Sting the bookies with Scorpion

The Ladbrokes St Leger has sadly lost a lot of its gloss in recent years but fans of the world’s oldest Classic can cheer home a winner from out of the top drawer at Doncaster tomorrow.

For Scorpion is a colt who is entitled to maximum respect in the very best middle-distances around the globe – and would surely be heading for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe if Coolmore did not have the Andre Fabre-trained Hurricane Run on their books.

He smashed the track record set by the mighty Peintre Celebre over the Arc course and distance last time out and is bred to be just as effective over an extra two furlongs.

Touted earlier in the season as Aidan O’Brien’s Derby horse, he did not make it to the blue riband and looked if anything to be going the wrong way when he trailed home well beaten in the Prix du Jockey-Club.

His camp kept the faith, however, even if punters did not, and he bounced right back to give Hurricane Run a real run for his money in the Irish equivalent at odds of 33-1.

That was his first try at a mile and a half and he clearly loved it, with the revamped Grand Prix de Paris then showing him in an even better light.

The son of Montjeu travelled well all the way on the leader’s shoulder and fairly flew for Kieren Fallon in the straight to brush aside Desideratum.

He has by far the best form in the book and though Hard To will not go down without a fight, Scorpion has the class to prevail in an authoritative manner.

Titus Alone can bounce back to winning ways in the main supporting contest, the Polypipe Flying Childers Stakes.

The Bryan Smart-trained colt was one of the better early juveniles, although he has lost his way a touch just lately.

That said, he had excuses in the Weatherbys Super Sprint draw-wise, and was not disgraced when eighth in the Gimcrack last time out over six furlongs, a trip which plainly did not suit.

He is expected to be more of a force dropped back to five, the distance over which he won at Royal Ascot at York.

Stronghold looks the best option in the Porcelanosa Stakes over a mile.

John Gosden’s rapidly-improving son of Danehill appears to remain well ahead of the handicapper, despite being raised another 9lb for seeing off his opposition at Haydock with consummate ease.

Emirates Skyline was a big disappointment last time out but had previously created a striking impression on his debut and is worth another chance in the Stardom Stakes at Goodwood.

The son of Sunday Silence sluiced up at Doncaster in July and was sent off at odds-on to follow up in the Listed Washington Singer at Newbury.

He travelled well enough early on but could not find the necessary change of gear when required.

It may be he is more of a staying type, however, and it is worth noting Godolphin are keeping him to that sort of level, albeit over a mile this time, which he should relish.

Top-class action in the Emerald Isle, too, with the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown one not to miss.

Ground conditions at the Dublin track are likely to play a major role in the outcome of the 10-furlong showpiece, which has increasingly taken the limelight away from the Leger.

But whatever happens, Azamour is confidently expected to land back-to-back runnings.

The John Oxx-trained four-year-old is a model of consistency at this level and has far fewer question marks over him than the other leading contenders.