Christmas Day Bids for Historic Derby-St Leger Double at Doncaster

Two hundred and fifty years after the St Leger was first run, Britain's oldest Classic reaches a landmark renewal at Doncaster on Saturday, with a Derby winner attempting to achieve something that has not been done for almost four decades.

Christmas Day, Aidan O'Brien's Epsom hero, heads the final field for the Group 1 St Leger over one mile, six furlongs and 115 yards. Victory would make him the first horse since Reference Point in 1987 to complete the Derby-St Leger double and provide O'Brien with a tenth success in the final British Classic of the season.

Yet this is far from a coronation. Christmas Day has been beaten on both starts since Epsom and now tackles the longest distance of his career. Stablemate Pierre Bonnard finished ahead of him when they last met at York, while Enceladus has emerged as one of the most progressive three-year-olds in training and provides Joseph O'Brien with a serious opportunity to defeat his father.

Can Christmas Day Make History?

Christmas Day brings the strongest single piece of form into the race as the winner of the Derby. He subsequently finished narrowly behind stablemate Benvenuto Cellini in the Irish Derby before taking third in the Great Voltigeur at York, where he finished behind Maltese Cross and Pierre Bonnard.

That York result should not necessarily be taken at face value, as Christmas Day was conceding 5lb to Pierre Bonnard because of his Derby success. With Maltese Cross now bypassing Doncaster, the two Ballydoyle colts have another opportunity to settle the argument.

The bigger question for Christmas Day is stamina. The son of Camelot is proven at the highest level over a mile and a half, but the St Leger stretches to almost a mile and seven furlongs. If he stays, his class makes him the obvious horse to beat. If he does not, this field contains several horses equipped to expose him.

There is also a nice historical connection through his sire. Camelot arrived at Doncaster in 2012 attempting to complete the Triple Crown after winning the 2,000 Guineas and Derby, only to be denied by Encke. Fourteen years later, Christmas Day can provide the family with a rather different piece of St Leger history.

Enceladus Is the Horse on the Rise

While Christmas Day brings established Classic form, Enceladus (Joseph O'Brien; Billy Loughnane) brings relentless progression.

He began the season rated just 89 but has climbed to 112, winning three consecutive races. After a maiden victory at Cork, he landed the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot before proving that performance was no handicap fluke with victory in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

That progression has made him one of the best-backed horses in the St Leger market. His profile is particularly attractive because there is every possibility the longer trip will bring further improvement rather than expose a weakness.

With Joseph O'Brien's regular rider Dylan Browne McMonagle sidelined through injury, Billy Loughnane takes over. His presence also creates one of the most interesting subplots of Saturday's race: Joseph trying to deny his father another Classic with a rapidly improving colt who may not yet have reached his ceiling.

Pierre Bonnard Brings Strong York Form

Pierre Bonnard gives Aidan O'Brien another major chance. Rated 116, he is only 2lb behind Christmas Day on official figures and finished second to Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur, ahead of the Derby winner.

His season has not been completely straightforward. He disappointed at Epsom but bounced back when third in the Irish Derby before producing another strong performance at York. The Great Voltigeur has traditionally been one of the most important St Leger trials and the extra distance at Doncaster could suit him.
With Maltese Cross absent, Pierre Bonnard is the horse who brings the strongest direct York trial form into Saturday's race.

Father Against Son

Between them, Aidan and Joseph O'Brien are responsible for more than half of the field. Aidan saddles Christmas Day, Pierre Bonnard, Action and the filly Amelia Earhart, while Joseph has Enceladus and Highwayman.

Joseph's challenge has particular significance. He rode Leading Light to win this race for his father in 2013 and now returns with a genuine chance of beating Ballydoyle as a trainer.

His second runner, Highwayman (Saffie Osborne), is also worth noting after a Listed victory at Leopardstown. Victory would make Osborne the first female jockey to win a British Classic.

The home challenge includes Alderman (Richard Hannon; Rossa Ryan), Galiyan (Andrew Balding; Daniel Tudhope), Golden Story (Karl Burke; Clifford Lee), Hatteen (Andrew Balding; Faleh Bughenaim) and Rebel Rocker (Faye Bramley; Jason Watson), although all have something to find with the leading trio on official ratings.

The Stamina Question

The St Leger is different from the other British Classics because the distance can overturn the established pecking order. Christmas Day is the highest-rated horse in the field at 118 and Pierre Bonnard is close behind on 116, but neither has yet been asked to race this far.

Enceladus is rated 112, but his pedigree and progressive profile suggest the additional distance could bring about another step forward. That makes this more complicated than simply siding with the best horse on the figures.
Saturday will ultimately come down to which of the leading contenders can still produce their best after almost a mile and seven furlongs.

The Verdict

Christmas Day would provide the historic result. A Derby winner completing the Derby-St Leger double in the 250th running of Britain's oldest Classic would be a remarkable story, and his official rating confirms that he is the most accomplished horse in the field.

Pierre Bonnard is dangerous after finishing ahead of him at York, but Enceladus may be the most interesting runner of all. Joseph O'Brien's colt has improved with virtually every race this season, has already made the transition from handicap company to Group level and looks tailor-made for the particular stamina test Doncaster presents.

The question is whether he can improve enough to bridge the gap to two genuinely high-class Ballydoyle colts. If he can, Joseph could deny his father a tenth St Leger in one of the most significant renewals in the race's history.