4.10 Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1) 1M 6F

Capri: Former Irish Derby winner who hasn’t quite looked the force of old this season. He has shown promise on occasion this term and couldn’t be entirely ruled out, but his latest fourth to Southern France in a Group 3 over this course and distance leaves him with plenty to find.

Cross Counter: Won last year’s Melbourne Cup and comes here off honourable placed runs behind Stradivarius in the Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup. Both of those runs give him prospects and he is a top-notch stayer on his day, so he is a more than credible contender for top honours.

Cypress Creek: Won at Group 3 level last season but has struggled in the face of some stiff enough tasks this year. His overall form would suggest that he will come up short at this level.

Kew Gardens: Top-notch three-year-old last season when winning the Grand Prix de Paris and also the St Leger at Doncaster. Didn’t win in two starts much earlier in the season but ran very well to be beaten a ½l into second in the Coronation Cup and must have every chance despite having a 107-day absence to overcome.

Latrobe: Won last year’s Irish Derby before going on to run second in this race last year. He should be all the better for a confidence boosting Group 3 success at Leopardstown last month and appeals as a likely contender although this looks a stronger renewal of the race than last year.

Master Of Reality: Showed his shock victory in the Vintage Crop Stakes much earlier in the season was no fluke with a tremendous third in the Gold Cup at Ascot. He ran quite well to take third behind Southern France in the Leger Trial here last month and improvement should be forthcoming, but he will need to progress for this assignment.

Salouen: Admirable campaigner who has reached the frame at Group 1 level on seven occasions and ran very well to finish sixth in last year’s Arc de Triomphe. On balance his form leaves him a little short of the standard needed for this, but the step up to this trip could bring about some progress.

Southern France: Talented stayer who finished third in last year’s St Leger at Doncaster as well as chasing home Stradivarius in this year’s Yorkshire Cup. Won the prize that his talents merited when taking the Irish St Leger Trial here last month and could easily make his presence felt at the finish.

Twilight Payment: Ultra reliable and classy stayer who has only once finished out of the frame in 23 career starts and comes here off a career best effort that saw him defeat Latrobe in the Curragh Cup in late June. Can be relied upon to run his usual solid race, but a few of these might just be too strong.

Search For A Song: Quality filly who ran a fine fourth in the Irish Oaks before going on to win the Galtres Stakes at York in good style. Can progress again and should enjoy moving up to this trip, but this race demands a career best and she is looking to become the first three-year-old filly to win this race in 30 years.

Conclusion

Last year’s Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter comes here off a couple of fine runs against Stradavarius and he makes plenty of appeal in what looks a competitive edition of this race. Kew Gardens is the pick of these on form but might just be vulnerable on his return from a break of several months. Southern France and Search For A Song are two that appeal as each-way prospects.