Idaho proved best amongst his generation
ANTE-post favourite Idaho tops 25 confirmations for the final British Classic of the season, the G1 Ladbrokes St Leger, staged over one mile, six furlongs and 132 yards at Doncaster on Ladbrokes St Leger Day, Saturday, September 10.
Trained in Ireland by Aidan O’Brien, Idaho is the 11/10 market leader with Ladbrokes following a smooth victory over stable companion Housesofparliament (14/1) in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on August 17.
Idaho
Idaho proved himself among the best of his generation in two 12-furlong Classics, going down by a half-length to Harzand in the G1 Irish Derby at t he Curragh on June 25 and finishing third in the G1 Investec Derby at Epsom Downs three weeks before that.
O’Brien, seeking a fifth Ladbrokes St Leger victory, has also left in Listed Queen’s Vase hero Sword Fighter (14/1) and two fillies - Somehow (33/1), who was fourth in the G1 Investec Oaks, and recent G1 Yorkshire Oaks fourth Pretty Perfect (40/1), among a 10-strong team.
Ed Dunlop is hoping the extended 14-furlong distance of the Ladbrokes St Leger, the world’s oldest Classic which is worth a record £700,000 this year, can help Red Verdon close the gap on Idaho.
Red Verdon has progressed from handicap victories at Chester and Haydock Park in May to finishing second last time out in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Saint-Cloud over 12 furlongs on July 14.
The three-year-old Lemon Drop Kid colt, owned by Hong Kong-based Ronnie Arculli, finished sixth in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs
He stayed on stoutly to take fourth in the Irish Derby.
Ed Dunlop
Dunlop said: “Red Verdon has had a good break since France.
We decided to miss York and, all being well, the plan is to go to Doncaster.
“There is obviously a short-priced favourite [Idaho] who was very impressive at York.
We will have to improve to beat him for sure but we will give it a go.
“I don’t know about the step up in trip. His pedigree doesn’t scream that he will stay.
He has been finishing strongly over a mile and a half.
He also relaxes well in his races and that will give him every chance of getting the trip.”
Red Verdon Ladbrokes.
Fellow Newmarket trainer John Gosden is a 10/1 chance with has an excellent record in the Doncaster Classic.
He won three of the last nine renewals and four in all, and has two strong contenders in Muntahaa (10/1) and Wings Of Desire (14/1).
Progressive Muntahaa captured a Listed race at Chester on August 20 after being third in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, while Wings Of Desire finished runner-up in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes on his penultimate start and was fourth in the Investec Derby.
Algometer
Algometer (David Simcock, 16/1) was last seen out when seventh in the Investec Derby.
The Kirsten Rausing-owned colt gained a battling victory over Prize Money in the Listed Cocked Hat Stakes at Goodwood in May and that 11-furlong contest was won by subsequent St Leger hero Masked Marvel in 2011.
Other notable Ladbrokes St Leger confirmations include G1 scorer Robin Of Navan (Harry Dunlop, 33/1), Ventura Storm (Richard Hannon, 33/1), who annexed a G3 race in France earlier this month, plus Ormito (Andrew Balding, 33/1) and Twilight Payment (Jim Bolger, 20/1) who were runner-up in G3 contests last time out.
David Williams
Ladbrokes Director of Media, David Williams, said: “Idaho is the stand-out horse to have emerged from the St Leger trials. “His Great Voltigeur win could scarcely have been more impressive and there is every chance he will go odds-on at some point between now and Ladbrokes St Leger Day, Saturday, September 10.”
There is a £50,000 supplementary entry stage for the Ladbrokes St Leger on Monday, September 5, when the five-day acceptors will also be unveiled.
- DONCASTER RACECOURSE