St. Leger

The St Leger is the fifth English Classic of the season. It takes place over the trip of one mile and six furlongs at Doncaster racecourse and, after being established in 1776, is the oldest of the Classics.

It is available for three-year-old colts and fillies and is scheduled to take place in early September. It brings up the final leg of the Triple Crown. The colts have to win the 2000 Guineas and the Derby, while the fillies have the 1000 Guineas and Oaks to succeed in before competing in the Doncaster contest.

The race was established in 1776 by Anthony St Leger, who was an army officer and politician. The first ever running of the race was held at Cantley Common on September 24. Allabaculia was successful on that occasion, the filly ridden successfully by John Singleton after being trained by Christopher Scaife.

Bill Scott has scored on a record nine occasions in this Classic. Jack Spigot was his first winning ride in 1821, while 25 years later he was also on board Sir Tatton Sykes in 1846 for win number nine.

Leading trainer of his time, John Scott, has his name on the roll of honours 16 times after he was dominant in this contest in the 19th century. In 1827, Matilda gave him some early success, while The Marquis succeeded in the 1862 running to help him reach win number 16.

The fastest winning time in the St Leger since it was switched to Doncaster over 1m6f was recorded by Masked Marvel in 2011. John Gosden's colt finished with a clock of 3m 00. 44s, while in terms of the largest margin of success, Never Say Die was successful by 12 lengths in an empathic win in 1954. He was also victorious in the Derby earlier in that campaign over the shorter trip of 1m4f.

When Galtee succeeded in the 1897 St Leger, he did so at odds of just 1/10. That remains a record for the shortest priced winner. At the other end of the spectrum, Theodore
caused an upset in 1822 as he was not fancied at 200/1 when he obliged for trainer James Croft.

There has been some variety as to the number of runners to have lined up for the final Classic of the year at Doncaster. In 1825, 30 horses took their chance in the Group One but in 1917 only three were declared due to the First World War.

For all the latest St. Leger Betting Tips place check out betting.betfair