St Leger 2025 Preview – Runners Guide to Final Classic of Season at Doncaster

The St Leger of 2025 has just eight runners from four different stables gunning for the £396,970 first prize at Doncaster on Saturday, 13 September. More than half the field taking to the Town Moor track in Yorkshire come over from Ireland for a shot at fifth and final British Classic.

Aidan O’Brien has eight wins in the extended mile-and-a-half test for three-year-old colts (and fillies if any held an entry) including the last couple of seasons. He launches a four-pronged attack on Doncaster headed by Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia, and the Epsom and Irish Derby hero Lambourn. Also representing Ballydoyle are Stay True and Saratoga.

Also hailing from Ireland, however, is Paddy Twomey runner Carmers, who has the St Leger in 2025 as his main target after landing the Queen’s Vase during Royal Ascot earlier in the campaign. Besides Scandinavia, who came fifth that day, he also takes on the re-opposing runner-up and third again here.

Furthur is one of two for Andrew Balding in the line-up after winning the Geoffrey Freer Stakes around Newbury. The yard also has Melrose Handicap scorer Tarriance engaged. Also representing the Queen’s Vase form is Rahiebb for Roger Varian, who has two wins in the Doncaster Classic since 2015.

It’s a small, but select field again. We asked our experts for some profiles of these colts all bidding for glory, as well as devising a shortlist based on their form and the prices leading horse racing betting sites in the UK offer on the race. Read more about the horses below…

St Leger 2025 Runners Guide

1. Carmers

CARMERS takes the Queen’s Vase, giving W.J. Lee his second win of the week and a first-ever #RoyalAscot winner for trainer @paddytwomey. Congratulations to all connections! pic.twitter.com/hEF3y0JrZ3

— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 18, 2025

Won first three starts over 1m 5f and further. In front off the home turn and stayed really well when landing the Group 2 Queen’s Vase from Furthur and Rahiebb (Scandinavia back in fifth) at Royal Ascot. Not disgraced down in distance under a penalty when runner-up to Dante winner Pride Of Arras in Great Voltigeur Stakes during the York Ebor Festival latest where had Lambourn in-behind. Big chance stepping back up in trip.

2. Furthur

Stamps his class.

Furthur wins the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes with authority#ITVRacing |@NewburyRacing pic.twitter.com/bjgVF6U7p9

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 16, 2025

Chester Vase fifth to Lambourn, then better effort when beaten less than a length by Carmers in the Queen’s Vase. Disappointing last of five in the Bahrain Trophy won by Scandinavia, but bounced back since with Group 3 success around Newbury where shed maiden tag on reappearance. Is he a Flat track bully? Beat older horses getting weight last time, but each-way shout in the St Leger of 2025 on pick of form.

3. Lambourn

Second to Eclipse hero Delacroix on reappearance, then went one better in another Group 3 Classic trial around Chester. Career best when landing The Derby at Epsom in some style. More workmanlike and didn’t have to improve to land the Irish equivalent at the Curragh. Probably best to forgive disappointing fifth in the Great Voltigeur under a Group 1 penalty latest with the race not run to suit. Needs a strong gallop, but looked like a Leger horse in the spring. Could well bounce back.

4. Rahiebb

Beaten a length by Camers when a head behind Furthur in the Queen’s Vase. Had chance to advertise that form down in distance on more testing ground in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes during Glorious Goodwood, but didn’t. Only managed fourth to Merchant latest, although runner-up has come out and won the valuable Nashville Derby in America. Needs step back up in trip that the St Leger of 2025 provides to unlock further improvement.

5. Saratoga

Beaten in three maidens either at a mile or mile-and-a-quarter. Needs further on breeding, but can only be in this race for pacemaker duties. Discounted.

6. Scandinavia

Done nothing but improve since finishing fifth behind Carmers, Furthur and Rahiebb in the Queen’s Vase. Impressive success in Newmarket Group 3 during the July Festival, then became first three-year-old to win the Goodwood Cup since Stradivarius. Exposed himself as a stayer now, however, and doesn’t automatically want to drop back in trip back against own generation. Easy to see why online bookmakers have him as the St Leger 2025 favourite, though.

7. Stay True

Lingfield Derby Trial second who then spent most of the summer off, returning with a fourth in the Great Voltigeur. Split Carmers and Lambourn that day, shaping as if needing the run after 102 days off the track. Still lightly-raced and more to potentially come, but sire is doing all the imparting of stamina as he’s out of a sprinting mare. Others appeal more.

8. Tarriance

Up 8lb for nose win over Many Men when earning free entry to next season’s Ebor handicap in the Melrose at York latest. Something like that, rather than a Classic would be a more appropriate long-term target. Very much the stable’s second string here and hard to fancy up markedly in grade.

St Leger 2025 Shortlist & Verdict

The case for Scandinavia as favourite is obvious, but maybe too much so. He has exposed himself in that Goodwood Cup success and Stradivarius didn’t handle dropping back in trip when achieving the same feat at the same age. Aidan O’Brien holds the whip hand, though, especially if the Lambourn who galloped the field into the ground in The Derby around Epsom turns up. He’s the one to beat.

Preference, however, is for CARMERS, who took things up turning for home in the Queen’s Vase and just kept on galloping all the way to the line. If Billy Lee is fit after injury to reprise their partnership, then that is a huge plus for connections as Paddy Twomey seeks a first British Classic. Completing the shortlist is Furthur, who needs a patient ride like he got at Newbury, rather than going off in front as he did around Newmarket.

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael Lee

Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

All posts by Michael Lee