Leading Light to edge Leger
Irish Champions Weekend sprinkles its stardust over the Curragh this afternoon and the spanking new marketing invention has restored some sheen to a Classic centurion.
The Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger will be run for the 100th time this afternoon but the ageing process had not been kind to the longest Classic.
However, thanks to the lure of increased prize money and the decision to make the race the centrepiece of the second day of the Champions extravaganza, this year's Irish St Leger has polished up beautifully, with a classy line-up for the 1m 6f contest. Seven years ago, Yeats followed up an Ascot Gold Cup triumph with victory in this race and his trainer Aidan O'Brien has the hot favourite for a repeat performance in Leading Light.
The Gold Cup winner in an exciting finish to this year's renewal of the Royal Ascot showcase, this four-year-old already has a St Leger success to his name, having won the English version at Doncaster last year.
Leading Light is unbeaten in three starts this season, and prepared for today's race with a simple stroll in a trial over course and distance three weeks ago.
Dermot Weld's most recent triumph came with the filly Voleuse De Couers 12 months ago, and he relies on another talented filly, Pale Mimosa, today. Her form received a timely boost when Estimate won the Doncaster Cup on Friday as Weld's filly beat the Queen's 2013 Ascot Gold Cup heroine on her previous start at York.
Weld saddled the late Vintage Crop to two memorable St Leger successes and was responsible for four times winner Vinnie Roe.
Pale Mimosa was more impressive when beating Estimate than Leading Light when he prevailed in a thrilling tussle with her and Missunited at Ascot. However, the suspicion is that Leading Light does just enough and should have more reserves to draw on if needed.
Godolphin's 2012 Doncaster St Leger winner Encke, which thwarted Camelot's Triple Crown bid, is an intriguing entrant. He has raced once since then, a second place at Goodwood last month, his first start since a drugs ban last year.
Gleneagles is the overwhelming favourite to add to Ballydoyle's superb record in the Group One Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, and the full brother to this year's Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Marvellous should take the prize back to Rosegreen.
Cursory Glance split Tiggy Wiggy and Anthem Alexander in the Lowther Stakes at York and that is the best form in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes, while Coolmore's €6m purchase Chiquita gets her first chance to repay that investment in the Group Two Moyglare Jewels Blandford Stakes.