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Nine horses remain in contention for the final British Classic of the season at Doncaster on Saturday, despite only four trainers being represented.
The William Haggas-trained Desert Hero will bid to give the King and the Queen a first Classic success on the Town Moor this weekend. The son of Sea The Stars built on his victory in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot with a smooth success in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood and will attempt to emulate the feat of Dunfermline, who carried the royal silks to St Leger glory back in 1977.
John and Thady Gosden are responsible for three of the nine confirmations with Gregory, Arrest, and the supplemented Middle Earth all featuring for the Clarehaven team.
Gregory will have a shot to give Frankie Dettori a final Classic success on his swansong season, while new owners Wathnan Racing will be hoping the Italian maestro can provide them with a breakthrough Classic victory. He lost his unbeaten record when third in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month, but the Royal Ascot Queen's Vase winner will almost certainly appreciate going back up in trip.
The Juddmonte-owned Arrest created a favourable impression on his first start beyond a mile and a half when landing the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury four weeks ago, although connections will surely be hoping for some rainfall in the upcoming days, while stablemate Middle Earth looks set to represent Qatar Racing having been supplemented on the back of his commanding Melrose handicap success at York's Ebor Meeting.
Aidan O'Brien, who enjoyed a fine haul of top-level prizes at the Irish Champions Stakes festival over the weekend, has four runners in contention at this stage. Gregory's Great Voltigeur Stakes conqueror Continuous heads the quartet, with Bahrain Trophy Stakes runner-up Tower Of London also featuring alongside both Denmark and Alexandroupolis.
Simon and Ed Crisford's Chesspiece finished runner-up to Desert Hero in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and is the sole representative for Godolphin, who landed the Town Moor Classic just two years ago courtesy of Hurricane Lane.
