Irish St. Leger Tips & Betting Preview

There’s a hot favourite for Ireland’s final Classic of the season, The Irish St Leger, but our betting tips focus on an each-way alternative at fancy odds. Read on for our full race preview.

IN SUMMARY: Having landing the Ascot Gold Cup in good style in June, Order Of St George is now firmly established as the best stayer around. He has an obvious chance to win this race for the second year running but there could be some each-way in one of his stablemates, UNICORN. The 3yo has been seen only once this season but produced a good performance to finish third in a hot York handicap last month. He’ll need to progress to make his mark in Pattern company but remains very lightly raced and, if ridden patiently again, could make late headway to claim a minor prize here. Trip To Paris and Wicklow Brave are both very smart performers but the former hasn’t been at his best this season and the latter was firmly put in his place by Order Of St George in this race last year.

1 Order Of St George – Took this race easily by 11l in 2015 and has also impressed when winning all three starts this year, including the Ascot Gold Cup (2m4f, soft) on his penultimate appearance; will be suited by the ground and it’s very difficult to find a reason to oppose him.

2 Trip To Paris – Quickly progressed from a useful middle-distance handicap into a top-class stayer last season, winning the Ascot Gold Cup (2m4f, good to firm) before a highly creditable fourth in the Melbourne Cup (2m, good); not at best on either start this year, though, and has something to prove in refitted blinkers.

3 Wicklow Brave – Smart on the Flat and over hurdles; left trailing by Order Of St George when third in this race last year but has reached the frame in Group 2 “Cup” races on his last couple of outings and, with today’s slower ground a plus, is expected to give another good account.

4 Silwana – Ended last season with wins in a valuable Leopardstown handicap (1m6f, yielding) and a Listed race here (2m, good to yielding) but this season’s light campaign hasn’t gone to plan; well beaten on latest outing (June) and needs change of headgear to help him get back on track.

5 Kellstorm – Created fairly good impression when winning heavy-ground maiden at Tipperary (1m4f) in April but was a beaten favourite in a small-field conditions race the following month and also disappointed when making handicap debut at the York Ebor meeting; significant improvement required.

6 Unicorn –  3yo who won his maiden over 1m last summer and seemed well suited by the step up to 1m6f when creditable third in a competitive York handicap on last month’s belated seasonal reappearance; needs to improve to pose a threat in this company but has the potential to do so.

myracing Forecast Prices: 1/4 Order Of St George, 6/1 Trip To Paris, 10/1 Wicklow Brave, 25/1 Unicorn, 33/1 Silwana, 50/1 Kellstorm