Mouthwatering match-ups: who will come out on top in this weekend's feast of Group 1 battles?

There's a feast of Group 1 action to get into this weekend. We take a look at some of the key match-ups at Doncaster, Leopardstown and the Curragh.

Scandinavia v Lambourn

Betfred St Leger Stakes, 3.40 Doncaster, Saturday

It's a battle of the stablemates in the St Leger as Aidan O'Brien's leading three-year-old colts Scandinavia and Lambourn look set to lock horns in the final Classic of the season. 

The pair have endured different seasons, with Scandinavia fast improving in the staying ranks, winning the Bahrain Trophy before the Group 1 Goodwood Cup last month. Meanwhile, Lambourn won the Derby and Irish Derby before disappointing when returning off a 52-day break in the Great Voltigeur last month.

Their differing profiles make this a potentially fascinating affair. Lambourn will be stepping up in trip from 1m4f, but has always looked like this 1m6½f trip would pose no problem, while Scandinavia has proven his stamina over 2m.

Who wins?

Sponsors Betfred have installed Scandinavia as their 11-10 favourite, with Lambourn at 5-2, and that looks too big a price difference with the latter boasting a higher official rating of 120 (compared to 117). 

O'Brien made no hiding of the fact that Lambourn was going to come on plenty for the Great Voltigeur run and the race was not run to suit. Had he not been beaten in that I suspect the pair would be much closer in the betting.

Lambourn15:40 Doncaster

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Jky: Tnr: A P O'Brien

Delacroix v Zahrann 

Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, 5.30 Leopardstown, Saturday

Even with his rival Ombudsman out of the race, Delacroix faces a viable challenger in the fast-improving Zahrann.

Delacroix has shown plenty of promise throughout his career and has scored twice over this course and distance, including in the Derby Trial. 

While he disappointed as favourite in the Derby, O’Brien attributed the 16-length loss to a messy race, as opposed to a lack of talent, and Delacroix proved his quality in the Eclipse, where he showcased an incredible turn of foot to chase down Ombudsman and claim his first Group 1.

However, he was perhaps below par in the Juddmonte International last time, running 7lb below his Eclipse RPR as Ombudsman emphatically reversed the form.

Zahrann, despite being called "lazy" by his trainer Johnny Murtagh and jockey Ben Coen, has continued to climb the ranks.

He broke his maiden by a decisive seven lengths and immediately stepped up to win the King George V Cup. 

His connections weren't concerned by a subsequent defeat in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he faced the fastest ground of his career.

Zahrann relished the drop back in trip when surging clear to land the Royal Whip Stakes by two lengths last time and he now looms as the toughest rival for Delacroix in a clash that could define their careers.

Who wins? 

Delacroix heads the market at 5-4, and with proven Group 1 success it’s no surprise he’s the favourite. 

Zahrann sits at 11-2, bringing strong credentials over the trip, although without the battle-hardened experience of Delacroix. 

However, Delacroix has had plenty of hard races and could be vulnerable to the highly progressive Zahrann, who can land a first Irish Champion Stakes for Murtagh as a trainer. 

Zahrann17:30 Leopardstown

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Jky: Tnr: J P Murtagh

Venetian Sun v Composing

Moyglare Stud Stakes, 2.40, Curragh, Sunday

Venetian Sun has arguably been the most exciting two-year-old this season. After blitzing the field in the Albany at Royal Ascot, Karl Burke's unbeaten star landed the Duchess of Cambridge and then stuck it to the colts when beating Gstaad in the Prix Morny, leaving connections dreaming of 1,000 Guineas glory.

Another step up in trip is forthcoming and the Moyglare Stud Stakes over 7f could well prove a make-or-break moment in regards to that Guineas dream.

Connections are confident the daughter of Starman will get the trip, but she'll have to show her stamina and her class as she faces a formidable opponent in Composing.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained daughter of Wooton Bassett has been relentless since finishing fifth on her debut, winning her next two starts stylishly before bolting up in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes last time.

Who wins?

The two fillies share favouritism at 7-4. Composing is 3-3 over 7f or 7½f and has strong course-and-distance form, whereas Venetian Sun has beaten two high-class juveniles on her last two starts, with Royal Fixation winning the Lowther in fine style and Gstaad winning the Coventry at Royal Ascot.

