Comer Group Irish St Leger (Group 1)

Dawn Rising: Grade 3 winner over hurdles last November but has emerged as a quality stayer on the flat with victory in the Queen Alexandra (extended two miles and five furlongs) at Royal Ascot. Showed he can be effective back at a mile and six furlongs when only a half-length off classy three-year-old filly Shamida, the pair six lengths clear in trial for this race. Probably more needed but relatively unexposed at this discipline.

Eldar Eldarov: St Leger winner last season and interesting now on his return to one mile and six furlongs. It was over this trip he produced best performance this term, finishing just a half-length off Giavellotto in Yorkshire Cup, before struggling to land a real blow in Gold Cup and fourth to Quickthorn in messy Goodwood Cup. Remains a stayer to be reckoned with.

Kyprios: Carried all before him last season with six wins including four at the top level and this race, where he got the better of Hamish in a protracted duel in the straight. Amazing 20-length winner of Prix du Cadran when last seen but an injury has frustratingly kept him on the sidelines. That said he is lucky to be racing at all, and while he is the class act here, it’s very likely he’ll only be at 80-90%.

Yashin: Put forward by his trainer as a stayer to follow this season and started off brightly with short-head win in the Group 3 Levmoss over this trip at Leopardstown. Struggled here in Curagh Cup, soft ground possibly against him, before running with credit to finish seventh in Ebor off a mark of 105. Much more needed now.

Emily Dickinson: Fourth in Gold Cup was a creditable effort off an unideal preparation and she looked really good when outclassing the very useful Rosscarbery here in the Curragh Cup on soft ground, before emerging best of the rest in Quickthorn’s runaway Goodwood Cup. She probably is better with give on the ground but she has lots of decent form on a quick surface too and looks a real player against her more established stablemate.

Conclusion

Kyprios might have enough class to defy his own physical fitness but he is a risky proposition off the back of a serious injury. Emily Dickinson might be underrated given how impressive she was here on soft ground but she has plenty of good form on quick surfaces and may be able to take full advantage of this disappointingly small turn out.