Confirmed runners and riders for the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday - plus a tip and free bet

Aidan O'Brien will fire three horses at Saturday's Betfred St Leger (3.40) at Doncaster with Illinois, Jan Brueghel and Grosvenor Square declared in a field of seven.

Ireland's champion trainer appears to have a stranglehold on this year's race and will be bidding for an eighth success in the oldest and final Classic following wins with Milan, Brian Boru, Scorpion, Leading Light, Capri, Kew Gardens and Continuous last year.

Illinois is the favourite and de-facto number one for the Ballydoyle team. He will be partnered by Wayne Lordan, who spoke of his excitement earlier this week, as Ryan Moore is in action in Ireland.

The colt is already proven over the St Leger trip after taking the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot in June, and he has subsequently placed in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and Great Voltigeur.

He is joined in the line-up by Jan Brueghel, who took his unbeaten record to three when landing the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, and the 20-length St Leger Trial winner Grosvenor Square. Los Angeles and Euphoric were both scratched from the race.

Sean Levey rides Jan Brueghel while Gavin Ryan has been booked for Grosvenor Square.

Among their opposition is the Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me, who was supplemented at a cost of £50,000 during the week. She was last seen finishing second in the Yorkshire Oaks and will be tackling the staying trip for the first time. The last filly to be successful in the race was Simple Verse in 2016.

More Classic form is brought to the table by the Irish Derby runner-up Sunway, who will be partnered by Christophe Soumillon for the first time, and Deira Mile, who finished fourth to City Of Troy in the Derby at Epsom in June. Completing the field is the dual winner Wild Waves. 

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Betfred St Leger field: confirmed runners and riders

• Deira Mile Jason Watson
• Grosvenor Square Gavin Ryan
• Illinois Wayne Lordan
• Jan Brueghel Sean Levey
• Sunway Christophe Soumillon
• Wild Waves Danny Tudhope
• You Got To Me Hector Crouch

How the market is shaping up for Saturday's big race

Betfred St Leger (3.40 Doncaster, Saturday)

Ladbrokes: 15-8 Illinois, 4 Jan Brueghel, 9-2 You Got Me, 5 Grosvenor Square, 6 Sunway, 16 Deira Mile, 66 Wild Waves 

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Aidan O’Brien dominates the St Leger betting as he bids for an eighth success in the race, but punters have thus far looked elsewhere, with David Menuisier’s Sunway proving most popular right now.”

Betfred St Leger tips, predictions and 1-2-3 verdict

By James Hill, tipster

1 Jan Brueghel
2 Illinois
3 Deira Mile

Aidan O’Brien holds all the aces once again, and for all I’m a big fan of Illinois, he’s a shade exposed now, whereas stablemate Jan Brueghel is three wins from three starts. What’s more, his Gordon Stakes success received a timely form boost when the second won in America last month. I think that Goodwood race was every bit as decent as the Great Voltigeur, and Jan Brueghel could yet go off favourite

Jan Brueghel15:40 Doncaster

View Racecard

Jky: Tnr: A P O'Brien

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Confirmed runners and riders for the Irish Champion Stakes - plus a tip and free bet 

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