WISDOM

IT’S incredible to think the first St Leger — the world’s oldest Classic — was run 242 years ago, a time when there were no cars, planes or trains. I’ll bet it was a lot easier to get to the track in those days, as the roads wouldn’t be anywhere near as busy.

But the focus is always on the next St Leger and this year’s renewal looks as strong as it’s ever been, with the possible exception of 1794.

Filly Lah Ti Dah is trading as one of the joint favourites and when I hear those words ‘Lah Ti Dah’, I can almost hear Windsor Davies ending them with, “Gunner Graham”.

Only people of a certain age will get that ‘It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum’ reference, and those people are commonly referred to as, “old”.

Lah Ti Dah’s trainer John Gosden has won the St Leger on four occasions, but there’s more negatives than positives when it comes to her chances today. Fillies have a poor record in the race, Simple Verse won in 2015 but the last filly to score before her was User Friendly in 1992. Lah Ti Dah has only beaten her own sex, never raced at Group level and only run over two furlongs shorter than today. I prefer the other market leader, Aidan O’Brien’s Kew Gardens — who finished third in York’s 1m4f Great Voltigeur. However, the horse who offers outstanding each-way value is Charlie Appleby’s He beat two quality beasts last time in Cross Counter and Kew Gardens in the Great Voltigeur. In fact, Old Persian has lost only one of his last four races and seems to be overlooked by the bookies. William Buick describes his mount as a, “strong stayer”, and Old Persian can see out the extra couple of furlongs today to win at a tasty price. GAMBLING