Idaho odds on for the St Leger

Idaho goes odds on as 15 stand ground for St Leger
BY ANDREW DIETZ 12:42PM 5 SEP 2016
THE opposition to red-hot Ladbrokes St Leger favourite Idaho was whittled down on Monday with Algometer and Robin Of Navan missing from the 15 confirmations for Saturday’s Classic at Doncaster.

As well as Idaho, whose odds have shortened to 10-11 (from evens), Aidan O’Brien could field a strong team after leaving in Housesofparliament, Kellstorm, Sword Fighter, The Major General, Triplicate and Unicorn.

Of his seven entries, O'Brien expects to run "three or four" in the race, with Housesofparliament, Sword Fighter and Triplicate in contention to join Idaho.

On leading hope Idaho, O'Brien said, "Everything has been good with Idaho since York, where everything went smooth for him. He is a horse we have always had high hopes for.

"You never can be confident but we have always thought he would get the trip in the Ladbrokes St Leger. He seems to relax and is a full-brother to Highland Reel who stays a mile and a half well."

O'Brien also revealed that Ryan Moore is likely to ride at Doncaster and Leopardstown on Saturday.

John Gosden, who as expected removed Wings Of Desire, has pinned his hopes on 6-1 second-favourite Muntahaa as he goes in search of a fifth victory in the world’s oldest Classic.

"He is a grand horse," said Gosden. "The race has come quite soon enough but he has had a good preparation. He has only breezed once since he ran at Chester and Paul Hanagan was happy with him. We are off."

The absence of the David Simcock-trained Algometer, who finished seventh in the Investec Derby on his last start, means general 8-1 shots Red Verdon and Housesofparliament are the others quoted at single figures.

Despite featuring among the confirmations on Monday, Twilight Payment will not take his chance in Saturday's race according to trainer Jim Bolger.

Shades of Camelot

Idaho beat stablemate Housesofparliament in the Betway Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month and looks on course to be the shortest-priced St Leger favourite since the O’Brien-trained Camelot was sent off 2-5 favourite in 2012 before suffering a shock defeat to Encke.

Champagne moment

St Leger day kicks off with the Group 2 At The Races Champagne Stakes, which could feature a clash between Group 2 winners Boynton and Mehmas.

The pair would have to give away 3lb to the likes of Capri, who has scored at Listed level for O'Brien, and the William Haggas-trained duo Rivet and Lockheed.

Godolphin trio Dutch Connection, Richard Pankhurst and Toormore head the field for the same day's Group 2 Saint Gobain Weber Park Stakes.

O'Brien has Breeders' Cup winner Hit It A Bomb among his three possibles, while fillies Lumiere and Nemoralia are also among the 16 confirmations.

Like the coverage of Doncaster on Thursday and Friday, Saturday's action will be screened on More4 as Channel 4 is showing the Paralympics in Rio.

Track drying out

The going was changed to good to soft, soft in places on Sunday, however clerk of the course Roderick Duncan has suggested this could be changed on Tuesday morning. "I would envisage removing the soft in places when I update the going description tomorrow morning," he said.

"It has been dry at Doncaster today. It was overcast in the morning before brightening up in the afternoon. It wasn't really until this afternoon that the ground started to dry out and that is why I left the going description as it is.

"The remainder of the week is forecast to be dry, with warmer temperatures. Tomorrow should be the warmest day of the week with temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius."

Arc trails this coming Sunday at Chantilly, Bob. For the uminformed the Arc will be run this year at Chantilly and not at Longchamp.

Derby hero, Harzand could run in the Prix Niel. The trainer J Rouget is in top form this season with numerous Grade 1 wins and is the one to follow.

The ARC not at Longchamp?
Is my fancy Postponed still a good punt

Aye Dave they are revamping LongChamp

Big doubts over some of the french yards this season, some massive virus doing the rounds

ROGER VARIAN has declared Juddmonte International hero Postponed to be bang on target for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with the prestigious Group 1 less than four weeks away.

