2022 St Leger: who is in contention for the season's final Classic at Doncaster?

The Cazoo St Leger, the oldest of Britain's five Classics, takes place at Doncaster on September 10 (3.33). Twelve colts and one filly were left in contention for the £700,000 showpiece on Tuesday, and here we outline who the main players are for the final Classic of the season.

New London

Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Odds: 8-13

What has he done so far?

The Godolphin colt has seen his odds shorten dramatically in recent weeks, first after the form of his Gordon Stakes win over Deauville Legend was substantially boosted by the runner-up's victory at York, and then when market rivals Westover, Changingoftheguard and Francesco Clemente did not feature among 13 acceptors on Tuesday.

His only defeat came when a disappointing favourite in the Chester Vase in May, but he bounced back from that with an effortless victory in a Newmarket handicap and he shapes as though the step up to the Leger's mile-and-six-furlong trip will be no problem. The one to beat.

What they say

Charlie Appleby: "He is entered in the St Leger, for which we have another strong contender in Secret State. We will see how the race develops over the coming weeks before deciding whether to run both at Doncaster."

Eldar Eldarov

Trainer: Roger Varian
Odds: 6-1

What has he done so far?

Won his first three starts, progressing up in trip each time, including the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot over the St Leger trip, a race that has produced three of the last nine winners of the Doncaster Classic.

His unbeaten run was ended at Longchamp last time out when dropped back in trip to a mile and a half for the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, but he should relish the extra stamina test on Town Moor.

What they say

Roger Varian: "We haven't lost any faith in him and he can have a bit of time now. It was a long trip to Paris in hot weather and a tough race on fast ground. I'm not fully committed to whether he'll run beforehand, but he could conceivably go straight to the Leger."

Secret State

Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Odds: 8-1

What has he done so far?

Did not make his debut until April of this year, but has yet to finish out of the top two in six starts as he has progressed impressively through the handicap scene.

He has traded wins this summer with Deauville Legend who, if he had not been gelded, would be a short price for the Leger after beating Secret State in the Great Voltigeur. Seems to be very much Godolphin's second string behind New London.

What they say

Charlie Appleby: "It was another solid effort from Secret State on his first start in a Group race [in the Great Voltigeur]. He is entered in the St Leger, for which we have another strong contender in New London. We will see how the race develops over the coming weeks before deciding whether to run both at Doncaster."

Hoo Ya Mal (orange): shaped well behind New London in the Gordon Stakes at GoodwoodCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hoo Ya Mal

Trainer: George Boughey
Odds: 12-1

What has he done so far?

Ran a massive race at odds of 150-1 in the Derby when second to Desert Crown, after which he was purchased for £1.2 million by connections in Australia with the Melbourne Cup set as his long-term aim.

Before Flemington, though, the attentions of temporary trainer George Boughey – who took over from Andrew Balding before the Territories colt moves to Gai Waterhouse down under – are firmly on the St Leger.

His first run since Epsom saw him beaten two lengths by New London at Goodwood, but it is far from inconceivable that he could turn the tables upped in trip and back at full race-fitness.

What they say

George Boughey (before Hoo Ya Mal's run in the Gordon Stakes): "It's very exciting to have a horse like Hoo Ya Mal in the yard. His work has been good and we are looking at a possible tilt at the St Leger before he heads to Gai Waterhouse in Australia for the spring carnival out there. Personally, before I knew the horse, I doubted whether he would stay the Derby trip, but he got a beautiful ride and settled very well. I think that's the way with him, he needs to be ridden to finish and that's probably what we'll do going forward."

Zechariah

Trainer: Freddie and Martyn Meade
Odds: 12-1

What has he done so far?

The highlight of his two-year-old campaign was a victory over subsequent Irish Derby winner Westover at Newbury, and a cracking run in the Queen's Vase put him firmly in Leger contention.

He went down by only a nose to Eldar Eldarov that day and although he couldn't justify favouritism in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket three weeks' later, he returned to winning ways in emphatic style in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes this month and looks decent value at double-figure odds.

What they say

Martyn Meade: "We're ticking him over now and it's a nice break between Newbury and Doncaster, so it's all systems go for the St Leger. It was our ultimate target for the year and he's progressed well enough apart from the one hiccup at Newmarket. It's his biggest challenge yet, but there's no reason why he shouldn't step up to it. He's been strengthening up as the season has gone on and it should be an ideal test for him as long as the ground doesn't go too soft."

2022 St Leger festival offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money-back offers. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here and benefit from their money-back offers here.
• 888 Sport have free bets for all new customers. Sign up here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

Read these next:

'Our ultimate target' – Newbury course record breaker set for St Leger bid

Boughey taking Joseph O'Brien route to the Leger with Cup hope Hoo Ya Mal

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