Kew Gardens to go head to head with Lah Ti Dar in St Leger thriller
Exciting field of 12 declared for the final Classic of the season at Doncaster
BOOKMAKERS can't split Kew Gardens and Lah Ti Dar at the head of the betting for the St Leger.
The classy pair are 15-8 joint favourites in places after an exciting field of 12 were declared for the Doncaster feature.
Kew Gardens won the Grand Prix de Paris in France two starts ago before finishing a good third in the Great Voltigeur at York's Ebor Festival.
Aidan O'Brien's colt had been a warm favourite for the final Classic of the season after that effort.
However, the unbeaten Lah Ti Dar made an impressive return to action when winning easily at the same meeting.
Connections had considered running her in France on Sunday in the Prix Vermeille but opted to run at Doncaster instead.
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Old Persian (7-1) had Kew Gardens' measure when winning the Great Voltigeur, although he was receiving weight that day, and he heads a two-pronged challenge for Charlie Appleby.
The Derby-winning trainer also saddles Loxley (10-1), who won a Group 2 in France last month.
Dee Ex Bee (20-1) was second in the Derby in June and will attempt to go on place better for Mark Johnston.
Aidan O'Brien also sends out Southern France (16-1), The Pentagon (25-1), Nelson (50-1)and Zabriskie (100-1) alongside Kew Gardens in his hunt for a sixth St Leger win.
Maid Up (25-1) won a Group 3 at Goodwood last time and was added to the field earlier this week at a cost of £50,000.
Proschema (50-1) and Richard Hannon's Raymond Tusk (20-1) complete the field.