The Cazoo St Leger: runner-by-runner guide and tip

New London heads a final field of nine declared for the final Classic of the season, the Cazoo St Leger, at Doncaster on Sunday.

Like this season’s Derby and Oaks, there are no previous Group One winners in the line-up. I’d imagine that represents some kind of record.

The extended 1m 6f trip often presents an unknown for many of the contenders but several of this year’s line-up have already shown themselves to be thorough stayers. As a consequence, I doubt there will be any hiding places and an attritional renewal is on the cards, especially if there is more rain and the ground eases. At present, it is described as good, with more showers a possibility.

New London is a short-priced favourite but that didn’t prevent two supplementary entries on Monday in the shape of El Habeeb and Haskoy. That means prize money of £786,000 is up for grabs, with a first prize of almost £446,000. Here’s a guide to all the contenders.

Trainer: Roger Varian. Timeform rating: 123. Odds: 5-1.

Positives: There’s plenty of stamina in his pedigree and a good test at the St Leger trip seems sure to suit him. He was making it three wins from as many starts when landing the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in June, performing wonders to collar Zechariah on the line after that rival poached a good lead. The runner-up has since won the Geoffrey Freer and the fourth, Al Qareem, was subsequently beaten a similar distance in the Gordon Stakes won by New London, so the form makes sense. Leading Light (2013) and Kew Gardens (2018) have been recent Queen’s Vase winners to win at Doncaster, while Stradivarius (2017) also went close. Eldar Eldarov lost his unbeaten record when fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris last time but the drop trip was against him and it possibly came quick enough after Ascot. He should be refreshed here after a two-month break for a stable that won with Kingston Hill in 2014 and is in good form. Any more rain in the build-up will also be a plus.

Negatives: He’s a little short of experience and it remains to be seen whether that Royal Ascot run has left a lasting mark. All his connections had been anxious about the fast ground that day. His official rating of 109 reflects he has some improvement to find if he is to match such as Hoo Ya Mal (116) and New London (115). Drying ground wouldn’t help him.

Verdict: Looked a top-class staying prospect at Ascot and has had his batteries refreshed

Trainer: Kevin Phillippart de Foy. Timeform rating: 101?. Odds: 100-1.

Positives: Wasn’t disgraced in the Derby, when tenth at 250-1 on only his second start, and went close at Chester next time before losing his maiden tag in a novice event at Wolverhampton on his latest start. Like at Epsom, he’s been supplemented at his owner’s wishes.

Negatives: Don’t be deceived by the fact he’s been supplemented by his wealthy owner. Flying far too high in this company and far from certain to stay this trip.

Trainer: Paddy Twomey. Timeform rating: 121. Odds: 14-1.

Positives: Changed hands for only €9,000 as a yearling and has proved a bargain buy, finishing third in the Irish Derby on his latest start after making the running. His two earlier wins included a wide-margin success on easy ground at Cork. Unproven beyond 1m 4f but looks a galloper. His trainer rarely overfaces his horses and the fact he shows up here, instead of taking up options at Irish Champions Weekend, is something of a tip in itself.

Negatives: Did end up getting beaten nine lengths in the Irish Derby, a race in which Westover was a class apart. His form does not match up to that of his British counterparts and it’s worth noting that his future engagements include the Irish Cesarewitch.

Verdict: May add a pace angle, given his running style, but looks up against it.

Trainer: Marco Botti. Timeform rating: 118+. Odds: 33-1.

Positives: The stamina-bred colt made an instant impression when scoring on his debut at 100-1 at Kempton in December when the opposition included three Godolphin runners. Showed that was no fluke when scoring on his reurn at Newcastle and was an emphatic winner of a handicap at Newmarket last time, off a rating of 97, having previously gone close over course and distance. Could still be more to come and, a strong stayer, this test promises to suit.

Negatives: Takes a big step up in class. There was little depth to the four-runner handicap he won last time and his previous defeats, off marks ranging between 88 and 92, indicate this is an ambitious assignment. Even if his new rating of 104 is warranted, it leaves him with plenty more to find.

Verdict: In at the deep end here after contesting handicaps. Looks up against it, for all that he stays well.

Trainer: George Boughey. Timeform rating: 132. Odds: 8-1.

