Tom Marquand excited to be riding St Leger favourite Scandinavia

Five years on from landing the Betfred St Leger for Joseph O’Brien on Galileo Chrome, Tom Marquand will team up with Aidan O’Brien’s hot favourite Scandinavia in this year’s Doncaster Classic.

With stable jockey Ryan Moore sidelined due to a leg injury, Marquand steps in for the plum ride on the Goodwood Cup winner, who overtook stablemate and dual Derby winner Lambourn in the betting.

With Stay True another live chance for Ballydoyle, Marquand would have been happy to ride any of the three contenders, but is obviously delighted he has been chosen for the favourite.

“Those five years have gone quickly haven’t they, since Galileo Chrome,” said Marquand, who has that one British Classic on a CV that includes a string of Group One wins across the world.

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Mojo

“He’s looked a good horse this summer, I suppose he’s one of those who has just really found his mojo over these top staying trips.

“He’s obviously a gorgeous type. He had to get really stuck in at Goodwood but he did that really well and in the Bahrain Trophy he made relatively light work of the others.

“I thought Goodwood was a real display of what he’s capable of and where his head is as well – he’s a fantastic ride to pick up.

“It’s such a hard thing to do for the three-year-olds to beat their elders like he did at Goodwood, it’s tough.”

Good run

Assessing the race, he told the PA news agency: “It will be interesting. There’s only seven but there’s a dual Derby winner and Aidan’s other horse (Stay True) looks good as well, but he’s (Scandinavia) the one who comes in on the back of winning a Group One, which is why he’s favourite.

“Saying that, I don’t think it detracts from what his two stablemates are capable of and horses like Carmers, who has been pretty good so far this season, particularly at Ascot.

“Scandinavia did have excuses at Ascot (when fifth behind Carmers), but it was still a good run. I just think since that he’s really found his legs over staying trips.

“To be honest whichever of the three I got told I was riding would have been great, but I’m very happy to have picked up Scandinavia.”

Bounce back

Sean Levey, who steered Jan Brueghel to victory for O’Brien last year, will partner Epsom and Curragh hero Lambourn, as he bids to bounce back from disappointment in the Great Voltigeur at York.

Stay True finished a place ahead of his stablemate on the Knavesmire and will be ridden Mickael Barzalona on Town Moor.

Paddy Twomey’s Queen’s Vase winner Carmers was in fact ahead of both of O’Brien’s reopposing York runners when second in the Great Voltigeur. He is expected to relish a return to the extended one-mile-and-six-furlong distance.

Roger Varian has won the Leger twice previously, with Kingston Hill and Eldar Eldarov, and saddles Queen’s Vase third Rahiebb.

The line-up is complete by Andrew Balding’s pair of Geoffrey Freer scorer Furthur and Tarriance, who steps out of handicap company after winning the Melrose at York.

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