St Leger plunge horse Il Paradiso on course for the final Classic of the season

There can be few better ways to warm up for the William Hill St Leger than sparring with one of the best battlers of all in Stradivarius, and Aidan O'Brien has reported plunge horse Il Paradiso to be bang on course for a crack at Britain's final Classic of the season.

In the space of 24 hours, punters had backed Il Paradiso into as short as 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon, with the colt earlier available at 14-1 for staying showpiece at Doncaster on September 14.

He is now the clear second-favourite behind top-priced 6-4 shot Logician.

Il Paradiso produced a career-best effort at York on Friday when giving Stradivarius a scare in the Lonsdale Cup before going down bravely by a length and a quarter in third.

That performance means he is now rated 115, a considerable rise from his mark of 87 when seventh in the Irish Derby behind stablemate Sovereign.

Il Paradiso: winning his maiden at Leopardstown earlier this seasonCredit: Caroline Norris

Since then he has won a Curragh handicap over two miles by 12 lengths and finished just a nose behind Dee Ex Bee at York.

Ladbrokes were one of the firms to take precautionary action, slashing his odds into 6-1 on Wednesday having offered 10-1 at the start of the day.

O'Brien has won the St Leger six times since 2001 and Il Paradiso will not be his only representative in the race with Constantinople also likely to be on his teamsheet. Recent Japanese purchase Broome and Sir Dragonet could also feature, with Ireland's champion trainer responsible for 11 of the 24 still in the race.

Aidan O'Brien's St Leger winners

2001 Milan
2003 Brian Boru
2005 Scorpion
2013 Leading Light
2017 Capri
2018 Kew Gardens

He said: "Il Paradiso is in good form and came out of York in good shape. We are very happy with him and looking at the Leger for him next.

"Everything we have entered are possibles at this stage. Constantinople is progressing slowly with each run but we feel the longer trip at Doncaster will suit him much better than the mile and a half did at York. He's getting there slowly.

"Sir Dragonet has the option of Doncaster, the Prix Niel or the Irish Champion Stakes. He will improve from his recent run at the Curragh and we have yet to decide where he will go. He has a lot of different options, as a lot of them do."

Ladbrokes reported a surge of support for the son of Galileo on Wednesday with the firm's spokeswoman Nicola McGeady saying: "It looks like Il Paradiso will be the leading Aidan O'Brien hope for the St Leger this year, with a string of support in his favour this morning. However, Logician remains the worst result in the book, with continuous support since his impressive York performance."

Nayef Road (nearside) sticks his neck out to fend off Constantinople and win the Gordon StakesCredit: Alan Crowhurst

O'Brien said Nunthorpe disappointment Ten Sovereigns could meet conqueror Battaash again in the Flying Five at the Curragh on September 15 if he does not reappear in the Sprint Cup at Haydock eight days earlier.

He said: "Ten Sovereigns seems good since York and he has a little bit of work to do next week before we decide where he will go next. It will either be the Flying Five or the race at Haydock but no decision has been made yet."

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