How many times has Aidan O’Brien won the Doncaster St Leger?

Aidan O’Brien will head to Doncaster this weekend chasing yet another piece of St Leger history, with the Ballydoyle trainer bidding to extend his remarkable record in Britain’s oldest Classic.

O’Brien has already won the St Leger NINE times and comes into the 2026 renewal having dominated the race in recent seasons.

His latest success came with Scandinavia in 2025, following victories with Jan Brueghel in 2024 and Continuous in 2023.

That means O’Brien has won the last three St Legers and, remarkably, has the chance to make it four in a row when the 250th running takes place at Doncaster on Saturday, September 12.

Only two other trainers have won the race four times in-a-row – John Scott and John Lonsdale.

However, with nine wins in the oldest of the English Classics, O’Brien is still some way short of the record haul of trainer John Scott, who has 16 successes to this name in the 1800’s.

Aidan O’Brien’s first St Leger winner

O’Brien’s first St Leger success came in 2001 with Milan, ridden by Mick Kinane (watch below).

It was another landmark victory in the early years of O’Brien’s reign at Ballydoyle and the first of what has become an extraordinary collection of St Leger victories.

Milan was followed by another Ballydoyle success two years later, when Brian Boru landed the Classic in 2003.

O’Brien then had to wait until 2005 for his next winner, Scorpion.

Aidan O’Brien’s most recent St Leger winner

O’Brien’s most recent St Leger winner is Scandinavia, who landed the 2025 Classic at Doncaster under Tom Marquand.

The son of Justify had already established himself as a high-class staying prospect before producing a powerful performance over the St Leger’s extended trip.

His victory gave O’Brien his ninth St Leger success and completed a hat-trick of victories in the race.

O’Brien has won the last three St Legers

The Ballydoyle trainer has been virtually unbeatable in the St Leger over the last three years.

2023 – Continuous
Ryan Moore partnered Continuous to victory, with Arrest second and Desert Hero third.

2024 – Jan Brueghel
Sean Levey was aboard Jan Brueghel, who beat Illinois to give O’Brien ‘back-to-back’ victories.

2025 – Scandinavia
Tom Marquand partnered Scandinavia to complete the hat-trick.

O’Brien is therefore attempting to become the trainer to win four consecutive St Legers, with his 2026 team headed by one of the most obvious candidates imaginable-an Epsom Derby winner.

WATCH: Scandinavia winning the 2025 St Leger

Aidan O’Brien’s St Leger winners

• 2001 Milan
• 2003 Brian Boru
• 2005 Scorpion
• 2013 Leading Light
• 2017 Capri
• 2018 Kew Gardens
• 2023 Continuous
• 2024 Jan Brueghel
• 2025 Scandinavia

Aidan O’Brien’s main 2026 St Leger hopes

O’Brien currently has five horses among the 12 confirmed for Saturday’s St Leger, with Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard the two obvious headline hopes.

The other Ballydoyle contenders are Amelia Earhart, Piazza San Marco and Action.

With final entries out on Thursday 10 September.

Christmas Day is the standout though.

The colt won the 2026 Epsom Derby, giving O’Brien another Derby success, and now has the opportunity to become the first Epsom Derby winner for O’Brien to complete the Derby-St Leger double.

Christmas Day heads the betting following the latest confirmations.

With the last Epsom Derby winner to follow-up in the St Leger Reference Point in 1987.

Pierre Bonnard is the other major Ballydoyle contender.

He finished third in the Irish Derby before chasing home Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur at York, where he finished ahead of stablemate Christmas Day.

With Maltese Cross not taking his place at Doncaster, that York form gives Pierre Bonnard a strong chance of reversing the form with the Derby winner.

The remaining O’Brien quintet gives Ballydoyle plenty of strength in depth, but Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard are clearly the two leading players heading into the final Classic of the British season.

For O’Brien, the target is simple: a tenth St Leger victory and a fourth consecutive success in the race.

And with an Epsom Derby winner leading his challenge, the 2026 renewal could provide another historic chapter in the extraordinary Ballydoyle trainer’s record in the Classic.

2026 St Leger Runners and Betting Odds