Positives: He’s officially the highest-rated runner in the field, courtesy of splitting Desert Crown and Westover in the Derby. He’s since switched stables after being sold for big money but it’s done him no harm. Was a good third to New London in the Gordon Stakes after a two-month gap, when his rider dropped his whip. He made the most of a straightforward task when landing the March Stakes over 1m 6f at the same track on his latest start, going a long way towards proving his stamina. It will have also done his confidence no harm after some tough races in defeat. Seems versatile regards ground conditions and ran well at Doncaster last autumn. Headgear used early in his career has been dispensed, with no dip in his form.

Negatives: He’s got to find two lengths his Gordon Stakes conqueror, New London, and that rival was definitely strongest at the finish that day. You wonder how much more improvement there is in him after eight races, six of them in Listed or Group races, and a truly-run race will ask another stamina question. The Melbourne Cup remains his No 1 objective and this is being as used as a stepping stone.

Verdict: He’s never let his connections down and seems sure to be on the premises.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Timeform rating: 134p. Odds: 4-5 fav.

Positives: Has long looked an ideal type for this contest with plenty of stamina on the dam’s side of his pedigree. His relatives include Masked Marvel, winner of the St Leger in 2011, and Al Daraban. Winner of four of his five starts (didn’t handle the track at Chester when suffering his only defeat) and raised his game when landing the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last time. That form is working out a treat with Deauville Legend (second), Hoo Ya Mal (third) and West Wind Blows (sixth) all subsequently winning Group races. The stable won with Hurricane Lane last year and is seeking a fourth Classic of the campaign.

Negatives: Hung right in the closing stages at Goodwood, having not handled Chester earlier in the campaign. Is he the type to become unbalanced if it comes to a scrap? Charlie Appleby blamed the soft ground for his defeat at Chester and has said he wants a sound surface, so his connections will be hoping for a dry week. The last horse to complete the Gordon Stakes/St Leger double was Conduit in 2008.

Verdict: He ticks plenty of boxes and a big run looks assured.

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien. Timeform rating: 123. Odds: 20-1.

Positives: She looks all stamina, as befits a daughter of Oaks winner Chicquita. She put in another good shift when third in the Lillie Langry at Goodwood last time, having looked unlucky not to get up in the Stanerra Stakes at Leopardstown. In between, she was a creditable fourth to Magical Lagoon in the Irish Oaks. A thorough test at the trip here will hold no fears for her.

Negatives: One win from seven starts points to her limitations, especially with two of those reverses having come over this trip. She’s got plenty of other options, with the Park Hill Stakes on Thursday looking a better fit.

Verdict: Seems unlikely to add to her trainer’s great haul in this race.

Trainer: Ralph Beckett. Timeform rating: 116p. Odds: 9-1.

Positives: By Golden Horn out of a Nathaniel mare, the Juddmonte filly is bred to be smart. Unraced at two and didn’t make her debut until late July but she’s been swift to make an impression – surging clear on her debut at Wolverhampton before following up in the Listed Galtres Stakes at York last month. That latest effort needs marking up as her lack of experience was evident and she ended up isolated. The fact she’s been supplemented indicates that she has not stood still in the interim. Ralph Beckett scooped this with a filly, Simple Verse, in 2015.

Negatives: She will require a good deal more here and, given she made her debut little more than two months ago, might well be betrayed by a lack of experience. Connections have suggested she’s running here because they already have Yesyes in the Park Hill Stakes, on Thursday, and wanted to “split them up”. Not particularly bred for stamina tests, for all she looked a dour stayer latest. Worth noting she also had quite a tough race that day.

Verdict: Bags of potential but others have achieved more plus are more streetwise.

Trainer: Ivan Furtado. Timeform rating: 112. Odds: 200-1.

Positives: The Nathaniel filly was snapped up for just 5,000gns but confirmed earlier promise when scoring at Kempton in June and was a runaway winner at Southwell latest, leading to her handicap rating jumping to 88. Arrives here fresh and may be more to come.

Negatives: This will be her first race on turf and she’s not sure to stay this far, plus has bags to find on the book, with her latest success being achieved off a mark of just 78.

Verdict: It’s a big jump from Southwell to the final Classic of the year. Easy enough to look elsewhere.

New London looks a worthy favourite but whether he warrants being odds-on is questionable. ELDAR ELDAROV put up a remarkable effort to get up in the Queen’s Vase and, with the form franked, looks a solid alternative. Hoo Ya Mal should also make his presence felt.

Predicted finishing order: 1 ELDAR ELDAROV. 2 NEW LONDON 3 HOO YA MAL 4 HASKOY 5 EMILY DICKINSON 6 FRENCH CLAIM 7 GIAVELLOTTO 8 LIZZIE JEAN 9 EL HABEEB