Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle provides her selections for the 250th St Leger and an outstanding supporting programme at Doncaster on Saturday, with coverage live on Sky Sports Racing, plus analysis of the Leopardstown card.
Pierre Bonnard the answer to O'Brien's quest for historic 10th Leger
What will prevent Aidan O'Brien from achieving a remarkable 10th victory in the world's oldest Classic, the Betfred St Leger Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday? The Ballydoyle maestro fields four contenders to mark the 250th anniversary of the first running of the St Leger Stakes, with Christmas Day emerging as the probable favourite and seeking to become the first Derby winner to land the prize since Reference Point managed the feat 39 years ago.
Joseph O'Brien, Aidan's son, appears positioned as the most credible threat to derail the Ballydoyle dominance, fielding the eye-catching Enceladus. That colt has stepped up to Group One level for the first time following impressive displays in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group Three Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.
Yet Doyle believes Aidan will accomplish the milestone—not through Christmas Day but via his resilient stable companion Pierre Bonnard, who defeated Christmas Day in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month. This stiffer examination of stamina represents precisely what Pierre Bonnard has been seeking, and the colt possesses the credentials to etch his name into racing history.
Gentle Hurricane poised to strike in Champagne Stakes
Gentle Hurricane has progressed considerably since his novice success, chasing home Haffner in the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York last month, and can go one better in the Betfred Champagne Stakes on Saturday. Andrew Balding's colt will find himself in familiar territory over seven furlongs at Doncaster in this Group Two contest and can leverage that recent experience in what shapes as a wide-open renewal.
Desert Castle, the likely favourite, made a striking impression on debut at the July Course in Newmarket when he rocketed to the top of the 2,000 Guineas betting, but this represents a significant step up in grade that poses genuine questions about his readiness.
Willie Muir and Chris Grassick have entered Breacher into this elevated company following his encouraging third-place finish in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown—a performance that justifies his inclusion in the conversation.
More Thunder returns to seven furlongs seeking victory
More Thunder has endured a frustrating campaign in top-class mile races, but stepping back to seven furlongs in the Group Two Betfred Park Stakes on Saturday offers a pathway back to the winners' enclosure. The colt could not quite sustain the longer trip after appearing to have his race won in the Prix Jacques le Marois last month, and a strongly-run seven furlongs should suit his profile.
Qirat, who delivered an impressive performance to finish second in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood, should dictate a searching, end-to-end gallop, alongside Witness Stand, but Doyle's husband Tom Marquand's mount possesses the quality to overcome them.
At longer odds, Doyle would relish seeing Kevin Ryan's Volterra produce a strong showing on his first start since being gelded. His entry into a race of this calibre proves intriguing given his second-place finish to Docklands at this track back in March.
Getreadytorumble holds the class edge in Portland Handicap
The Betfred Portland Handicap on Saturday presents a complex puzzle, yet the dash could belong to Jack Channon's Getreadytorumble. The four-year-old has acquitted himself well when facing demanding assignments in Listed and Group company throughout the year and enjoyed his return to handicap company when finishing second in a five-furlong sprint at Ascot in July. He must overcome a career-high rating to land this cavalry charge, but Doyle appreciates the class angle.
She marginally favours him over last year's winner Eternal Sunshine, who appears certain to mount another bold challenge under 5lbs claimer Laura Young. The pair prepared with a solid victory at Hamilton most recently, while Toca Madera, one of Doyle's favourites, merits a big handicap success following a sequence of near-misses at Goodwood and York this year.
Constitution River seeks redemption at Leopardstown
The Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday shapes as a compelling contest, with the first three finishers from last month's Juddmonte International renewing their rivalry.
Item, who got the better of Almaqam in that thrilling duel, must demonstrate he possesses the same potency on this stiffer track as he showed at York, while Aidan O'Brien's Constitution River attempts to silence his critics following that disappointing effort on The Knavesmire.
Doyle is willing to overlook that defeat for the brilliant French Derby and Eclipse winner, as he simply surrendered his opportunity in the early stages of the race. Should Ryan Moore manage to settle him more effectively, Constitution River can showcase his genuine class.
Almaqam deserves considerable credit for coming within touching distance of winning the International and can prove that performance was no aberration on a track and ground that will favour him. The faster the pace, the better for Kieran Shoemark's likeable colt.
Blue Bolt primed to complete Group One hat-trick
Doyle sees no impediment to Andrew Balding extending his outstanding summer with the brilliant Blue Bolt in the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday. Undefeated across all four starts this year, she can secure her third success at the highest level by reaffirming her superiority over Aidan O'Brien's Precise, who has finished behind her in both the Falmouth Stakes and the Prix Rothschild.
Aidan possesses the means to control the race with both Precise and True Love enjoying favourable draw positions, yet Doyle still anticipates Blue Bolt will prevail, while Fallen Angel, last year's winner, defeated Juddmonte's star filly in last season's Sun Chariot and cannot be discounted on ground she will relish.
What happens next
The St Leger Festival reaches its crescendo on Saturday 12 September 2026, when the Betfred St Leger Stakes is scheduled for 15:35. The full card includes the Champagne Stakes at 13:45 and the Park Stakes at 14:55, building toward the feature race over one mile, six furlongs and 115 yards for three-year-olds.
