St Leger tip and Templegate’s complete runner-by-runner guide to rearranged blockbuster at Doncaster TODAY
TEMPLEGATE goes through every runner of the rearranged St Leger below.
Read on for our man’s tip at the bottom of the page.
St Leger runner-by-runner guide (Doncaster, 3.55)
ELDAR ELDAROV 4
EL of a chance. He progressed rapidly through the ranks in winning his first three races, going from a Nottingham maiden to winning the Group 2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. He relished every yard of the 1m6f trip and got up on the line to win.
It was a slight surprise to see him dropped in trip in France last time but he was far from disgraced and will be much happier with this test of stamina.
He looks a solid each-way bet for in-form trainer Roger Varian.
EL HABEEB 1
EL of a task. Has optimistic owners who put him in a Listed race on debut before he was sent off at 250-1 for the Derby where he managed to finish a respectable tenth.
He then dropped to a Chester maiden for a surprise defeat before getting off the mark in minor company at Wolverhampton last time.
Surely has little chance on any known form.
FRENCH CLAIM 2
PLACE Claim. Showed some promise at two and has improved this season to finish third in a Leopardstown Group 3 before filling the same spot in the Irish Derby, nine lengths off winner Westover.
He has already repaid his small purchase price but needs this step up in distance to bring improvement from his last Classic effort around The Curragh.
GIAVELLOTTO 2
NEEDS a Lotto. Honest handicapper who kicked off this season with an all-weather win at Newcastle before a solid effort over this course and distance in June when he finished fourth.
He then went close at Haydock before landing a decent success in a staying contest at Newmarket last time out.
He takes a big hike in class here so needs to pull out a lot more but at least he has proven staying power for the trip.
HOO YA MAL 3
HOO and cry. He came close to pulling off a 150-1 shock when second in the Derby in June before running another solid race in third for the Gordon Stakes behind New London.
He seemed to enjoy stepping up from 1m4f to this sort of distance when seeing off three rivals to win the March Stakes back on the South Downs 15 days ago.
Given it didn’t look a great Derby this year, he will need to raise his game again to win a Leger.
NEW LONDON 5
LONDON pride. He looked a nice prospect as a juvenile and created a good impression when scoring at Newmarket on comeback in April.
Charlie Appleby fancied him for the Derby but had to change those plans after he hated the track when second in the Chester Vase in May.
Back on a more galloping surface, he was a good handicap winner on the July course before leaving that form way behind when taking the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
He looks tailor made for this longer distance and could have a lot more to offer with few miles on the clock.
EMILY DICKINSON 3
SON to watch. Has shown best form this season over staying trips including when beaten just over a length in the Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood last time out in July.
Aidan O’Brien is ending the season well and it would be no shock if she improved enough to hit the frame.
HASKOY 4
HAS a chance. She has done well on both starts so far, winning a Wolverhampton maiden on debut in good style before stepping into Listed company for a solid win at York last time.
She moves up in distance here, which should suit on breeding, and there’s clearly a lot more to come from Frankie Dettori’s mount.
LIZZIE JEAN 1
JEAN no machine. Was an easy handicap winner at Southwell last time where she scored in a decent time for the level of race.
This is a massive leap in terms of class from there and she’s likely to find it heavy going making her turf debut.
Templegate’s tip
NEW LONDON looks a capital bet in the St Leger.
William Buick’s mount is perfect for this race after his impressive win in the Gordon Stakes at Glorioius Goodwood last time.
He cruised along over 1m4f there and powered home in the manner of a stayer. Trainer Charlie Appleby continues to send out plenty of winners and he can bag the season’s final Classic.
We could be seeing a flying dismount if Frankie’s ride Haskoy keeps improving. She gets a 3lb allowance as a filly and scored nicely at York last time.
Eldar Eldarov looks a big threat too if repeating the form of his Queen’s Vase win at Royal Ascot.