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Key St Leger contenders

Trainer Aidan O'Brien

As the oldest classic of the flat season draws closer we cover the leading contenders for the prestigious Group 1 as Aidan O'Brien looks to have a strong chance in again landing the race. This is with favourite Kew Gardens following the 2017 triumph with Capri for the same connections in what turned out to be one of the strongest St Leger's in history. This will be a race punters are likely to get very involved in as they also look ahead to the latest Grand National tips and Odds 2019 with the return of the jumps season nearing.

Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens is heading to Doncaster as the strong favourite to land the race again for the record breaking team. The 3 year old has already had a lot of experience and seems to be improving in recent starts following a fairly poor start to the season in being turned over at Lingfield. This was also followed by a distant beating in the Derby.

Kew Gardens was then upped in trip for the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot which proved to be the making of him as he stayed on powerfully to win going away by just over four lengths from stablemate Southern France. He was then sent to contest a group 1 in France and duly obliged again showing stamina to be his forte. Kew Gardens was then beaten most recently following a short lay off in the Great Voltigeur but was given a soft ride with it clear he needed the run. He has to rate as a very strong favourite now with the race looking tailor made for the son of Galileo.

Old Persian

Charlie Appleby and Godolphin have been a force to be reckoned with this season as they have been challenging Coolmore for many of the top honours. Old Persian is entering the race following a career best victory over favourite Kew Gardens and stablemate Cross Counter. The latter is fancied to run a big race in the Melbourne Cup.

Old Persian has continued to improve throughout the year that included a victory in a group 2 at Royal Ascot before a distant beating in the Irish Derby. Following a short break he returned in the previously mentioned Great Voltigeur and took up the running three furlongs out and stayed on strongly. This performance marked the horse down as a leading contender for the St Leger and he is another who looks to have endless amounts of stamina.

Latrobe

The final horse to make the list is the Joseph O'Brien trained Irish Derby winner Latrobe. He had not shown much prior to this season and entered the Irish Derby following victory in a very weak maiden. He was sent off at odds of 14/1 but was fancied by many people with each way money continuing to come for the horse throughout the day.

Latrobe travelled ominously well before taking up the running three out and staying on very strongly to win by half a length from Rostropovich. This was a huge step up on his previous form and a performance that must mark his down as a leading contender for the St Leger. He has now got to return to form following a weak showing behind Roaring Lion in the Juddmonte at York. He is still not a 100 per cent starter with possibilities of remaining in Ireland for his next race.

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