4.40 Comer Group International Irish St Leger (Group 1) 1m 6f

Aircraft Carrier: Posted a cracking effort to take second in last year’s Irish Cesarewitch but has struggled somewhat in two flat runs this year and his fortunes look unlikely to change in Group 1 company.

Amhran Na Bhfiann: Came back to the form that carried him into third in last year’s Derby when getting loose on the lead in the Group 2 Curragh Cup but has struggled badly in two runs since then and would be a surprise winner.

Barbados: Decent stayer at his best and showed up well to finish fourth in this race last year. However, his recent runs in a Down Royal Listed race and an amateur riders’ conditions race at Killarney would suggest that he is going to find a number of these too good.

Baron Samedi: Won his first race off a mark of 65 just over a year and then went on a remarkable winning spree that took in Group 2 events in France and America as well as the Group 3 Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan. Came up short in a Group 1 in France two months ago but isn’t lightly dismissed and deserves due consideration.

Emperor Of The Sun: Decent stayer on his day as he showed when winning the Listed Savel Beg Stakes at Leopardstown earlier this season and when running third to Twilight Payment over this course and distance last month. Another decent showing from him is quite possible.

Master Of Reality: High-class stayer on his day and has a host of good efforts to his name including when reaching the frame in the Gold Cup and Melbourne Cup in 2019. A listed win at Down Royal in July boded well for his prospects through the second half of the season and he is not without a chance.

Sonnyboyliston: Defied a 31lb rise in the weights to win the Northfields Handicap on this card last year and has sustained that progression in 2021 with a victory at listed level and a famous head triumph in last month’s Ebor. This is tougher but he is on a roll and comes right into it on ratings.

Twilight Payment: Admirable and dependable stayer whose crowning glory came when he won last year’s Melbourne Cup. Looked right back to his best when winning a trial for this race over the course and distance last month and he must have a huge chance, but third is the best he has managed in four previous attempts at this prize.

Barrington Court: Returned from a break of several months to run a respectable fourth to Twilight Payment last month and isn’t one to rule out as she came into her own this time last year when winning twice at listed level as well as posting several quality efforts in defeat against classy opponents.

Passion: Smart and tough staying filly last season when she won at Group 3 level, reached the frame in the Irish Oaks and was also placed in a top-level event won by Wonderful Tonight at Ascot in October. Her comeback in the Curragh Cup wasn’t inspiring though and she has questions to answer.

Search For A Song: Top-drawer staying mare who is bidding for a hat-trick in this race having achieved wins in 2019 and 2020 in sharply contrasting fashion. Her comeback second in the Savel Beg Stakes was solid and then she struggled on deep ground in the Tattersalls Gold Cup nine days later, but this is her time of year and expect her to turn out in peak condition.

Carlisle Bay: Showed plenty in two runs last season but turned in a poor effort in the Lingfield Derby Trial on his only outing this term and there are far more appealing candidates in the line up.

King Of The Castle: Has just a Limerick maiden win to his name but is quite a decent three-year-old as illustrated by his second in the June’s Ulster Derby and a respectable showing in the Melrose Handicap at York last time. Should progress into a nice stayer but has it all to do at this level.

Seattle Creek: Showed plenty to finish fourth in a decent Leopardstown maiden in May. That race has produced a number of subsequent winners which bodes well for this colt’s long-term future, but he faces a huge ask here on just the second outing of his career.

Verdict

Dermot Weld won this race four times in succession with Vinnie Roe and 17 years later he might make it three wins on the spin with Search For A Song. She comes here off a truncated campaign but has the happy knack of always coming into her own at this time of year and if turning up in peak form, she will take beating.

Twilight Payment looked as good as ever when winning here last month and his fifth appearance in this race could yield his highest placing so far.

Baron Samedi is a likely contender, while one that could go well at a price is Barrington Court whose form last autumn ties in with a number of quality sorts and would suggest she could make her presence felt.