St Leger clues on offer across Newmarket, Ascot and Dundalk this weekend

Epsom Derby winner Serpentine and Irish Derby hero Santiago currently head the betting and according to their trainer Aidan O’Brien are firmly on course to run in the final British Classic of the season on Town Moor, whilst stable companion Love could bid for an unprecedented fillies’ triple crown of winning the 1000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St Leger, but her targets are yet to be decided. Similarly, Thursday’s action saw two horses enter the St Leger reckoning in the shape of Bahrain Trophy winner Al Aasy who is a son of the great Sea The Stars and bolted up at Newmarket, whilst Thunderous took out the Dante Stakes and looks a horse who could relish the one mile and six furlong trip the St Leger has to offer.

Friday’s bet365 Handicap (3.35pm) at Newmarket could also see a St Leger contender emerge. The market is headed by 7/2 chance Kipps who ran a fine race when second over 12 furlongs in the King George V Stakes, a legitimate St Leger trial, at Royal Ascot last time out. He makes plenty of appeal with Ryan Moore aboard. Lucander (5/1) was a narrow third when staying on strongly on his seasonal reappearance at Haydock in June and steps up in trip for this assignment. Grand Rock (9/1) was fifth at Royal Ascot in a competitive handicap and is another who could be St Leger bound if posting a good performance in this event.

More St Leger contenders are in action across the weekend and that includes Celestran who finished a fine third behind subsequent Derby second Khalifa Sat in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood last month. He runs in Saturday’s 2.40pm at Ascot, for which he is the 2/1 favourite. The contest is live on ITV and looks to hold strong claims for trainer John Gosden. In the same event, Eastern Sherriff made a good impression when scoring by six and a half-lengths and is an 11/4 chance for this contest. He also holds an entry in the 12.10 at Newmarket on Friday for which he is 6/1 and is a 100/1 shot for the St Leger. Dubai Souq is another to mention with St Leger claims having scored impressively in handicap company over 10 furlongs at Nottingham last season and is a 7/2 chance for this event at Ascot.

Sunday’s Group Three Woodford Reserve Ballysax Stakes at Dundalk is another interesting event in terms of possible St Leger runners. Nobel Prize is a 20/1 shot in the betting for the St Leger and finished a good fifth on his return to action in the G2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot behind subsequent Irish Derby winner and St Leger favourite Santiago. Kept fresh since, he is an interesting contender for Aidan O’Brien. The master of Ballydoyle could also run Keats who was second to stablemate Napa Valley who is a 20/1 shot for the St Leger, last time out along with Mythical who was 13th in the Derby at Epsom and is 50/1 for the St Leger alongside the unexposed Numen who is 40/1 for the St Leger on the back of an impressive maiden win at Leopardstown last time out.

The main event on Saturday is the £250,000 G1 Darley July Cup (3.35pm) at Newmarket. Diamond Jubilee hero Hello Youmzain (5/1) takes on Irish raider Sceptical (4/1) who finished third in that event. However, the market is headed by Golden Horde (9/4) who impressively landed the Commonwealth Cup at the Royal Meeting and is a son of Lethal Force who won this event back in 2013. He looks to be improving at a rate of knots and rates at the one to beat. At an each-way price, Threat (8/1) shaped well on his reappearance in the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes and should be suited by the drop back in trip and is another of interest.

The other big race is the £60,000 G2 Summer Mile at Ascot (3.15pm). Mohaather (9/4) heads the market following an unlucky seventh in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. In the same event, Skardu (6/1) and Duke Of Hazzard (8/1) were both well-beaten, but can also be given another chance in a wide open event.Bet of the weekend:3.35pm Newmarket (Saturday): Golden Horde 9/4

Tips and odds via MyRacing.com