Aidan O'Brien calls up Mickael Barzalona and more as he reveals who's in line to ride his three main Leger contenders

Aidan O'Brien will place his faith in another superstar of French racing this weekend after Mickael Barzalona was called up for the Ballydoyle Betfred St Leger team, joining Tom Marquand and Sean Levey on Doncaster duty for the master trainer.

A broken leg suffered by Ballydoyle number Ryan Moore could not have come at a worse time for O'Brien, especially with Wayne Lordan sidelined this weekend through suspension, so the trainer has been scrambling around to sort out jockeys for one of the biggest weekends of the year with the Irish Champions Festival clashing with St Leger day at Doncaster on Saturday.

Christophe Soumillon, a ten-time French champion, has already been locked in by O'Brien and is set to ride favourite Delacroix in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday and the trainer has revealed to the Racing Post that Barzalona, Marquand and Levey have been called up to ride Scandinavia, Lambourn and Stay True in the St Leger, although no decision has been made on who each of them will partner.

Scandinavia is favourite for the Classic at a general 5-4, while dual Derby winner Lambourn has been supported over the last week and is 5-2. Stay True, who caught the eye with the way he travelled when fourth in the Great Voltigeur, is 8-1. The yard is also represented in the eight-runner field by Saratoga, who is available at 100-1 with bet365. 

O'Brien said on Tuesday evening: "We have Mickael, Tom and Seanie booked for the three horses at Doncaster. Nothing is set in stone yet with regard to who will ride who, but those three lads will be the ones riding them. We'll sort it all out over the next day or so."

Lambourn: Aidan O'Brien expects Epsom hero to put Voltigeur run behind him at DoncasterCredit: Getty Images

O'Brien delivered a positive update on his three Leger contenders, most notably Lambourn, who he expects to leave a lethargic effort in the Great Voltigeur behind him.

Sent off at 4-5 for that Group 2, Lambourn could finish only fifth but his trainer is convinced he will be better suited to the demands of Doncaster.

He said: "Scandinavia and Lambourn both seem fine after their last run. The plan at the moment is to run those two in the Leger, as well as Stay True. We expect Lambourn to come forward nicely from York. The Voltigeur was a very slow race and it just turned into a sprint. We were happy with him going to York. Nothing about the race that day suited him so I would just put a line through it with regard to Lambourn. He's been in very good form since."

He added: "Scandinavia has thrived this year. He's going from strength to strength. He's a big horse and he has just kept on improving every month. He seems very well."

O'Brien urged punters not to forget Stay True either, saying: "Stay True will improve a lot. He needed the run badly at York and was just ready to start back. You can expect him to come forward plenty for that."

O'Brien has won the St Leger eight times in all and is chasing a hat-trick following Continuous (2023) and Jan Brueghel (2024). 

Betfred St Leger (Doncaster, Saturday)
Betfred: 11-10 Scandinavia, 5-2 Lambourn, 9-2 Carmers, 7 Stay True, 9 Furthur, 25 Rahiebb, Tarriance, 50 Saratoga.

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