Irish St Leger
It’s time for the Irish St Leger 2025 and here is the only preview you need to find the winner. Its hard to imagine that we will see a better winner of this race than KYPRIOS in his multiple Irish St Leger wins. However, there are two top horses that look sure to be competing to take this years Irish St Leger. It will be a father and son battle as Aiden O’Brien puts his faith in ILLINIOS to get the job done but will have to get the best of Joseph O’Brien’s AL RIFFA who looked better than ever in his last run.
The big 3 in the Irish St Leger
Based on figures, sectional data and recent performances, this race comes down to 3 runners who may be the three to battle it out in the finish. Uncoincidentally, those three are also the top three in the betting market: AMILOC, ILLINOIS and AL RIFFA.
AMILOC
Comes here unbeaten and is still a 3 year old and so gets age weight allowance and so will be carrying 9-2 whereas, all others will carry 9-10. Has gone up in trip nearly every race since debut and has improved every race with RPR increasing every race. He took down the group 2 King Edward VII Stakes last time out in good fashion and won going away and so this step up looks like it may suit but cannot be certain. He has also only ever ran on either all weather or good or better ground, never soft or heavy ground. This is a concern as the ground for this race is expected to be on the soft side and so this could expose AMILOCs flaws. The weight allowance may be a big factor in helping AMILOC but he’s never raced against older horses than him and could be slightly outclassed here.
ILLINOIS
Super high class colt that is probably as good as he’s ever been. He’s never been out of the top 3 in any of his races and not been out of the top 2 in his last 9 races. Super consistent and was unlucky not to win the Goodwood Cup but the winner just went and won the St Leger yesterday and so the form is heavily boosted. Comes back to 14f but he has good form over this distance and cheekpieces are applied for this race which could get even more out of him and let him improve even more. Does have form on soft ground but not in the deepest of races and comes up against his closest rated rival in a while here.
AL RIFFA
A consistent group 1 performer, had been knocking on the door lately and then produced one of his best performances last out when upped to 14f. This distance and track will suit and has some okay form on softer ground. Didn’t beat anything too high class last time out but did win by 5L and was at this course and so that race could work out to be some really good prep for this.
Summary
AMILOC is unbeaten and gets the weight allowance which are all positives. However, he has never faced older rivals and has never race at this track and never on soft turf and so, this could be a huge ask to go against all that and win this race. For that reason he may place but it’s hard to see him winning. ILLINOIS is super consistent and nearly beat the St Leger winner last out, not having Ryan Moore could be a huge miss here as ILLINOIS can be a tough ride now and then. Cheekpieces could freshen him up and make him smarter but if AL RIFFA is at his best, ILLINOIS will have to produce one of his best runs to win, but he has potential to do it. AL RIFFA looked amazing last time out when being upped to this 14f, he didn’t beat anything too great but won by 5L and was at this track. He will be primed for this race and could be the one to beat.
Prediction
- AL RIFFA
- ILLINOIS
- AMILOC
