Jan Brueghel makes most of his stamina to set up chance of mouthwatering clash with Kyprios next season

Only a field of seven went to post for the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday, but it arguably produced the most exciting finish to a British Classic this season with Jan Brueghel just edging out stablemate Illinois.

Aidan O’Brien fielded three of the runners, with the trainer successful in the race for the fourth time since 2017. As was expected, Grosvenor Square made the running but, unlike on his most recent starts, he was unable to pull clear from the pack, being headed by Illinois fully two furlongs from home. 

Illinois went on to finish second by a neck, achieving a career-best Racing Post Rating of 119. In third was Deira Mile (117), also with a career-best RPR, and there is likely more to come with him being too far back to have much chance of getting on terms with the first two.