Aidan O'Brien: we've always felt Doncaster would suit St Leger hope Kew Gardens

Aidan O'Brien believes Doncaster will play to the strengths of William Hill St Leger favourite Kew Gardens with the Ballydoyle maestro readying a team of four for the Classic on Town Moor on Saturday week.

Kew Gardens finished third behind Old Persian in the Great Voltigeur Stakes last month at York, described by O'Brien as the perfect place for his prep for the St Leger.

The Grand Prix de Paris and Queen's Vase winner is 5-4 to land the St Leger with the race sponsors, with O'Brien revealing on Tuesday that Nelson, Southern France and The Pentagon are also under consideration for the £700,000 contest, won last year by stablemate Capri.

O'Brien said: "Kew Gardens should step up a good bit from York. We were delighted with his run and felt it was the perfect place for his prep. We've always felt Doncaster would suit him and hopefully the ground will be nice for him."

Aidan O'Brien and St Leger favourite Kew Gardens pose for the cameras at Ballydoyle on Tuesday morningCredit: David Baxter

Any rain over the next ten days would be in the favour of Nelson, who finished behind Kew Gardens when sixth in the Great Voltigeur last time.

O'Brien said: "Nelson will handle ease in the ground and stays very well, while you'd imagine Doncaster, a lovely flat track, would suit Southern France."

St Leger entries

The Qipco Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on the same day is the aim for Saxon Warrior, who is likely to return to a mile in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day on October 20.

Capri will contest the Prix Foy at Longchamp before a possible tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the same track on October 7.

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