Romsdal can give Gosden fifth St Leger success

Trainer John Gosden has a terrific record in the St Leger and Romsdal can further enhance it with victory in the Group 1 contest at Doncaster today (3.50).

The Newmarket handler has won the 1m 6f contest four times, courtesy of Shantou (1996), Lucarno (2007), Arctic Cosmos (2010) and Masked Marvel (2011).

He saddles three in this year’s renewal, but there is little doubt that Romsdal is the pick of a trio.

The colt ran out the easy winner of a maidan on the all-weather at Kempton back in April, where he beat the now 104-rated Big Orange by five lengths.

Romsdal then ran a very well to be beaten just a short-head by Orchestra in the Group 3 Chester Vase over 1m 4f, getting outpaced two from home on a track which didn’t appear to suit before staying on in tremendous style.

The son of Halling was given a shot at the Investec Derby at Epsom on the back of that effort, and put in a storming effort to finish a 4 1/2 length third of 16 to the brilliant Australia.

Romsdal was doing all his best work at the finish, and it was a performance which suggested this contest over 1m 6f would be ideal.

Although Romsdal was not at his besrt when well beaten last time out in the King George at Ascot, that run can easily be excused and his profile has Leger horse written all over it.

Kingston Hill finished just over three lengths in front of Romsdal in the Derby, but connections have been worrying all week about whether the ground will be too quick.

The Roger Varian trained colt was unbeaten in three runs as a juvenile, running out the impressive winner of the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at this venue on his final start.

The son of Mastercraftman has gone on to perform with great credit in three Group 1 contests this season, finishing eighth in the 2,000 Guineas and fourth in the Coral-Eclipse either side of his excellent run at Epsom.

That form sets the standard, but with the ground drying out all the time there has to be a big doubt as to whether he will handle it and Romsdal looks decent value to take adavantage and land the spoils.