See below our 2023 St Leger trends ahead of this Saturday’s big Group One Doncaster race – a contest that top jockey Frankie Dettori has won six times over the years and will be getting the leg-up on the fancied Arrest in his final ride in the race.
Best Horse Racing Offers for St Leger
St Leger Trends: Key Stats To Help Find Doncaster Winner
The St Leger is the oldest (and last) of the five English Classics run each season and it’s a chance for the 3 year-olds to strut their stuff over this longer 1m 6 1/2 trip at Doncaster racecourse.
We are expecting to see a small, but select, field of 9 runners that, like recent years, are dominated by the top stables.
In fact, with John Gosden, who has won the race 5 times, and Aidan O’Brien (6 wins) having 7 of the entries at this stage and Godolphin and William Haggas the other two – then we’ve only four yards represented this year.
The ‘boys in blue’ of Godolphin also have a top record in the race with 7 successes, but trainer William Haggas, who is set to run the royal runner Desert Hero, is yet to win this Donny Classic.
The Queen won the St Leger in 1977 with a horse called Dunfermline, so can the King repeat the feat?
The St Leger is also a race that top jockey Frankie Dettori has done very well in over the years – winning the prize 6 times.
This will be his final ride in the race, having announced his retirement from the saddle at the end of this season, but Dettori will be a popular pick to go out with a bang as he rides the well-fancied John Gosden-trained Arrest having turned down the chance to ride Gregory, who is owned by Wathnan Racing.
See below the key St Leger trends that you can use to find the best profiles based on past winners of the race.
When Is The 2023 St Leger?
🕙Time: 3:35pm
📅Date: Saturday 16th Sept 2023
🏇Racecourse: Doncaster
💰: Winner: £396,970
📺 TV: Racing TV / ITV
🎲 Odds: Arrest 10/3 | Gregory 7/2 | Continuous 4/1 | Desert Hero 5/1 | Middle Earth 8/1 | 11/ Bar
RELATED: 2023 St Leger Betting: Arrest and Frankie Dettori Well-Fancied For Doncaster Classic
St Leger Trends (The Last 21 Runnings)
- 18/21 – Placed in the top 3 last time out
- 18/21 – Had 2 or 3 previous career wins
- 18/21 – Had never raced at Doncaster before
- 17/21 – Placed favourites
- 17/21 – Returned 8/1 or shorter in the betting
- 16/21 – Had won a Group race before
- 16/21 – Had won over at least 1m3f before
- 14/21 – Had 4 or 5 previous runs that season
- 13/21 – Winning distance of 1 length or more
- 13/21 – Had never raced over 1m6f or further before
- 13/21 – Drawn in stall 5 or higher
- 12/21 – Won last time out
- 12/21 – Officially rated 109 to 115
- 9/21 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
- 8/21 – Ran in the Great Voltigeur last time out (3 won it)
- 5/21 – Trained by Aidan O’Brien
- 4/21 – Trained by John Gosden
- 4/21 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori (6 wins in total)
- 4/21 – Won by a Godolphin-owned horse (7 wins in total)
- 3/21 – Ran in the Gordon Stakes last time out (2 won it)
- 3/21 – Ridden by William Buick
- 2/21 – Ridden by Ryan Moore
- 2/21 – Winners from stall 1
- Godolphin have won the race 7 times
- Aidan O’Brien has trained 6 winners of the race
- The average winning SP in the last 21 years is 7/1
Look For Proven Group Winners
The St Leger is a top Group One race, so it’s no surprise that most of the recent winners (16 of the last 21) had already tasted glory in some sort of Group contest.
Yes, most of the runners will fit the bill here, but it’s worth pointing out that the Godolphin entry Chesspiece is yet to win a Group race from two tries – the best he’s managed so far is a Listed success when winning the Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton in July.
St Leger Favourites Have Fared Well Recently
This year’s St Leger favourite is expected to be either Gregory or Continuous, who have been high up the betting in the build-up to Saturday’s race, and there’s not a lot between them.
At this stage the Frankie-ridden Gregory is just edging it at the head of the market, but being less than a point clear of the O’Brien-trained Continuous suggests a lot can still change on this front.
Whichever horse does get the ‘St Leger favourites tag’ come the weekend will have a good stat on its side though – 43% of the last 21 market leaders have won the Donny Classic and a massive 81% have been placed.
