The 250th running of the St Leger is set to take centre stage at Doncaster on Saturday, with 11 runners preparing to contest one of British racing’s most historic Classics.
Sky Sports Racing’s Mike Cattermole has assessed every horse in the field, with Enceladus, trained by Joseph O’Brien, receiving his narrow vote to claim the famous trophy.
Enceladus Leads the Contenders
Enceladus heads into the race in excellent form after winning all of his starts as a three-year-old.
The son of Sea The Stars has already impressed in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot before following that success with victory in the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.
His ability to accelerate near the finish has particularly caught the eye, while his pedigree suggests the extended St Leger distance should suit him.
Cattermole believes there is still improvement to come and expects Enceladus to be a major contender under jockey Billy Loughnane.
Christmas Day Chasing Derby and St Leger Double
Derby winner Christmas Day will attempt to achieve one of the most difficult doubles in British racing.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt produced an impressive performance to win the Derby at Epsom on soft ground, defeating Maltese Cross by almost three lengths.
However, no horse has completed the Derby-St Leger double since Reference Point in 1987.
Christmas Day has remained consistent throughout the season, although his preparation has not been completely flawless. Cattermole expects him to be involved in the finish but questions whether the extra distance will bring further improvement.
Pierre Bonnard Could Reverse the Form Again
Another major contender from the O’Brien stable is Pierre Bonnard, who has finished strongly in his two most recent races.
After finishing behind Christmas Day in the Irish Derby, Pierre Bonnard reversed the form in the Great Voltigeur at York, finishing ahead of his stablemate while also giving him weight.
His pedigree provides plenty of encouragement that he will handle the St Leger’s demanding distance.
Cattermole considers him a serious threat and believes he could finish ahead of Christmas Day once again.
Highwayman the Interesting Outsider
Highwayman is described as one of the most intriguing horses in the field.
His early career offered little indication of what was to come, but he dramatically improved after being stepped up in distance.
After an eye-catching run at Naas, he won by nine lengths at Killarney before claiming the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes over a mile and six furlongs at Leopardstown.
His stamina is therefore not in question, although Cattermole believes he still needs to improve considerably to win the St Leger. He has been tipped as a possible fourth-place finisher.
Action Faces a Difficult Task
Action has plenty of ability but arrives at Doncaster with questions surrounding his chances.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained runner performed well as a juvenile and finished second in the Group One Futurity Stakes.
However, his recent campaign has been less encouraging. He was used as a pacemaker in several major races and struggled to make an impact.
With the St Leger requiring both speed and stamina, Cattermole believes the step up in distance could make things even tougher for him.
Alderman Needs to Bounce Back
Alderman caught the eye when finishing fifth in the Derby, where he was unlucky not to finish slightly higher.
However, his subsequent performance in the Bahrain Trophy was disappointing, as he finished last of five runners.
The return to softer ground could help, but Cattermole believes he still has too much ground to make up against the leading contenders.
The Rest of the Field
Galiyan showed promise earlier in the season but has struggled to reproduce his best form recently.
Golden Story remains relatively inexperienced and has shown flashes of ability, but he needs to settle better and improve significantly.
Hatteen has been progressing steadily and arrives after winning at Doncaster and finishing second at Goodwood, although his lower rating makes this a major test.
Rebel Rocker is another relatively unexposed runner with stamina in his pedigree, but his previous performances suggest he faces a difficult challenge.
The only filly in the field, Amelia Earhart, has won at Listed level but has struggled against stronger opposition in Group races. She also failed to fully convince over a mile and six furlongs at Goodwood.
Cattermole’s Verdict
After assessing the entire field, Cattermole gives Enceladus the narrow vote to win the 2026 St Leger.
He believes the three-year-old is improving at the right time and should benefit from the longer distance.
He expects Pierre Bonnard to give him plenty to think about, while Christmas Day remains a serious threat. Highwayman is his choice to finish fourth.
With the O’Brien family responsible for several of the leading contenders, the historic 250th St Leger promises to be a fascinating battle of stamina, class and pedigree at Doncaster.
