Aidan and Joseph O'Brien responsible for seven of 12 left in contention for St Leger

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Joseph O'Brien has moved quickly to secure the services of British jockeys' championship leader Billy Loughnane on Betfred St Leger second-favourite Enceladus at Doncaster on Saturday.

The Sea The Stars colt rocketed into Classic contention with victories at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood this summer and is a best-priced 11-4 behind 7-4 favourite Christmas Day.

Loughnane said on Sky Sports Racing: "It's a fantastic ride to pick up. It's unfortunate for Dylan [Browne McMonagle] who is on the sidelines at the minute.

"Enceladus has been impressive this summer and hopefully he's got another one left in him. He's been going through the ranks smoothly, and obviously it's a stiffer assignment on Saturday, but I imagine Joseph will have him in fantastic nick."

O'Brien and his father Aidan dominate the market for the final British Classic of the season, with O'Brien jnr also planning to send Highwayman, a 14-1 shot, in the stable's bid to win the race for a second time after Galileo Chrome struck in 2020 under Tom Marquand.

The son of Persian King has steadily improved in six starts, relishing each step up in trip, and got off the mark at Killarney in July when bolting up by nine lengths. He was last seen winning the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown and Saffie Osborne is jocked up to take the ride.

"Obviously we're happy to have Billy on board Enceladus and he's been training nicely," said O'Brien. "Both horses are preparing well. It's a big step up in class for Highwayman but he's progressive, so you never know."

Dylan Browne McMonagle has ridden Enceladus in four of his five starts, including the Group 3 Gordon Stakes last time, but he has been sidelined since being hospitalised following a fall at Bellewstown on August 25.

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No date has been set for Browne McMonagle's return and O'Brien has a strong team of jockeys with the likes of Joey Sheridan and Declan McDonogh. However, they are likely to be engaged at Leopardstown on day one of the Irish Champions Festival on a busy day for the O'Brien team.

That has opened the door for Loughnane. The 20-year-old leads Oisin Murphy by 14 in the race to be Britain's champion jockey and has enjoyed multiple Group 1 successes this season, including for the O'Brien family on Comanche Brave in the July Cup for Donnacha O'Brien, while he also teamed up with Joseph to win the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot on King Of Cloughan.

EPSOM, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: Ronan Whelan celebrates riding Christmas Day to victory in The Betfred Derby during The Betfred Derby Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse on June 06, 2026 in Epsom, England. (Photo by Warren Little (Getty Images)

Christmas Day: set to spearhead Aidan O'Brien's St Leger teamCredit: Warren Little (Getty Images)

Enceladus was one of 12 left in contention for the St Leger at Monday's confirmation stage, with Christmas Day on course to bid to become the first since Reference Point in 1987 to complete the Derby-St Leger double.

The Derby hero is one of five possible Aidan O'Brien-trained contenders left in the 250th running of the world's oldest Classic, with the master trainer seeking a fourth consecutive victory in the race.

There will be no Godolphin-Coolmore clash after Charlie Appleby's Del Maro, who had been trading around the 10-1 mark, was removed from the line-up.

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Christmas Day could be in line for a rematch with Pierre Bonnard, after the pair finished third and second respectively behind Maltese Cross in last month's Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. The filly Amelia Earhart joins Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard in the Ballydoyle team, along with Piazza San Marco and Action.

In the absence of Del Maro, the Andrew Balding-trained Hatteen is the shortest-priced British hope at a general 12-1.

St Leger confirmations

Action Aidan O'Brien
Alderman Richard Hannon
Christmas Day Aidan O'Brien
Enceladus Joseph O'Brien
Galiyan Andrew Balding
Golden Story Karl Burke
Hatteen Andrew Balding
Highwayman Joseph O'Brien
Piazza San Marco Aidan O'Brien
Pierre Bonnard Aidan O'Brien
Rebel Rocker Faye Bramley
Amelia Earhart Aidan O'Brien

Ground update: no major change expected from good to soft

Doncaster officials are delighted with the condition of the track and predominantly settled weather is forecast in the build-up to the St Leger meeting starting on Thursday.

The ground was described as good to soft on Monday and clerk of the course David Attwood is not expecting any major changes throughout the week.

He said: "We're good to soft at the moment and it's looking like a predominantly dry week with the chance of showers at times.

"The forecast is suggesting they won't be significant, just the odd spot through the week. If we got some of those showers, it would keep us on the easy side of good for the start of the meeting on Thursday, but if we stay dry then good will come into the description."

The ground is good to soft, soft in places for the final day of the St Leger festival

The St Leger festival is forecast to be predominantly dryCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Following the hot and dry summer, the recent rainfall has arrived at the right time for a course preparing for its biggest meeting of the year.

"Around a week to ten days ago, we had 45-50mm of rain and that absolutely brought the track alive. The grass has popped and has really appreciated it," Attwood said. "It looks like it's drying back each day but it's not like the summer with the really hot temperatures."

Celebrations for the 250th running of the St Leger are already well under way and final preparations are being made to mark the occasion in style.

"We've been doing a lot with the local community, that's been our focus certainly over the last year or so," Attwood added. "We have a special guest singing the national anthem before the Leger and we're expecting another special guest on Saturday, details of which will be announced in the coming days."

The site has been adapted to cater for 30,000 racegoers on Saturday, with bigger enclosures and an enhanced parade ring.

Some enclosures are sold out but tickets are still available in the grandstand and picnic areas, as well as limited hospitality.

Betfred St Leger (3.35 Doncaster, Saturday)
Paddy Power: 13-8 Christmas Day, 5-2 Enceladus, 11-4 Pierre Bonnard, 12 Hatteen, 14 Highwayman, 25 Amelia Earhart, 33 Alderman, Piazza San Marco, 40 Galiyan, Golden Story, 66 Rebel Rocker, 100 Action.

Christmas Day bids to end 39-year Derby-Leger double drought and Irish Champion Stakes brings York rematch in unmissable week

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