Order out to start his season in style in Vintage Crop Stakes

5.20 Navan
Vintage Crop Stakes | Group 3 | 4yo+ | 1m6f | ATR

Turned over by Torcedor when 4-5 favourite in this race last year, Order Of St George will once again be odds-on to make a winning reappearance, but this time he has only two rivals to beat and is officially rated 17lb and 27lb superior.

That shock reversal 12 months ago did not set the tone for Order Of St George's season as he put up a brave defence of his Ascot Gold Cup crown, losing out narrowly in an epic battle with Big Orange, before winning his second Irish St Leger in stunning style by nine lengths.

Another admirable Arc effort, when fourth to Enable, was followed by a last-gasp success in the Long Distance Cup at Ascot on Champions Day. He finished the campaign as the leading stayer and is once again favourite for the Gold Cup.

"Order Of St George is in good form at home and is ready to start off," said trainer Aidan O'Brien. "This race is an ideal starting point for his season and once again he'll be aimed at the Gold Cup at Ascot. I've been very happy with him over the winter and spring."

Order Of St George's biggest threat comes from Britain in the shape of the Jedd O'Keeffe-trained Lord Yeats, who was a Listed winner at Newmarket last season but has 24 lengths to find on the favourite from their meeting in last season's Irish St Leger.

O'Keeffe said: "He's in great form – I'm really happy with him and he's working well. He'll like the ground and we know that he goes well fresh. But there is one major obstacle in Order Of St George and we need a big turn around from last year.

"However, we couldn't turn down the chance of being placed in a Group 3. His owners bred him and they still have the dam – a Group 3 place will look very good on the page."

The field is completed by the Jim Bolger-trained Clongowes, whose finest hour last term came when he won the Ulster Derby at Down Royal.

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