Betfred St Leger Stakes: Online Betting Preview and Tips

Here at betting.bet we’ll take an in-depth look at the famous race and provide both free bet offers and race odds from our partners and new race sponsors, Betfred.

The final Classic of the British flat racing season takes place this weekend as Doncaster Racecourse hosts the Betfred St Leger on Saturday. Here at betting.bet we’ll take an in-depth look at the famous race and provide both free bet offers and race odds from our partners and new race sponsors, Betfred.

St Leger History

The St Leger is the oldest of the five British Classics and also the one contested over the furthest distance. First raced in 1776, the St Leger is open to both colts and fillies aged three years and over.

The St Leger is raced over a distance of 1m6f and makes up the final leg of both the English Triple Crown (including 2000 Guineas and Derby) and the Fillies’ Triple Crown (including 1000 Guineas and Oaks).

Nijinsky was the last English Triple Crown winner back in 1970 whilst the Fillies’ Triple Crown was won most recently by Oh So Sharp in 1985.

Camelot has come closest to ending the long wait for a Triple Crown winner. Having won both the 2000 Guineas and Derby in 2012, Camelot finished second to Encke in the St Leger.

2022 Recap

Last year’s St Leger winner was the Roger Varian-trained Eldar Eldarov, ahead of Haskoy and New London. Roger Varian was winning the race for the second time having won in 2014 with Kingston Hill whilst it was a first St Leger win for jockey, David Egan. Eldar Eldarov went on to win this year’s Irish St Leger.

This Year’s Renewal

Queen’s Vase winner, Gregory is the current favourite for this year’s race despite finishing third in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last time out. The John and Thady Gosden-trained three-year-old did not run as a two-year-old but he’s made excellent progress this year. He should be able to put that York run behind him on more suitable ground on Saturday. Likely to be ridden by Frankie Dettori in what will be the final Classic of his illustrious career.

The Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes was won by Continuous and he is next in the betting. Whilst many believe Gregory used the race as a prep run for the St Leger, it’s hard to ignore that six-length winning margin Continuous had over Saturday’s favourite.

The second big Gosden hope in the race is Arrest. Back to winning ways in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes last time out and was also a Chester Vase winner in May. However, he was disappointing twice in June, firstly when 10/14 despite starting as favourite in the Betfred Derby then he finished 5/6 in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The late Queen Elizabeth II owned 1977 St Leger winner, Dunfermline and there could be another Royal winner of the iconic race this year. Desert Royal has already won the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and followed up by getting the better of Chesspiece at Goodwood last time out. He undoubtedly needs to dig deep again if he is to get the better of Gregory and Continuous but he would prove an extremely popular winner.

Chesspiece himself is probably overpriced for Saturday’s feature. Running in the Godolphin colours, Chesspiece was not seen in his juvenile season but he has improved with each race as a three-year-old. Third in the Queen’s Vase behind Gregory at Royal Ascot, Chesspiece has claimed wins either side of that run. Landed a handicap at York in May before claiming a Listed contest at Hamilton in July. Only beaten by a neck by Desert Hero at Goodwood and more than capable of reversing that result.

Betfred St Leger Odds

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