Is there a St Leger winner on show? Great Voltigeur insight and trainer quotes

Wednesday: 3.00 York
Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) | 1m4f | 3yo | ITV/RTV

Ante-post St Leger backers of short-priced favourite Hurricane Lane are advised to pay close attention to this year's running of the Great Voltigeur, a key trial for next month's Doncaster Classic.

Logician, who fended off Constantinople in the 2019 edition of this race, was the most recent of 14 horses to complete the double since the inaugural running of the Great Voltigeur in 1950, though in the last ten years just three of 32 runners who have competed in both races have achieved St Leger glory.

The unexposed Scope, likely pacemaker The Mediterranean and stablemate Sir Lucan plus Derby eighth Youth Spirit hold entries at Doncaster next month.

The market would indicate three of those runners have little chance of winning here, though Sir Lucan, who is fitted with first-time cheekpieces, must hold strong claims on his recent runner-up effort in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

He took plenty of time to find his full stride that day but was quickly eroding the deficit to the winner Ottoman Emperor at the line. Given his running style York promises to suit and the presence of Frankie Dettori, who has won this race seven times, can only be seen as a positive.

Dettori rides as stable jockey Ryan Moore has opted to partner High Definition, who was favourite for the Derby and St Leger at the start of the Flat season after a highly promising juvenile campaign that saw him take the Group 2 Beresford Stakes over an inadequate mile.

However, he has disappointed this term with defeats in the Dante and Irish Derby when sent off at short prices. He looked in need of a stiffer test on the Knavesmire in May and had excuses for his Curragh defeat (hampered early, clipped heels on the bend), but his price now reflects potential rather than level of form this term.

He may not go off favourite this time, though, as Queen's Vase scorer Kemari is likely to head the betting for the all-conquering Charlie Appleby team. On official figures he has to improve to beat Sir Lucan, Youth Spirit and High Definition, and a 3lb penalty for his Royal Ascot success further complicates matters.

However, he remains open to further improvement after just three runs and was initially touted as a Melbourne Cup horse after his Ascot success. Lofty aspirations indicate an abundance of belief. With The Mediterranean likely to go forward, Kemari may be the recipient of a dream trip.

Third Realm and Youth Spirit bring Derby form into the equation. They finished well beaten in fifth and eighth, but don't have much to find on ratings and have proved this trip is well within their comfort zones.

However, there's no hiding the poor record of Derby also-rans in this race in the last ten years – 19 horses have tried, none has been successful.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

Cumani wearing a different hat

Luca Cumani won the Great Voltigeur twice as a trainer and now bids to land it as a breeder with Kemari bidding to defy a 3lb penalty for winning the Group 2 Queen's Vase Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.

The son of Dubawi, who Cumani sold to Godolphin for 400,000gns at Tattersalls as a yearling, has had the traditional St Leger warm-up on his radar since Ascot, although he cannot run in the final domestic Classic as he is a gelding.

Cumani, who plans to be at the track to cheer Kemari on, said: "It's all very exciting and Charlie tells me the horse is in good form, so we're going up there to see him run. It's nice to be connected to a good horse that's come from our own Fittocks Stud but High Definition could be tough to beat as he's always been held in high regard."

Luca Cumani: his Fittocks Stud was where Kemari was bredCredit: Edward Whitaker

After Ascot, Kemari was mooted as a possible long-term candidate for the Melbourne Cup. Cumani added: "The Melbourne Cup is not a race for three-year-olds in my opinion so if Kemari does end up out there hopefully it will be next year or beyond."

Fittocks Stud, which is located in the village of Upend near Newmarket, is busy preparing a relative of Kemari for the sales. Cumani said: "We have a half-brother to Kemari by Galileo going to Book 1 of the October Sales so it's a busy time all round."

In his training days, Cumani won the Voltigeur with Bonny Scot (1992) and Postponed (2014). He added: "Bonny Scot was so long ago that I can't remember much about it! Postponed, however, was good as it confirmed his ability at Group level that year and readied him for a productive four-year-old campaign."

What they say

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Kemari and Yibir
Kemari has enjoyed a nice break since Ascot and dropping back to a mile and a half isn't a worry. He has to carry a penalty but we felt this was the right race for him ahead of his autumn campaign. Yibir is on a slight recovery mission after racing keenly and disappointing at Goodwood. We're leaving the hood on him and a repeat of his Bahrain Trophy win will make him competitive.

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of High Definition, Sir Lucan and The Mediterranean
High Definition caught a heel after a couple of furlongs in the Irish Derby and his head hit the ground. It was a proper stumble and once it happened it was race over for him. We've been happy with him since and he seems to be in good form again. Sir Lucan is coming along nicely now and we were delighted with him at Goodwood. We thought The Mediterranean ran very well in France and he seems to have come out of that race in very good form.

Roger Varian, trainer of Third Realm
He's not run a bad race this year and ran well to be third at Goodwood last time considering it was his first run since the Derby. He's entitled to come on for that and although it's a typically competitive Voltigeur, I expect him to run a nice race.
Reporting by David Milnes

Wednesday's race previews:

1.50 York: 'The Chelmsford run should have him spot on' – trainers on the ITV opener

2.25 York: 'We've always liked him from day one' – high hopes for Palmer juvenile in Acomb

3.35 York: can supersub Love turn the tables on Mishriff in the Juddmonte International?

3.35 York: the Juddmonte's the best race in Britain – but here is an outsider worth backing (Members' Club)

New Sky Bet customers can get £30 in free bets when you place a sports bet. 5p minimum stake. First single and EW bet only. 3 x £10 free bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtual. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. Click here to claim