Kew Gardens and Old Persian to clash in Great Voltigeur at York

I was interested to read this morning that Aidan O’Brien intends to send my 25-1 ante-post punt for the St Leger Kew Gardens to York for the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes next Wednesday.   O’Brien said: “He (Kew Gardens) is probably going to go to the Voltigeur for a trial and go from there.”

The colt has progressed all season, as I hoped when I backed him for the St Leger back in December, having won the G.2 Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and the G.1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in his last two runs. He is now generally 7-1 for the last Classic of the season. The G.2  Great Voltigeur Stakes is seen as a natural trial for the St Leger and hopefully, he will pass his latest test with flying colours. 

Charlie Appleby hopes Old Persian can also enhance his Leger credentials in the Great Voltigeur. This year’s King Edward VII Stakes winner, who is as short as 14-1 for the final Classic of the season, will bid to get his career back on track after failing to feature in the Irish Derby.