The completion of a ‘nap hand’ of victories seems the most likely scenario in the Gr1 William Hill St Leger at Doncaster today with unbeaten Logician rightly dominating the betting market.
Neil Morrice writes that the John Gosden-trained grey might not have experienced a completely conventional route to the race but his decisive success in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes stamps him as the one the others have to beat.
He could be named the winner a long way out in that York trial and looked good value for his length and threequarters triumph over Constantinople.
SIR DRAGONET looks the main arrow being fired by Coolmore which has three of the eight-strong field. He’s a lightly-raced individual whose two defeats in just four starts included a fifth placing in what was a blanket finish to the Investec Derby. Heavy ground might have caught out the Chester Vase winner when he disappointed in a Group 3 over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh last month and it’s surely significant that Donnacha O’Brien is in the irons.
That jockey could have opted for IL PARADISO or WESTERN AUSTRALIA although the first-named colt has a stronger profile after getting to a length and a quarter of Stradivarius in the Lonsdale Cup at York, an effort that rubber stamps his ability to see out this trip.
SIR RON PRIESTLEY is an improving grinder who refused to be denied in a Group 3 at Goodwood but needs to step up, while Queen’s Vase winner DASHING WILLOUGHBY is another without stamina issues who needs to show he has the pace to be competetive on much quicker ground than he experienced at Royal Ascot.
