4.50 COMER GROUP

INTERNATIONAL IRISH

ST LEGER (GROUP 1)

1M 6F

Benkei: Enjoyed an unorthodox warm up for this when bolting up in a Roscommon handicap hurdle on Monday evening. In terms of his flat form, he has previously been placed at stakes level but his very best efforts would still leave him with plenty to find.

Dartmouth: Progressed into a high-class runner last term when his efforts were headed by a narrow victory over Highland Reel in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. The highlight of this season’s efforts is a hard fought win over Simple Verse in the Yorkshire Cup and he has since run two solid races in defeat, but he will need to progress on last month’s second to Montaly in the Lonsdale Cup.

Lord Yeats: Began his season with an impressive 6l handicap win at York and then followed up by defeating the smart Second Step in a 1m 4f Listed race at Newmarket in July. He needs to leave last month’s unplaced Ebor run well behind if he is to make an impact.

Order Of St George: Outstanding stayer who won this race by 11l in 2015 before meeting with a shock defeat against Wicklow Brave last year. Since then he has finished third in the Arc and he looked right back to his best in making short work of some decent rivals in a Group 3 over this course and distance last month. The ease in the ground will be ideal and he is unquestionably the one to beat.

The Tartan Spartan: Turned in a cracking effort to beat Twilight Payment in a Down Royal listed race in July but hasn’t matched that form in two subsequent raids to Britain.

Torcedor: Won a valuable 1m2f handicap on this card two years ago and has taken his form to a new level over staying trips this season. His 1½l defeat of Order Of St George at Navan in April gives him a live chance of getting involved and this ground could show him off to better effect.

Twilight Payment: Looked a potentially high-class stayer last autumn when his form included a Group 3 second to Order Of St George over this course and distance and a 2m listed success over Forgotten Rules. Has continued to perform well in decent company this year but is comfortably held by Order Of St George and Torcedor on several previous meetings.

Western Hymn: Former Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed runner whose season began brightly with a narrow success over US Army Ranger in a Chester Group 3 in May. He has since struggled in two runs at a higher level and a return to his best is needed if he is to be involved.

Wicklow Brave: Multi-talented and high-class dual-purpose runner who shocked Order Of St George when winning a four-runner edition of this race last year. Hasn’t quite reached his peak on the flat this year, although his second to Rekindling in the Curragh Cup and his fourth in the Goodwood Cup are solid efforts. He isn’t one to underestimate.

Mount Moriah: Progressive three-year-old who started the season rated 81 but has climbed to 106 following a pair of dominant handicap wins at Ascot and Newbury. Probably stepped forward again to finish third (beaten 4½l) to Crystal Ocean in a Group 3 at Goodwood last time and could do even better still but he will have to play a leading role.

the verdict

Order Of St George is impossible to oppose. He has his ideal conditions and he couldn’t have been any more impressive in his prep race over this course and distance last month. It wouldn’t come as any surprise if he were given most to do by Torcedor.