The final British Classic race of the 2025/26 season is almost upon on, as Doncaster racecourse stages the 2025 St Leger Festival in under two weeks’ time.
The event’s namesake and showpiece race awards £700,000 in prize money and is the highlight of the four-day schedule, in which 31 races are due to run.
Just over one mile and six furlongs, between the starting gates and the shadows of the winning post, awaits racers looking to etch themselves into history.
This year’s renewal will see Ballydoyle frontman Aidan O’Brien go for a hat-trick of consecutive wins in the race.
Aidan O’Brien
According to the ante-post market, his best chance is with Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia – trading as the 5/4 favourite.
This colt elevated his form from last year – where he placed seventh in a handicap on this card – when he finished fifth in a Royal Ascot Group Two, on seasonal reappearance.
He has since won his two subsequent starts, first a Group Three at Newmarket’s July meeting, then in the Goodwood Cup on his first step up to Group One company.
The form of that race is very strong, with five-time Group One-placed stable-companion Illinois back in second, and the ever-consistent Sweet William in third.
Scandinavia is one of three runners representing O’Brien in this race, as confirmed by the man himself, who said: “At the moment we’re thinking of three.
“We’re thinking of the horse that won the Derby, the horse that won in Goodwood and we’re thinking of Stay True.”
Lambourn
The former is Chester Vase winner Lambourn, who has had a stellar season in which he claimed victory in both the Irish Derby and the Epsom Derby.
However he was beaten into fifth on his latest start (Stay True was fourth) – which came in a Group Two race at York’s Ebor meeting.
The fourth-placed finisher was having only his third career start and it was his first visit to a racecourse since placing second, behind stablemate Puppet Master, in a Listed race at Lingfield, back in March.
Lambourn is the second favourite (4/1), whilst Stay True is at 10’s.
However, the leading Irish cohort face an unprecedented challenge, with jockey bookings yet to be determined.
Often the understudy to the now-injured Ryan Moore, Wayne Lordan is in the midst of an appeal to eradicate a 10-day ban that will see him miss the meeting.
Lazy Griff
Outside of the Ballydoyle-trio, trainer Charlie Johnston’s Lazy Griff is the next challenger – at 5/1.
This Middleham-Park owned colt ended last season with a French Group Two victory and is now set to re-oppose Lambourn for the fourth time this season, after finishing as the runner-up at Chester and Epsom, then third at The Curragh.
Johnston said: “Lambourn has beaten us three times this year but we were only three lengths behind him at the Curragh and three and a bit lengths behind him at Epsom.
“Over the longer distance there are definitely reasons to be hopeful that we can turn the tables on him, as we have always felt the trip at Doncaster will really suit him.
“Any rain between now and Leger day would be very welcome, the more the merrier to be honest.
“We will get him to Doncaster in as good a shape as we can, then it will be over to him.”
Carmers
Next in the betting is Carmers, who remains unexposed after four career races, with his 11/2 odds perhaps underestimating his chances.
Trainer Paddy Twomey’s colt had both Lambourn and Stay True behind him, when he finished second to Pride Of Arras on his latest start, at York.
Up to that point, he had won all three of his career starts, including a Listed race at Navan and the Queen’s Vase – Scandinavia was fifth
Despite still holding an entry into the Irish St Leger (running the same weekend), Twomey alluded that his horse would make the journey over the Irish Sea, when he said: “In terms of our team for the Irish Champions Festival, we’re a bit broken up this year.
“We have Carmers heading to Doncaster for the St Leger on the same weekend, as well as Super Sox for the Sceptre Stakes over there.
“The horse (Carmers) has been in great form since his run at York – he bounced off the box.”
Arabian Force
Arabian Force is next in the ante-post betting and he trades at 14/1 to win the race for trainer William Haggas.
This would be his first step up to Group One company, though he also ran at York – placing third – finishing ahead of Lambourn and Stay True.
He holds an entry into a Group Three at the Irish Champions Festival, so it remains to be seen where Haggas will send this two-time Novice winner.
Furthur
Trainer Andrew Balding’s Furthur is the last of those priced under 20/1 in the ante-post betting.
This colt shed his Group maiden tag on his latest start, winning a Group Three at Newbury last month.
Prior to that, his runs this campaign had seen him finish fifth in the Chester Vase, second (behind Carmers) and last of five in a race won by Scandinavia.
That Newbury win was over a mile and 5.5 furlongs, whilst his second-placed effort at Royal Ascot was over a mile and six furlongs – the same trip as this race – with his defeats coming over shorter distances.
Furthur could prove one to watch come raceday, on Saturday, September 13.
By Callum Close
READ MORE: St Leger Festival 2025 – Dates, how to watch on TV, trainers and jockeys to watch
