Doncaster

Derby winner Christmas Day showed that the Epsom form was no fluke when he took second in the Irish Derby next time and last month's Great Voltigeur third should have been a stepping stone to this prize. With strong encouragement regarding stamina too, he could return to his best here, or at least have a much better stab at it than his stablemate Lambourn (a dual Derby winner) did last year, but that may still not be enough for him to hold the upwardly mobile ENCELADUS (nap) at bay. Joseph O'Brien's colt has increasingly looked the part in going 3-3 at lower levels this season and it looks like he'll stay. His cause would seemingly be boosted by good ground. Pierre Bonnard, as well as Christmas Day, gives Aidan O'Brien a second serious chance to win the St Leger for a fourth time in a row, judged on his Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur performances, and those three candidates dominate calculations, for all that Highwayman has proved himself at 1m6f, Alderman finished well in the Derby and Hatteen has looked a good prospect in his novice and handicap outings at 1m4f.[Richard Austen]