Betfred St Leger Stakes betting tips and predictions

The big race on the third day of the St Leger Festival is the Betfred St Leger Stakes, a Group 1 contest of the highest order, which takes place at Doncaster Racecourse at 15:35 (Saturday). For those who don’t know, the St Leger is something of a big deal in the flat racing world, as it’s not only a huge race in its own right, but is famously the last leg of the illusive Triple Crown, a feat that hasn’t been achieved since the legendary Nijinsky achieved the feat back in 1970.

We won’t see a new Triple Crown winner this year, we know that much, but we may see a different piece of history made as the retiring Frankie Dettori looks to land the prize with his last ever St Leger ride.

Our betting tips and predictions for the Betfred St Leger Stakes

In recent years, we’ve had some red-hot favourites for the St Leger, I’m thinking Hurricane Lane at 8/11 in 2021 and Logician at 5/6 in 2019, but this year, that’s not the case, it’s very, very competitive. The early market leader trades 3/1, but they’re queuing up in behind, so the picture could easily change come the off.

Our best prediction: Continuous @ 3/1

The main story of the race this year is Frankie. Can the man who has been the one of bets jockey’s in the world for the last three decades go out with a bang? Well, it’s far from out of the question, let’s be honest. Even if he was riding a lesser horse, you wouldn’t put it past the man known for his famous flying dismount, and as it stands, he’s riding a pretty good one anyway. Arrest currently trades at 4/1 on the eve of the race, and seemingly has a good chance as an unexposed type who cruised to victory at Group 3 level last time out.

Dettori had the choice between Gregory and Arrest and went with the latter, but the former is no back number in this. That horse, also trained by John Gosden, is extremely unexposed and was unbeaten until losing at York last time out. Desert Hero run’s in the royal colours and is another who has a chance, though he would need to improve following that win at Goodwood last time out.

Anyone who read my best bets for the St Leger Festival in general, the first three of which have all won, will know that I put Continuous up for this at 4/1 on Wednesday. That 4/1 is now gone, but to be perfectly honest, even at 3’s, I’d still be a player.

It really is hard to ignore the way Aidan O’Brien’s runner won Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes last time out. He beat Gregory by a comfortable margin in doing so and never really seemed to be all out. That win was impressive, while he’s also finished some way clear of Arrest this season too when finishing second to the 120-rated King Of Steel at Royal Ascot. That form is about the best on offer and again, is hard overlook. It’s quite simply, he’s the best animal in the contest on ratings and after running the best of the bunch in preparation for this, I’m taking him to confirm that supremacy.