Yorkshire Ebor Festival Preview – Key St Leger trial could see Mogul deny big-money buy Darain at York

We’ve previewed the pick of the action, which also includes a focus on the Great Voltigeur Stakes, a key trial for the St Leger at Doncaster on September 12.

Who is running in the Great Voltigeur, a St Leger Trial?

Staged on Wednesday and carrying a prize fund of £75,000, the Group Two Great Voltigeur Stakes is seen as a key trial for the final British Classic of the season and has been won in recent years by the likes of Postponed (2014), Cracksman (2017) and Logician (2019). Remarkably, 14 horses have completed the Great Voltigeur-St Leger double since the race’s inception in 1950.

This year’s eight-runner Great Voltigeur field is headed by the unbeaten Darain (5/2). One of the most expensive purchases of all time, he cost Qatar Racing 3.5 million guineas and is a brother to Group One winner Too Darn Hot. Darain, a three-year-old son of Dubawi, is trained by John Gosden and backed up a sparkling debut success at Newbury with a comfortable victory in a novice event at Newmarket last month. The step up to 12 furlongs looks sure to suit and his sister Lah Ti Dar was also proven over further having finished second in the 2018 St Leger. However, despite the positives, this is the first stern test of Darain’s career and he looks best watched on his first start in Graded company. He is a 12/1 shot currently for the St Leger.

Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien has won the Great Voltigeur on three occasions and looks to have two nice prospects in this year’s renewal. Mogul (3/1) comes into this race on the back of a gutsy victory in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The son of Galileo cost 3.4 million guineas, but remains an exciting prospect going forward and is a general 7/1 chance for the St Leger.

Highland Chief (6/1) who chased home Mogul last time out is another interesting contender, whilst Pyledriver (7/1) created a striking impression when landing the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and he can be forgiven for not handling the track when a well-beaten 11th in the Derby at Epsom last time.

What are the other big races taking place at York this week?

The Juddmonte International is the feature race on Wednesday. It sees Ghaiyyath (6/5 favourite) bid to record a third straight victory in Group One company and he takes on the high-class Magical (7/2) who is chasing a seventh Group One success. Others to mention include 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (4/1) who finished an unlucky fourth in the Sussex Stakes last time out, along with Lord North (4/1) who recorded an impressive success in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out.

On Thursday, the hugely exciting Love is the star of the show in the Yorkshire Oaks. The 4/11 favourite for the contest, she is bidding to provide Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien with a fifth victory in the Group One event and a first since Seventh Heaven’s victory in 2016.The daughter of Galileo was a dazzling four and a quarter-length of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in June before posting one of the most impressive performances in recent times with a nine-length romp in the Oaks at Epsom by nine lengths. One of the best horses in training, she is targeting a sixth win on her 10th career start and could be a possible runner for O’Brien in the St Leger at Doncaster on September 12. She is currently a general 5/1 chance for the final British Classic of season on Town Moor.

Friday’s action sees Britain’s best sprinter Battaash (2/5 favourite) bid to record back-to-back victories in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs. His chief rival looks to be Art Power (10/3) who is unbeaten this season and was impressive in a Group Two event in Ireland last time out.

York Ebor Festival NAP: Ghaiyyath, Juddmonte International, 6/5

Great Voltigeur tip: Mogul 3/1

Odds & tips via MyBettingSites.co.uk