“It’s one I’ve had the chance to look forward to for a while now. I dare say it was a close call.īut there is optimism from Tom Marquand, who broke his Classic duck in this race almost by chance when Galileo Chrome’s Irish jockey could not travel at the last minute because of Covid and steered Big Evs to victory in the Carlsberg Danish Pilsner Flying Childers on Friday. He had been pencilled in for Gregory for ages but his first defeat, in the Voltigeur, and soft ground meant a late switch to Arrest, who is proven on it.

There is an old saying in northern racing that “the fastest horse wins the Guineas the luckiest wins the Derby - and the best wins the Leger” - proof, perhaps, that PR marketing was invented in Yorkshire, but you cannot argue that it is not an intriguing contest which could be won by any of the first half dozen in the betting.įor his last ride, Dettori, who is seeking a seventh Leger, has had a bit of thinking to do.

Desert Hero has already done his bit to cement the King and Queen’s involvement in racing by winning at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood in their first season with the Royal silks but the William Haggas-trained colt can top that and spoil Frankie Dettori’s leaving party by winning the 247th Betfred St Leger, the oldest Classic, at Doncaster on Saturday.

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