The four-year-old moved into outright favouritism at 4-1 for the race after romping home on the Knavesmire last month, with dual Derby hero Harzand next best at 6-1.

"I've been delighted with him since his win at York and he seems to have come out of the race very well," said Varian. "He did an easy piece of work last Saturday and moved very well.

"God willing, and with a clear run, he's bang on course for the Arc, which has been his main second-half-of-the-season objective."

Rouget bids for first Arc triumph

Whilst Postponed demonstrated his credentials at York, across the Channel three-year-old filly La Cressonniere emphatically entered Arc calculations a week later, when she cruised to victory in the Group 2 Prix de la Nonette at Deauville.

She remains unbeaten in six starts for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, a run of successes which saw her land the Group 1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly in June, the Arc's adopted home whilst redevelopment work is undertaken at Longchamp.

"Everything has gone fine since the Prix de la Nonette, which was not a hard race for La Cressonniere and more like a piece of morning work," said Sylvain Vidal, racing manager to co-owner Gerard Augustin-Normand.

"She has come out of the race well and October 2 remains the plan."

La Cressonniere is a general 8-1 shot to give Rouget his first success in the race.

The St Leger meeting gets underway at Doncaster on Wednesday, and we take a look at some of the names who could be making the headlines on Town Moor.

Abingdon
Thursday (3.05) DFS Park Hill Stakes

This filly has made eyecatching progress in Listed company, most recently winning the Henry Cecil Galtres Stakes at York in August.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, she steps up both in class and trip for this Group 2 contest run over the St Leger trip of 1m6f and looks a formidable prospect with Andrea Atzeni retaining the ride from York.

Stoute won this race, known as the Fillies' St Leger, in 2007 and 2008 with Hi Calypso and Allegretto, and he looks to have a useful contender for the prize this year.

It will be a tough test though, with last season's eventual St Leger winner Simple Verse among the opposition.
Lumiere

Lumiere (leading): has delighted and frustrated this season
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Lumiere
Friday (1.55) Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes

It has been a frustrating season for the Mark Johnston team when it comes to this filly, as he has shown signs of her sensational juvenile form, but two of her three runs have ended in heavy defeat.

After winning the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, she was the yard's big 1,000 Guineas hope, but disappointed badly at Newmarket when last of 16.

However, a demolition job of her rivals in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes on the July course raised expectations again.

But pitched back into Group 1 company at Deauville for the Prix Rothschild she was a letdown, racing too freely to give herself any chance that day.

She also has an entry for the Weber Park Stakes on Saturday and, if she runs in either race, the hope is she will be back to form.



St Michel
Friday (3.40) 250th Doncaster Cup

Sir Mark Prescott fielded the winner of this race last year with Pallasator and bids to hold on to his Doncaster Cup crown with prolific handicapper St Michel.

The three-year-old is rated 22lb inferior to market favourite Mizzou, however, Prescott pulled off a similar feat with Alleluia in 2001, who won two races in handicap company before landing this contest.

Alleluia, likewise, was a three-year-old and St Michel receives a hefty weight-for-age allowance from his elders over the stamina-sapping 2m2f trip.



Mehmas
Saturday (2.00) At The Races Champagne Stakes

A combination of grit, talent and experience saw Al Shaqab's star two-year-old down the much lauded Blue Point in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

Should he be confirmed for this Group 2 contest, the step up to 7f would be a crucial test of his 2,000 Guineas credentials, as in the aftermath of his win at Goodwood trainer Richard Hannon suggested the son of Acclamation would struggle to stay the mile trip of the Newmarket Classic.

An authoritative performance would surely convince connections to keep him in training for a tilt at Classic glory next year, for which he is currently a best priced 20-1.



Idaho
Saturday (3.45) Ladbrokes St Leger

Aidan O'Brien has recorded just the one winner in this race over the last ten years, with Leading Light providing the Ballydoyle maestro with success back in 2013. However, he dominated the race in the early part of the millennium with Milan (2001), Brian Boru (2003) and Scorpion (2005) all victorious.

