Can Aidan O’Brien’s Christmas Day Add Another Classic Win in The 2026 St Leger At Doncaster?

The St Leger Stakes returns to Doncaster on September 12, 2026, and the final Classic of the British Flat season is already beginning to take shape in the ante-post market.

As usual, Aidan O’Brien dominates the conversation and if all goes to plan will likely field multiple runners, though I should point out that none have been declared this far out.

Racing fans hoping to find some value in the antepost betting markets are out of luck with exceptionally low odds on offer for the favourites, including Christmas Day, who currently heads the pack on around 4/1.

It may seem quite paltry, but there is a good reason for it, as bookies look to protect themselves against a runner that has already established himself as one of the standout three-year-olds of the season.

His victory in the Epsom Derby marked him as a colt of both class and stamina, and he backed that up with a strong second-place finish in the Irish Derby at The Curragh when beaten by stablemate Benvenuto Cellini.

The St Leger represents a different test, but one that often suits horses with proven middle-distance credentials who can stay further.

Derby Form Dominates Early Betting

For Christmas Day, Doncaster offers the opportunity to add a second Classic to his record and enhance his profile.

Given his current form and trainer’s record in the race, it is no surprise that bookmakers have installed him at the head of the market this early in the season. If you want to improve on the short odds, a good way is to look for the best betting offers where you can capitalise on free bets, deposit matches, and odds boosts, which will make the most of your money.

And that is important because the early St Leger market is heavily influenced by the Epsom Derby, with the top three all emerging from that race. Alongside Christmas Day at 4/1, Maltese Cross is priced at around 6/1 with Pierre Bonnard nipping at the heels on around 7/1.

Maltese Cross, from trainer William Haggas, ran exceptionally well in that race, finishing in second place. Of course, that was all on the back of the Benveuto Cellini drama when the horse's hind leg was caught in the starting gates, hampering his race.

It was then determined that he didn’t have a fair shot at winning. His race was voided as a result, Christmas Day took the win, with Maltese Cross in second. Whether that would still have been the outcome if Benvenuto Cellini had run his race is the big unknown.

Pierre Bonnard also ran in the Derby and has been consistently competitive in high-class company, though this season hasn’t really produced any performances of note. Maybe the longer stretch will bring out the best of him, so it would be premature to rule out his chances entirely.

Behind the leading trio, the market remains open. Limestone and Causeway are both available at 8/1, with Benvenuto Cellini at 10/1 and Montreal at 14/1. A cluster of runners, including Bay Of Brilliance, Earth Shot, and Raaheeb, sit at 16/1, while a larger group is priced at 20/1 and bigger.

At this stage, the market reflects potential rather than confirmed participation. As we get closer and the entries are announced, those odds will fluctuate depending on who is likely to run.

O’Brien’s Remarkable St Leger Run

Aidan O’Brien’s influence on the St Leger in recent years has been significant. Honestly, that’s a statement we could make about pretty much any flat race in the UK and Ireland! After all, this is the man who has just made history by notching up his 100th Royal Ascot winner.

The Ballydoyle trainer has won the last three renewals of the race with Scandinavia in 2025, Jan Brueghel in 2024, and Continuous in 2023.

This recent dominance naturally brings Christmas Day into sharper focus. O’Brien is known for targeting the St Leger with horses who have already proven themselves at the top level, and his willingness to step Derby horses up in trip has been repeatedly rewarded.

If Christmas Day lines up, he would give O’Brien a strong chance of securing a fourth consecutive St Leger victory and a 10th overall.

The Historic St Leger

The St Leger is the oldest of the five British Classics, first run in 1776, and it remains the only one contested over an extended staying distance, around two furlongs longer than the other classic races.

One notable feature of the race is its place in the British Triple Crown. Although rarely attempted in modern times, the St Leger forms the final leg after the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.

It was never on the cards for 2026 as Bow Echo won the 2000 Guineas and didn’t run in the Epsom Derby. Because of that, Nijinsky, in 1970, remains the last horse to complete the Triple Crown.

As the 2026 St Leger approaches, attention will continue to focus on how the leading contenders develop through the summer. Christmas Day sets a clear standard based on current form, but the St Leger often rewards late improvement and adaptability.

We still have some time before the picture becomes clearer; however, the early signs point to another great renewal at Doncaster, and whether Christmas Day can win it remains to be seen.