St Leger

June 17, 2011
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St Leger betting and odds

St Leger betting preview

The oldest of Britain’s five classics and the last to be run in the horse racing calendar year takes place at Doncaster on Saturday. The St. Leger Stakes run over a mile and six furlongs sees last months Great Voltigeur winner Rewilding head the sixteen entries. The 13/8 favourite with race sponsors Ladbrokes will be ridden by Frankie Dettori and the Godolphin yard who are bidding for their sixth success in this race will be confident of a big run. Mahmood Al Zarooni who trains the 3yo colt is hopeful of emulating stable trainer Saeed Bin Suroor’s victory with 14/1 shot Mastery twelve months ago and his Rewilding looks very much the one to beat here.

St Leger latest odds:

Doncaster’s fast galloping track will prove the real thoroughbred test as they swing left towards home and the emphasis with the Leger is therefore on the stamina side. And this could fall into the hands of Snow Fairy who enhanced her claims for the classic with a fine display in the Ebor at York recently going down only by three lengths to Henry Cecil’s classy Midday. If conditions are in her favour the filly from Ed Dunlop’s stable could be a shrewd contender at 6/1 (William Hill) to add to her success in the Epsom Oaks.

Another horse looking to reverse the result of the Great Voltigeur Stakes is the Ballydoyle trained Midas Touch. Aidan O’Brien’s colt was headed approaching the final furlong by Rewilding but cannot be ruled out this time around. In his six career starts he has two Group 1 seconds but seems reluctant to get his head in front, so could the St.Leger finally bring around a change in his fortunes?

Midas Touch is currently trading at 7/1 with Ladbrokes along with another eye-catching runner in Arctic Cosmos. William Buick rides for the in form John Gosden aiming for his first classic win less than four years after riding his first ever winner. The 3yo American import ran a little green and didn’t handle the Glorious Goodwood track last time but still ran a great Leger trial. And Buick is confident his mount will relish the extra two furlongs from the mile-and-a-half he has been going saying: “He’ll be a better horse for that extra distance, he’s been crying out for that.” And although unproven at the trip, how fitting would it be for Britain’s oldest classic to fall to the youngest jockey in the race?

No other trainer has a better chance than Aidan O’Brien in the Labrokes St.leger judging by his potential six entries. Joshua Tree is one of those in with a real chance of springing a surprise at a creditable price. The Irish raider currently trading at 10/1 (Totesport) showed little in the way of rustiness in the Voltigeur after almost twelve months away from the track. He stayed on really well to finish third behind Rewilding and Midas Touch and there could well be further improvement to come from that showing. O’Brien could also supplement Cape Blanco for the race at a £45,000 cost before Monday’s deadline after he blitzed a smart field including Juddmonte International Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Best of the rest in the field ready to take to the Town Moor turf might well by James Given’s Dandino. This progressive colt has all the credentials required to win a race of this kind; class, stamina and the ability to accelerate to name but a few and Paul Mulrennan takes the ride on the not to be discarded 8/1 (Boylesports) shot. But there are those punters that feel the race is Rewilding’s to lose. However, hold that thought because outstanding favourites have a mixed record in years gone by. In fact, the last favourite to win was Sixites Icon in 2006 but all three market leaders have been beaten since then. This includes Frankie’s ride last year on Kite Wood who could only finish second to the 14/1 Mastery. And with this still fresh in the mind, could another big priced horse be the first home on Saturday leaving a trail of more fancied runners in its wake?