O'Brien has gone agonisingly close in recent editions with Camelot denied Triple Crown immortality by Encke in 2012, and Bondi Beach first gaining the race in the stewards' room, before losing it at BHA headquarters last year.

He looks set to saddle odds-on favourite Idaho this time, who is highly fancied to record an overdue fifth win for Ireland's champion trainer.

The son of Galileo stepped out of Harzand's shadow in winning the Great Voltigeur last time out, a first win since his maiden on debut, and it is hard to argue with his credentials to follow up in the world's oldest Classic.

Looks a really weak St Leger. Idaho will be very hard to beat, but I wouldn't be interested at odds on.

It's often the case with many 3 yr olds missing the oldest classic.
My memories go back to the great Nijinsky when he did win the triple crown and was it just too much for expect him to win the ARC when he was beaten a short head or was it a late stumble or the great Lester making a rare timing mistake
Just a memory from old scotia

Across the Irish Sea, the crack filly, Minding will line up in the Matron Stakes looking for her 5th Group 1 win for the season with Jet Setting in the line up being the only filly that has beaten her this season or may well go for the Irish Champion Stakes.

The Irish Champion Stakes, has a whole host of Grade 1 winners still in the reckoning to run. Harzand looks like will stay at home as the rain comes down in Ireland.

Extract

New Bay is on course to take on the best of this year's Classic generation in what promises to be a fascinating renewal of the Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Last year's French Derby winner is one of 17 names left in the mile-and-a-quarter Group One contest alongside dual Derby winner Harzand and English 1000 Guineas and Oaks heroine Minding at the latest confirmation stage.

Having failed to feature in the Prix d'Ispahan on his seasonal reappearance at Chantilly in May, the Andre Fabre-trained four year old returned from a short break with victory in a Group Three contest at Deauville last month.

"New Bay is running in Ireland," said Fabre.

"I think it is a nice race to try and win. The distance should suit him and we want to try and win another big race with him.

"He won a Group Three in Deauville in good style last time out and since then he has done really well.

"He had a problem with his foot, then the ground was bottomless on his first start. It will be interesting taking on the three-year-olds.

"The Arc or the Champion Stakes are his options after this race."

While Pat Smullen is yet to officially confirm if he will ride Harzand or his stablemate Fascinating Rock - two of four potential runners in the race for trainer Dermot Weld alongside The Steward and Ebediyin - he hopes that plenty of rain falls at the track to help enhance the chances of both horses.

Smullen said: "The more rain that comes the better for Harzand. I was glad we got all the rain we got - Leopardstown is a very good draining track so we need to keep getting those showers.

"If the rain keeps coming it's ideal conditions for both horses, we're very fortunate that we've two good horses in the stable and this race suits them very well."

In addition to Minding, trainer Aidan O'Brien can also call on King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Highland Reel and Breeders' Cup Turf victor Found, together with US Army Ranger, Sir Isaac Newton and Long Island Sound.

Three British possibles are headed by Eclipse winner Hawkbill from the yard of Charlie Appleby.

The Kevin Ryan-trained The Grey Gatsby, winner of the race in 2014, and My Dream Boat, from the stable of Clive Cox are the other potential British challengers.

There is further potential French interest with Jean-Claude Rouget leaving in this year's French Derby winner Almanzor.

The list is completed by the Jim Bolger-trained Moonlight Magic and Success Days, who is the representative of Ken Condon.

Piggott was at his very best when he won the 1970 St Leger, nursing Nijinsky home (never used his whip) over a distance which the great horse barely stayed.

Sorry, Bob, seem to have added this to the wrong thread. Could you please move it to the St Leger thread? Mea Culpa!

Yip Steck remember that ride never moved a muscle on the big beast if not mistaken 2/9 even with the 2850? Distance in doubt but the horse had so much class

Just watched the replay on you tube