up by finishing runner-up in a competitive Windsor Listed contest most recently. The remainder of the field will have to overcome unlikely odds with Charlie Johnston’s Align The Stars, who disappointed on his first start at Group level at York, at 50/1 in the hope he can regain his winning thread from handicaps. The Andrew Balding-trained Wild Waves is at 66/1 having finished fourth in the Melrose Handicap and is the last of ten to mention.
St Leger 2024 Odds
| Horse | Trainer | Best Odds |
| Illinois | Aidan O’Brien | 7/4 |
| You Got To Me | Ralph Beckett | 7/2 |
| Jan Breughel | Aidan O’Brien | 4/1 |
| Grosvenor Square | Aidan O’Brien | 5/1 |
| Sunway | David Menuisier | 7/1 |
| BAR 20/1 |
St Leger Runners 2024: Seven Horses Declared For Doncaster Classic
Aidan O’Brien is set to unleash a strong team for the 2024 Betfred St Leger, which takes place at Doncaster racecourse on Saturday 14th September. The seven-times winner won the race 12 months ago with Continuous and the master of Ballydoyle is set to try and claim the crown once again and he has a…
Thu 12 Sep 2024