Brian Boru heads up 15 strong St. Leger field
All the fancied horses have stood their ground, with Aidan O'Brien also leaving in Brian Boru's stablemate Powerscourt, although he is expected to contest the Irish equivalent on the same day.
However, the Ballydoyle trainer has taken out his filly Yesterday as he looks for a second Leger success following the runaway victory of Milan on Town Moor in 2001.
In contrast to O'Brien, Sir Michael Stoute is still searching for his first win in the world's oldest Classic and will try again at the weekend with Hawk Flyer, third behind Powerscourt and Brian Boru in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York last month.
Yesterday may be missing but two fillies with solid claims the Rae Guest-trained Moments Of Joy and James Given's Summitville are set to run.
The unexposed Phoenix Reach represents first-season trainer Andrew Balding, who has already sent out one Classic winner this year in the shape of Oaks heroine Casual Look.
High Accolade, a short-head behind Phoenix Reach in the Gordon Stakes but below-par in the Voltigeur since, represents Marcus Tregoning, while David Elsworth is double-handed with Gold Medallist and Wavertree Boy.
Amanda Perrett sent out Demophilos to chase home Milan two years ago and tries again this year with Westmoreland Road, the intended mount of Pat Eddery in what will be his Leger swansong following the announcement that he is to retire at the end of the season.
Julio Mariner and User Friendly gave Clive Brittain Leger victories in 1978 and 1992 respectively and his hopes this time lie with the outsiders Santando and Titurel.
As well as the O'Brien duo, there is further Irish interest with the Dermot Weld-trained Maharib, a progressive performer who has won his last three starts.
Alan King will be having his first runner in a Classic when he saddles Ebor third Salsalino, and the field is completed by the Terry Mills-trained Let Me Try Again, an excellent seventh in the Vodafone Derby but a shade below that form in two runs since.
There has not been much rain around at the South Yorkshire track of late and ground conditions are currently described as good to firm, good in places.
"We had one millimetre of rain on Friday night going into Saturday morning and none since then," said track manager Malcolm Taylor.
"Since July 30 we have had just seven millimetres, so we have been watering intensively since the beginning of August. They say showers are likely over the next couple of days and Wednesday is likely to be our wettest day. So on the back of an unsettled forecast we have got be a little big cagey and we have stopped watering.
"We're on the better side of good to firm and hopefully with the rain that's coming on Wednesday, we shouldn't have a problem."
Seabicuit St Leger, Ladbrokes betting: 2-1 Brian Boru, 6-1 Hawk Flyer, Phoenix Reach, 8-1 Maharib, Westmoreland Road, 9-1 High Accolade, 10-1 Moments Of Joy, Salsalino, 14-1 Summitville, 20-1 Let Me Try Again, 40-1 Wavertree Boy, 50-1 Gold Medallist, 100-1 Santando, Titurel.
Cashman's betting: 9/4 Brian Boru, 11/2 Phoenix Reach, 7/1 Hawk Flyer, Moments of Joy, Maharib.
Irish St Leger, the Curragh, Saturday: Cashman's betting - 9/4 Vinny Roe, Powerscourt, 5/2 Bollin Eric, 8/1 Gamut, 12/1 Warrsan.
