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

Camorra: Won a Group 3 over a mile and a half on day one of Champions Weekend last year and showed that run was no flash in the pan when defeating Gear Up to land the Curragh Cup in June. Has been kept under wraps since then and another strong showing looks entirely possible, but more is needed at this level.

Hamish: Very lightly raced six-year-old whose Group 3 win over Hukum a year ago reads very well. He looked to be in excellent order when returning with a win in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. His absence since then isn’t a major concern as he has gone well fresh previously and he is a significant overseas contender.

Jason The Militant: High-class jumper on his day and has also shown quality flat form as evidenced by a mile-and-a-half listed win at Naas late last season. Needs to improve on his third in a Roscommon listed event in June and any rain that falls will bolster his chances, but he has to take a jump forward to be competitive at this level.

Kyprios: The season’s outstanding stayer as evidenced by wins in the Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup where he bested Stradivarius on both occasions. He now has to contend with a drop in trip, but he did beat Search For A Song at this distance earlier in the campaign as well as dominating the Savel Beg Stakes over a mile and six furlongs. Unquestionably the one to beat.

Raise You: Has taken his form to a different level since moving up to longer trips and his form this year includes an impressive listed win here in May and a two-length success over Search For A Song in last month’s St Leger Trial. A leading player.

Seattle Creek: Finished ninth in this race last year when having just his second start and has since shown a reasonable level of form at Dundalk. However his pattern race efforts against the likes of Kyprios and Raise You leave him with lots to do.

Shanroe: High-class staying handicapper who ran well to be beaten by just over three lengths into eighth in the Ebor last month, but this demands much more and others in the line up hold stronger claims.

Princess Zoe: Made a great start to her season when defeating Quickthorn in the Group 3 Sagaro Stakes at Ascot. Hasn’t matched that form in either the Gold Cup or the Goodwood Cup, but it would be most unwise to rule her out with the ground having turned in her favour.

Rosscarbery: Has gone from a rating of 81 at the start of the season to winning two Group 3s and was beaten by just a neck in a 10-furlong Group 1 at Deauville last month. She also has winning form up to this trip and gets better with every run which means that further progress cannot be ruled out. Every chance.

Search For A Song: Won this race in 2019 and 2020. Hasn’t quite reached her peak this term but ran very well to chase home Kyprios at Navan in April and warmed up for this with an encouraging second to Raise You over this course and distance last month. Cannot be ruled out in a race that suits her so well and at a track that brings out the best in her.

Manu Et Corde: Capable sort whose form in the last year includes placed efforts in the likes of the Beresford Stakes, the Ulster Derby and Her Majesty’s Plate. That form still leaves him well short of the required standard though.

Conclusion

A strong edition of this race. Kyprios is the one to beat having dominated the staying division this year but it could be worth taking a chance on Rosscarbery. She has improved all season and is proven at this trip while her ability to hold her own at Group 1 level over much shorter distances than this is a notable pointer to her prospects. The dual winner Search For A Song and her recent conqueror Raise You are two other formidable contenders, along with Hamish.