O’Brien for high five
IDAHO has the credentials and the confident support from his trainer Aidan O’Brien to capture today’s Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.
After Idaho’s impressive victory in last month’s Great Voltigeur, a significant prep race for the season’s final Classic, he looked the ideal candidate to give O’Brien a fifth victory in the event.
“I think Idaho is in the same category as my four previous winners,” said O’Brien. “He has a very high level of form over 10 and 12 furlongs and is an uncomplicated horse.
“Everything has gone well and we have been looking forward to the Leger with him.”
Idaho has mixed it with the best of his generation all year, most notably finishing in the frame in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby at the Curragh.
O’Brien, responsible for three of the nine runners, can also take the minor honours.
House of parliament has the credentials to finish second with his stable companion Sword Fighter capable of taking third place. Sword Fighter won the Queen’s Vase at Ascot and the Curragh Cup before finishing fifth in the Goodwood Cup, while Houses of parliament landed Newmarket’s Bahrain Trophy before beating all bar Idaho in the Great Voltigeur.
John Gosden, also hoping for a fifth victory in the race, does not offer inspiration for his runner Muntahaa.
“He will get the trip but I just don’t know if he will get it quick enough,” said Gosden. “Also, the race is coming quite soon after he won at Chester.”