Appleby’s fresh approach with New London in Leger

CHARLIE APPLEBY is confident the decision to keep New London fresh ahead of the Cazoo St Leger will pay dividends in the final Classic of the Flat season at Doncaster today.

The Dubawi colt has only lost once in five starts – on soft ground at Chester – although Appleby is relaxed about ground conditions on Town Moor.

Since that Chester reverse behind Aidan O’Brien’s Changingoftheguard, New London has won a valuable handicap and the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, a race which has produced the Great Voltigeur winner, a Goodwood

Listed winner and the winner of a French Group Three.

‘He had a piece of work on Wednesday and looked great,’ said Appleby, who was successful 12 months ago with Hurricane Lane.

‘I’ve always said we wanted to come here as a fresh horse. The only blip he’s had was in the Chester Vase. People might say was that the trip and ground at the time, but I don’t think it was either. I just think he’d run a good, solid race at the Craven meeting a few weeks earlier and he’s best when he’s fresh.

‘That’s why after the Gordon Stakes we always wanted to come straight here.’

Frankie Dettori (pictured) has won the Leger six times and partners the Juddmonte-owned Haskoy for trainer Ralph Beckett.

The Italian is bidding for a 22nd British Classic success aboard the least experienced runner, although Haskoy – who was supplemented at a cost of £50,000 on Monday – has won both starts, latterly taking the Listed Galtres at York.

Meanwhile, Emily Dickinson seeks to give O’Brien a seventh win in the race, while Irish hopes are also carried by French Claim, who is trained by Paddy Twomey.

The latter was third to Westover in the Irish Derby on his previous effort in June and steps up to this trip for the first time.

Twomey said: ‘He has half a chance – that is why he is over there. Every time he has run, he has improved on the previous time.

‘I think stepping up in trip will play to his strengths as will the big, galloping nature of the track.

‘I think all the rain that has fallen recently will be a big help to him.’