Vinnie Roe heads Leger field
The seven-year-old is reported to still be on course for the race despite bruising the top of his quarter a few days ago and he could bid for a remarkable fifth consecutive success.
There are seven possible British raiders - the Godolphin pair Cherry Mix and Songlark, Alan Swinbank’s globe-trotting Collier Hill, Walter Swinburn’s Cutting Crew, the Mark Tompkins-trained Franklins Gardens, Sir Michael Stoute’s Gamut, runner-up two years ago, and The Whistling Teal from Geoff Wragg’s stable.
Aidan O’Brien can choose from Coronation Cup winner Yeats, Acropolis and Hippodrome while John Oxx is currently double-handed with Irish Derby third Shalapour and the six-year-old Mzuki.
Paul Nolan has also accepted with his classy National Hunt performer Cloone River.
Franklins Gardens was last seen when finishing sixth in the Gold Cup and will head to Australia for the Melbourne Cup - in which Darryll Holland will ride - following his run in Ireland.
Tompkins told At The Races: “He is in great form. He did a nice bit of work the other morning.
“He will travel over on Thursday and they have had a bit of rain at the Curragh, so hopefully the ground will be on the good side and any more rain would really suit him.
“It will be a good race with Vinnie Roe, who’s won it four times, running.
“I think he will run a really good race. I have left him alone and not run him in the Goodwood Cup, the Lonsdale Cup or the Doncaster Cup to have him perfect for the Melbourne Cup, and the Irish Leger looks perfect for him.”
Irish Field St Leger, Paddy Power bet: 2-1 Vinnie Roe, 10-3 Shalapour, 4-1 Yeats, 7-1 Gamut, 8-1 Cherry Mix, 10-1 Songlark, 14-1 Franklins Gardens, 16-1 Collier Hill, Mkuzi, 25-1 Acropolis, 33-1 Cloone River, The Whistling Teal, 50-1 Cutting Crew, Hippodrome, Holy Orders, Liss Ard, 66-1 Akarem.
: 5/2 Shalapour, Vinnie Roe, 5/1 A.O'Brien Stable, Godolphin Stable, 8/1 Gamut.
: Acropolis, Akarem, Cherry Mix, Cloone River, Collier Hill, Cutting Crew, Franklins Gardens, Gamut, Hippodrome, Holy Orders, Liss Ard, Mkuzi, Shalapour, Songlark, The Whistling Teal, Vinnie Roe, Yeats (17).
