THE field is set for the St Leger and it looks like being an absolute humdinger for the final Classic of the season.
Aidan O’Brien saddles three in the 1m6f contest due off at 3.40pm on Saturday.
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Among those not declared for the £750,000 race was the Ballydoyle boss’ Irish Derby winner Los Angeles.
While Charlie Johnston also scratched Align The Stars.
It means seven will go to post with O’Brien seeking a second straight win after last year’s victory with Continuous.
15-8 Illinois
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
7-2 Jan Brueghel
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Sean Levey
9-2 Grosvenor Square
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Gavin Ryan
5-1 You Got To Me
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Jockey: Hector Crouch
7-1 Sunway
Trainer: David Menuisier
Jockey: Christophe Soumillon
14-1 Deira Mile
Trainer: Owen Burrows
Jockey: Jason Watson
100-1 Wild Waves
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: Danny Tudhope
O’Brien looks to hold all the firepower here – but I think it might pay to side with a runner unexposed at the trip.
Illinois and Grosvenor Square are proven stayers but it’s Jan Brueghel stepping up to 1m6f for the first time.
I have some doubts about his mental ability – he’s obviously a very, very talented stayer but beating Bellum Justum by a neck doesn’t get me too excited.
And he only ever looks to be doing just enough, suggesting to me at least he’s not 100 per cent clued up as to what he is supposed to be doing, ie winning races.
Although unproven at the distance, I don’t have such doubts about You Got To Me (who really should have won the Yorkshire Oaks) and Sunway.
Sunway has contested by far the strongest races of any in this line up and was closing all the way to the line when finishing second to Los Angeles in the Irish Derby.
Los Angeles skips this race to run in the Irish Champion Stakes before likely taking his place in the Arc, so the ‘lads’ think a lot of him.
And don’t be put off by his fourth in the King George – again a race way stronger than what his rivals have been pitched into – after he nearly fell over on the bend.
Jockey Crouch took the wrong route when finishing second to Content – who won under an amazing Ryan Moore ride – in the Yorkshire Oaks.
Both were receiving 9lbs from Emily Upjohn, who simpy doesn’t look the same horse this year.
But You Got To Me finished well and I can see her taking on Illinois for second spot.
1st Sunway
2nd Illinois
3rd You Got To me
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