St Leger: Aidan O'Brien declares four as big guns stand ground
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Thu 10 Sep 2026
All major players stood their ground for the final Classic of the season, with Enceladus and champion jockey-elect Billy Loughnane looking set to head the market for the Betfred St Leger.
Joseph O’Brien’s impressive Gordon Stakes winner has been well supported in the build up and looks likely to go off favourite ahead of Derby winner Christmas Day.
Loughnane rides the colt in the absence of regular rider Dylan Browne McMonagle after the latter’s fall at Bellewstown ruled him out, with trainer O’Brien reaching for cheekpieces for the colt for the first time.
Four of the 11-strong field are trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien with Christmas Day, Pierre Bonnard, Action and Cheshire Oaks winner Amelia Earhart completing the quartet.
As well as Enceladus the younger O’Brien saddles lively outsider Highwayman, set to be ridden by Saffie Osborne.
A home team hoping to keep the prize in Britain is led by Andrew Balding who runs two in Galiyan, fifth in the Great Voltigeur last time and another in first-time cheekpieces, and Hatteen, who steps up from a Goodwood handicap to the top level.
Faleh Bugenaim has picked up the ride on the Al Shaqab Racing runner Hatteen for what will be his first ride in a Classic.
Richard Hannon is represented by Derby fifth Alderman and Faye Bramley will pitch Rebel Rocker, sixth at Epsom, at a Group One again, while Karl Burke’s Golden Story completes the line up.
Loughnane looks likely to be on the market leader for the Betfred Champagne Stakes earlier on the card as well as he partners Desert Castle for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin.
Six entries stood their ground with Ballydoyle whittling a five-strong initial cast down to one in the form of Sergei Diaghilev, a winner of two of his three races including the Listed Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes at Gowran Park when last seen.
Breacher, trained by William Muir and Chris Grassick, Silver Dominion (Oliver Cole) and Gentle Hurricane (Balding), a good second to Haffner in the Acomb Stakes at York, will go in the seven-furlong Group Two contest.
The promising Rosberg, a winner of a Listed race at Deauville, completes the line up bidding to complete a hat-trick for Middleham handler Burke.
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