{"id":290800,"date":"2023-09-16T01:40:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-16T01:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/?p=290800"},"modified":"2023-09-16T01:40:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T01:40:18","slug":"obrien-can-play-party-pooper-by-wining-the-st-leger-with-continuous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/horse-racing\/obrien-can-play-party-pooper-by-wining-the-st-leger-with-continuous\/","title":{"rendered":"O'Brien can play party pooper by wining the St Leger with Continuous"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you let your head rule your heart, the percentage call is that Aidan O\u2019Brien will play the party pooper by winning the Betfred St Leger with Ryan Moore-ridden Continuous.<\/p>\n
The best jockey in the world riding for the trainer who last weekend posted his 4,000th winner go into the final Classic of the season armed with a colt who looks like he will be happy on the rain-softened ground.<\/p>\n
Continuous won the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month by almost four lengths, decisively beating Gregory \u2014 one of his main rivals.<\/p>\n
That all stacks up into a pretty strong case to give O\u2019Brien a seventh St Leger win. But, not without justification, heartstrings powerfully tug you in the direction of more romantic results.<\/p>\n
The No 1 dream outcome would be William Haggas-trained Desert Hero storming to success under Tom Marquand, wearing the royal colours, with King Charles and Queen Camilla cheered into the winner\u2019s enclosure.<\/p>\n
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Continuous will be happy on the rain-softened ground at Doncaster on Saturday<\/p>\n
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Desert Hero bids to become the first Royal winner of a Classic since 1977 on Saturday<\/p>\n
A first royal Classic winner since Dunfermline won the 1977 St Leger would be massive, affirming the new monarch\u2019s continued support for the sport to which his late mother was so devoted.<\/p>\n
Adding poignancy to a potential Desert Hero victory is the memory that Queen Elizabeth II died on the eve of last year\u2019s St Leger.<\/p>\n
Desert Hero steps up to the longest trip he has ever faced but he has the potential to be a rare commodity, a stayer with a turn of foot.<\/p>\n
Marquand said: \u2018He has not given us a doubt he won\u2019t stay but he has to answer that question and it will be hard work in the ground.<\/p>\n
\u2018All rides are important. This one has that little bit extra added to the story but you can\u2019t lose sight of what it is, which is a horserace, and you\u2019ve got to win.\u2019<\/p>\n
The No 2 dream result is Frankie Dettori winning his seventh St Leger on Arrest on his final British Classic ride before he retires.<\/p>\n
Again it is a plausible outcome. Arrest\u2019s form measures up well.<\/p>\n
Dettori, who was expected to ride Arrest\u2019s John and Thady Gosden-trained stablemate Gregory, made a late switch swayed by his mount\u2019s proven record on today\u2019s soft ground.<\/p>\n
The reality is that a case can be made for most of the nine runners but Continuous looks very solid.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien also runs Tower Of London, which may seem appropriate if one of four runners denies the royal champion.<\/p>\n
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