Charlie Appleby's New London a general 4/5 favourite for Sunday's St Leger at Doncaster; race moved to be part of nine-race card on Sunday after cancellation of Saturday's fixtures as mark of ongoing respect for following the death of Her Majesty The Queen
Wednesday 7 September 2022 06:53, UK
Mike Cattermole gives his expert verdict on the final British Classic of the year and Doncaster's Sunday feature, the Cazoo St Leger.
As autumn arrives, so it's time for the world's oldest Classic, the Cazoo St Leger, first run in 1776 and pre-dating the Derby by some four years.
Nobody can claim that this year's renewal is a vintage one - being a gelding, the admirable Deauville Legend was never qualified to run - but we do have the Derby runner-up Hoo Ya Mal, the Irish Derby third French Claim, and the highly progressive New London.
Guaranteed stayer Eldar Eldarov cannot be overlooked, and then there is the supplemented and unbeaten filly Haskoy, who has loads of potential. It certainly is another tantalizing puzzle.
David Egan; Roger Varian
Made up a tremendous amount of ground in the last furlong and a half to collar Zechariah on the line in the Queen's Vase over a mile and six at Royal Ascot. He must have made up at least five lengths, showing that stamina is very much his strong suit.
In recent years, the Vase has been used as a successful stepping stone to this by both Leading Light in 2013 and Kew Gardens in 2018.
However, dropping back to a mile and a half, he lost his unbeaten record when a rather lacklustre fourth in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris last time.
This will be more his bag and up the long straight at Town Moor, he is expected to get up a real head of steam in the closing stages in his attempt to win a second Leger for his yard, following Kingston Hill in 2014. Big chance.
Andrea Atzeni; Kevin Philippart de Foy
By the little-known sire Al Rifai, a son of Galileo who won his only start on the all-weather at Kempton for John Gosden, this colt has always been swimming in the deep end, even making his debut in Listed company.
He was well beaten in the Derby but won his maiden last time at Wolverhampton over a mile and a half. Represents an up-and-coming trainer but likely to be readily outclassed again.
Daniel Tudhope; Paddy Twomey
Another from a yard of a progressive young handler who has been making a name for himself.
Steps up in trip after making the running in the Irish Derby when beaten nine lengths into third by Westover.
His pedigree doesn't shout stamina and he is certainly up against it on form, but the forecast rain might help as he won very nicely on an easy surface at Cork on his reappearance. Still takes a leap of faith to imagine him being involved at the death, however.
Neil Callan; Marco Botti
An improving handicapper who disposed of three rivals in ready fashion over a mile and three quarters at Newmarket, having run well on soft ground over the same trip at Haydock the time before.
The trip and ground (whatever it is) will not be an issue, but he needs to find a lot more to get involved in this deeper company.
David Probert; George Boughey
The Derby runner-up who was probably third-best on the day, with Westover having a luckless run.
Changed hands for £1.2m at the Goffs London Sale after that and has performed well for new connections since, taking third in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, behind New London, before landing a weak-looking March Stakes on the same course at very short odds over a mile and three quarters on good to soft ground.
That Goodwood trial produced Leger winners Commanche Run and Michelozzo way back in the 1980s but has been largely overlooked as a prep for the Leger in recent years. He seemed to stay ok - in that company - but this is a much tougher test.
His new connections are still planning an assault on the Melbourne Cup too.
William Buick; Charlie Appleby
Big, scopey sort who put his Chester Vase reverse (when he didn't seem at ease on the track) firmly behind him with a classy win in handicap company at Newmarket, before landing the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood in fine style.
The form has been boosted many times since, with runner-up Deauville Legend taking the Great Voltigeur, third Hoo Ya Mal the March Stakes, fifth Cresta totally dominant in a Listed contest at Windsor, and sixth West Wind Blows landing a Group Three in France at the weekend.
He hit the line strongly at Goodwood too, auguring well for his chances of staying, and there is some encouragement to be had from his bloodlines as he is related to Leger winner Masked Marvel.
With the trainers' title to be decided in the next month, a win here would be a huge boost for Charlie Appleby. Very much the one to beat.
TBC; Aidan O'Brien
Fourth in the Irish Oaks and showed she stays well with a running-on third in the Lily Langtry over a mile and six at Goodwood.
A record of one win from seven starts is telling, however, and she has so much to do here.
Frankie Dettori; Ralph Beckett
A welcome addition to the contest after she was supplemented for £50,000.
Unbeaten in two starts, she rallied gamely to land the Galtres Stakes at York last time, staying on strongly on the far rail to get up near the finish, after winning on debut at Wolverhampton in taking fashion. Being the least experienced in the line-up, she should have further improvement in her and there is obviously plenty of stamina in her pedigree.
The Ralph Beckett team won this with a filly a few years ago in Simple Verse. An intriguing contender.
Kieran Shoemark; Ivan Furtado
What a race in which to make your turf debut!
Great to see Ivan Furtado with a Classic runner and although she improved to win well on the Tapeta at Southwell last time, this is a mammoth step up in class.
NEW LONDON has outstanding credentials and certainly offers the best form in the race. His trial win has worked out extremely well and there is optimism to be gained from his pedigree that he will stay the trip.
Hoo Ya Mal will be in there pitching for place money, with Haskoy very much the dark horse of the field.
