Aidan O’Brien can play the party pooper by winning the St Leger with Ryan Moore-ridden Continuous and dashing the hopes of King Charles and Frankie Dettori

• Continuous won the Great Voltigeur Stakes last month by almost four lengths
• The colt can claim seventh St Leger win for trainer Aidan O’Brien on Saturday
• Desert Hero bids to become the first Royal winner of a Classic since 1977 

If you let your head rule your heart, the percentage call is that Aidan O’Brien will play the party pooper by winning the Betfred St Leger with Ryan Moore-ridden Continuous.

The best jockey in the world riding for the trainer who last weekend posted his 4,000th winner go into the final Classic of the season armed with a colt who looks like he will be happy on the rain-softened ground.

Continuous won the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month by almost four lengths, decisively beating Gregory — one of his main rivals.

That all stacks up into a pretty strong case to give O’Brien a seventh St Leger win. But, not without justification, heartstrings powerfully tug you in the direction of more romantic results.

The No 1 dream outcome would be William Haggas-trained Desert Hero storming to success under Tom Marquand, wearing the royal colours, with King Charles and Queen Camilla cheered into the winner’s enclosure.

Continuous will be happy on the rain-softened ground at Doncaster on Saturday

Desert Hero bids to become the first Royal winner of a Classic since 1977 on Saturday

A first royal Classic winner since Dunfermline won the 1977 St Leger would be massive, affirming the new monarch’s continued support for the sport to which his late mother was so devoted.

Adding poignancy to a potential Desert Hero victory is the memory that Queen Elizabeth II died on the eve of last year’s St Leger.

Desert Hero steps up to the longest trip he has ever faced but he has the potential to be a rare commodity, a stayer with a turn of foot.

Marquand said: ‘He has not given us a doubt he won’t stay but he has to answer that question and it will be hard work in the ground.

‘All rides are important. This one has that little bit extra added to the story but you can’t lose sight of what it is, which is a horserace, and you’ve got to win.’

The No 2 dream result is Frankie Dettori winning his seventh St Leger on Arrest on his final British Classic ride before he retires.

Again it is a plausible outcome. Arrest’s form measures up well.

Dettori, who was expected to ride Arrest’s John and Thady Gosden-trained stablemate Gregory, made a late switch swayed by his mount’s proven record on today’s soft ground.

The reality is that a case can be made for most of the nine runners but Continuous looks very solid.

O’Brien also runs Tower Of London, which may seem appropriate if one of four runners denies the royal champion.

Source: Read Full Article