With her proven ability at the track and over the trip, Composing gets the marginal vote.

Composing14:40 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: A P O'Brien

Asfoora v rest of the field

Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes, 3.15 Curragh, Sunday

Asfoora showed a sharp turn of foot in the Nunthorpe, one of the season’s most important sprints, but can she back that up?

The Australian sprinter won the King Charles III Stakes last year but hadn’t registered a win in Britain until her success at York last month, which was perhaps a below-par race as the seven-year-old matched the RPR she earned when finishing fourth on the Knavesmire the previous season.

Amo Racing’s Bucanero Fuerte is 2-2 this season as a four-year-old. He made all at this track in the Phoenix Sprint, clocking a career-best RPR of 116. More than half of Bucanero Fuerte’s runs have come at the Curragh, so the track holds no fears and while his three Group 1 efforts last year fell flat, he looks more promising with maturity and a return to familiar ground.

Whistlejacket was a talented two-year-old. He won over this course and distance, bagged the Prix Morny, and finished four lengths behind Shadow Of Light in the Middle Park. Aidan O’Brien has kept him strictly to 6f this term and this will be his first start back over the minimum distance. He has to bounce back from a below-par run in the July Cup.

Who wins?

Asfoora heads the market at 11-4, with Bucanero Fuerte next at 7-1 and Whistlejacket is a double-figure price at 12-1.

Bucanero Fuerte’s record at the Curragh, including his latest victory there, makes him a genuine threat to Asfoora.

Bucanero Fuerte15:15 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: Adrian Murray

Gstaad v Saba Desert 

Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, 3.50 Curragh, Sunday

This is a clash of fine margins. O’Brien is convinced his Coventry Stakes winner Gstaad will stay 7f having not raced over further than 6f. However, unbeaten Superlative Stakes winner Saba Desert is already proven at the trip.

Gstaad brings more experience, with one extra run, and ran well when beaten a neck by Venetian Sun in the tough field of the Prix Morny.

Saba Desert is 2-2 but his Superlative Stakes win came under messy circumstances as he was the only one of the leading runners not to be impeded by Venetian Lace, who drifted to her left carrying out Italy and Wild Desert.

Who wins?

Gstaad heads the market at 10-11, with Saba Desert next best at 4-1.

O'Brien and Charlie Appleby have saddled three winners of the National Stakes in the last decade and, although Saba Desert is proven over the trip, Gstaad’s impressive experience in tougher company could be the deciding factor.

Gstaad15:50 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: A P O'Brien

Al Riffa v Illinois 

Comer Group International Irish St. Leger, 4.25 Curragh, Sunday

Illinois will be hunting an elusive Group 1 victory at the sixth attempt, but dual top-level scorer Al Riffa bids to spoil the party before a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup.

Illinois has never finished outside the top three. He had a strong campaign as a three-year-old, where he claimed the Queen’s Vase over this trip, finished a neck behind Los Angeles in the Voltigeur Stakes and was beaten the same margin by Jan Brueghel in the St Leger.

He began this season with a decisive win over Al Qareem before stepping into unknown territory in the Gold Cup over 2m4f where he finished seven lengths behind Trawlerman in second. He was surprisingly beaten by stablemate Scandinavia in the Goodwood Cup most recently, but a drop back in trip could be the key to finally landing that Group 1.

Globetrotter Al Riffa looks the biggest threat. He was an honourable second to Rebel’s Romance in the Hardwicke Stakes before relishing a step up in trip with a dominant five-length course-and-distance success in the Curragh Cup.

Joseph Patrick O’Brien’s runner boasts a strong CV: a National Stakes win as a juvenile, a German Group 1 last year, as well as a close second to City Of Troy in the Eclipse. Both arrive here fresh, but one seems to have the proven credentials. 

So who wins?

Illinois heads the market at 9-4, with Al Riffa second favourite at 5-2. The classy Al Riffa looks to hold the edge after his latest victory.

Al Riffa16:25 Curragh

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Jky: Tnr: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

Read more like this:

'He's shown again and again he belongs at this level' - Anmaat camp primed for Irish Champion battle 

Ben Coen hopes 'improving' Zahrann can make a big splash against Delacroix in Irish Champion Stakes 

'I think she's improved since York' - Aussie sprinter Asfoora chasing slice of history at the Curragh on Sunday 

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