Epsom Derby Winner Christmas Day Headlines St. Leger

Epsom Derby (G1) winner Christmas Day (IRE) spearheads Aidan O'Brien's assault on the St. Leger Stakes (G1) Sept. 12, as the Ballydoyle trainer targets a 10th victory in the world's oldest classic. O'Brien, who has won the last three runnings of Saturday's £700,000 contest at Doncaster Racecourse, is responsible for four of the 11 entrants, with Christmas Day joined by fellow leading contender Pierre Bonnard (IRE) as well as filly Amelia Earhart (IRE) and Action (IRE). Christmas Day, who has been beaten in the Irish Derby (G1) and Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) since his Epsom Downs Racecourse heroics, is looking to become the first horse since Reference Point in 1987 to complete the Derby-St. Leger double. With Ryan Moore riding at Leopardstown Racecourse, Ronan Whelan renews his association with Christmas Day, having partnered the Camelot (GB) colt at Epsom, while Wayne Lordan maintains his partnership with Pierre Bonnard. The remaining Ballydoyle runners are partnered by jockeys who were successful in the last two runnings, with 2025 winner Scandinavia's rider Tom Marquand on Amelia Earhart and Jan Brueghel (IRE)'s jockey Sean Levey on Action. O'Brien's son Joseph has two chances in the race in the form of the well-backed Enceladus (IRE), the mount of British jockeys' championship leader Billy Loughnane, and Highwayman (FR), for whom Saffie Osborne has been booked to ride. "I'm very excited to ride in the St. Leger," Osborne said. "It's a great honor to be riding for Joseph and his connections, and I'm very grateful to be able to pick up such a ride in a brilliant race, especially with how well Joseph has done this season. "It's going to be a competitive race, but that's as it should be, being a prestigious British classic." Enceladus, who has soared into classic contention following victories at the Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood meets this summer, will race in cheekpieces for the first time. The Sea The Stars (IRE) colt has been challenging Christmas Day for favoritism this week, with William Hill reporting Sept. 9 that he is "almost the only horse our punters have wanted to back." Qatari-born Faleh Bughenaim has been handed a huge ride on the Al Shaqab Racing-owned Hatteen (IRE), who is the shortest-priced British-trained contender for the classic at about 12-1. His trainer Andrew Balding has also declared Galiyan (GB) in first-time cheekpieces, with Danny Tudhope booked for the ride. The Richard Hannon-trained Alderman (GB), who was fifth in the Derby, and Karl Burke's Golden Story (IRE) complete the British challenge alongside outsider Rebel Rocker (GB).