Great Voltigeur (York) and Gordon Stakes Often Good Guides
In terms of St Leger trial races to look back on – the Great Voltigeur Stakes (23rd Aug, York) and the Gordon Stakes (3rd Aug, Goodwood) are often good guides.
The Great Voltigeur has seen 3 winners in the last 21 follow-up in the St Leger, but 8 of the last 21 winners also ran in that York race.
The Gordon Stakes has seen 2 winners follow-up, with 3 having contested that Goodwood event.
This year, the Great Voltigeur was won by Continuous (watch below), with Gregory back in third.
While the Gordon Stakes was taken by Desert Hero, with Chesspiece just a neck back in second (watch below).
RELATED: Free Horse Racing Lucky 15 Tips for Today
Having Had 4 or 5 Runs This Season Is A Plus
Next up for the St Leger trends is to look for horses that have had between 4-5 runs this season – as this stat has been responsible for 67% of the last 21 winners.
Most tick the box, but with just 3 outings Desert Hero falls down – as do two of the Aidan O’Brien outsiders – Alexandroupolis and Denmark.
57% Of The Last 21 Winners Won Their Last Race
Recent winners have a fair record too – winning 12 of the last 21 runnings.
Not a great stat for the likes of Gregory, Chesspiece, Tower Of London, Alexandroupolis and Denmark – who were all beaten last time out.
Respect Aidan O’Brien, John Gosden and Godolphin
The St Leger has been dominated by the powerful Aidan O’Brien (6 wins), John Gosden (5 wins) and Godolphin (7 wins) camps in recent times and all three are represented again in 2023.
Since 2003 (20 runnings) the trio have won a massive 13 St Legers – which returns a 65% strike-rate.
This year, Godolphin run Chesspiece, O’Brien has Continuous, Tower Of London, Alexandroupolis and Denmark.
While Gosden has Gregory, Arrest and Middle Earth.
Can Frankie Dettori Be In St Leger ‘Seventh Heaven’?
Finally, this year’s St Leger will have another sub-plot attached to it as a lot of focus will be on a certain Frankie Dettori as he rides in the race for the final time and will be seeking his 7th success in the Donny Classic.
Dettori’s first win came in 1995 on Classic Cliche for Godolphin and since then has followed up with Shantou (1996), Scorpion (2005), Sixties Icon (2006), Conduit (2008) and most recently with Logician (2019).
Frankie will ride the Gosden main hope – Arrest – who bounced back to winning form in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury last time out (watch below).
RELATED: 2023 Melbourne Cup Betting Odds: Vauban The Flemington Favourite
2023 St Leger Odds For Doncaster
See below the latest 2023 St Leger betting odds from QuinnBet.
- Arrest 10/3
- Gregory 7/2
- Continuous 4/1
- Desert Hero 5/1
- Middle Earth 8/1
- Chesspiece 11/1
- Tower Of London 12/1
- Alexandroupolis 25/1
- Denmark 50/1
Odds are subject to change
1.
|
50% Of First Losses Back Up To £35 As A Free Bet + 10 Free Spins
If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day’s betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £25 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free Spins on Asgard Warriors. Even if your account is up, you’re guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 20 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org
If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day’s betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £25 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free Spins on Asgard Warriors. Even if your account is up, you’re guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 20 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org |
Claim Offer |
St Leger Winners (Last 10 Years)
- 2022 – Eldar Eldarov (9/2)
- 2021 – Hurricane Lane (8/11 fav)
- 2020 – Galileo Chrome (4/1)
- 2019 – Logician (5/6 fav)
- 2018 – Kew Gardens (3/1)
- 2017 – Capri (3/1 fav)
- 2016 – Harbour Law (22/1)
- 2015 – Simple Verse (8/1)
- 2014 – Kingston Hill (9/4 fav)
- 2013 – Leading Light (7/2 fav)
WATCH: Eldar EldarovWinning The 2022 St Leger
Related Horse Racing Content:
- Best Horse Racing Free Bets Offers at UK Sportsbooks – Top Horse Racing Bonuses for 2023
- Top Free Horse Racing Tips & Advice for UK Betting Today
- Free NAP of The Day – Today’s Horse Racing NAPs
- Free Horse Racing Lucky 15 Tips for Today – Best Lucky 15 Bet Today
- Today’s Racecards – View Horse Racing Cards Today
- Horse Racing Results Today – See All Recent Race Results & Winners
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
