Can Christmas Day Follow Reference Point into St Leger History?

The 2026 Betfred St Leger Stakes takes centre stage at the Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 12th September, with some of the leading three-year-olds in Britain and Ireland preparing to contest the final British Classic of the season.

This year’s renewal carries added significance as the St Leger celebrates 250 years since it was first staged in 1776. Twelve horses remained in contention following Monday’s confirmation stage, headed by Derby winner Christmas Day, the progressive Enceladus and Great Voltigeur runner-up Pierre Bonnard.

With several genuine contenders still in the picture, previous St Leger results can provide some useful clues. From Derby form and the Great Voltigeur to Group-race experience and the record of fillies, the historical trends point towards one runner in particular.

Experience St Leger Day with Eventmasters Hospitality

The 250th anniversary of the St Leger provides another opportunity to experience one of British racing’s biggest occasions with premium hospitality at Doncaster Racecourse.

Eventmasters offers a range of St Leger Festival hospitality packages, including Private Box Hospitality and places in the Conduit Restaurant, Home Straight Restaurant, Sky Garden Restaurant and Triple Crown Restaurant. Packages provide a variety of premium dining, drinks and viewing options across the four-day Festival.

Hospitality is available across the meeting from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th September, including St Leger Day on Saturday. With the landmark 250th anniversary at the centre of this year’s Festival, guests can secure their place to watch the final Classic of the British Flat season in premium surroundings.

Christmas Day Has History on His Side

Christmas Day arrives at Doncaster attempting something that has not been achieved for 39 years.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt won the Derby at Epsom earlier this season and could become the first horse since Reference Point in 1987 to complete the Derby-St Leger double. Only Never Say Die, St Paddy, Nijinsky and Reference Point have managed the feat since 1954.

Simply running well in the Derby has historically been a significant pointer towards the St Leger. Since 1970, nine horses have gone from the Derby to win at Doncaster despite finishing seventh or worse at Epsom, demonstrating the importance of having already competed at Classic level.

Christmas Day obviously brings considerably stronger credentials than that. He followed his Derby success by finishing second to Benvenuto Cellini in the Irish Derby, another race which has provided several subsequent St Leger winners.

Capri completed the Irish Derby-St Leger double in 2017 before Hurricane Lane repeated the feat four years later, while the likes of Scorpion, Rule Of Law, Brian Boru, Mutafaweq, Silver Patriarch and Classic Cliche all reached Doncaster after being beaten in the Curragh Classic.

For Christmas Day, performances at Epsom and the Curragh provide arguably the strongest Classic form in the field.

Should His Great Voltigeur Defeat Be a Concern?

The biggest question surrounding Christmas Day comes from his most recent appearance in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, where he finished third behind Maltese Cross and stablemate Pierre Bonnard.

However, history suggests defeat in that race is far from a reason to discount his chances.

The Great Voltigeur has long been one of the most important St Leger trials. Fifteen horses have won both races since Premonition became the first to complete the double in 1953, with Continuous the most recent in 2023.

Crucially, winning at York has never been essential. Since 1980, 18 subsequent St Leger winners contested the Great Voltigeur, but only seven of them actually won it.

That gives Christmas Day’s third-place finish considerably more context. He may have been beaten at York, but his route to Doncaster closely resembles the profile of numerous previous St Leger winners.

Pierre Bonnard Also Fits a Major St Leger Trend

The Great Voltigeur statistics also strengthen the case for Pierre Bonnard, who finished ahead of Christmas Day when runner-up at York.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt has repeatedly crossed paths with his stablemate this season, finishing behind Christmas Day at both Epsom and the Curragh before reversing their positions in the Great Voltigeur.

His York performance brings him firmly into contention based on the traditional route to Doncaster, but one statistic goes against him. None of the previous ten St Leger winners entered the race without having already recorded a victory earlier that season.

That does not rule Pierre Bonnard out, particularly given the level of opposition he has faced, but it leaves him short of the strongest historical profile.

Enceladus Brings a Very Different Profile

If Christmas Day represents the established Classic route, Enceladus provides the progressive alternative.

Joseph O’Brien’s colt has won all three of his starts this season and took a major step forward when winning the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot from a handicap mark of 89. He then proved capable of making the jump into Pattern company by winning the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

His handicap background is not necessarily a negative. Four St Leger winners in the last 14 renewals previously competed from handicap marks of 82, 85 or 90, with two having raced from the latter rating.

The Gordon Stakes has also produced St Leger winners, although its record is mixed. Millenary, Sixties Icon, Conduit and Jan Brueghel are among those to have won at Goodwood before following up at Doncaster this century.

Enceladus therefore has fewer Classic credentials than Christmas Day, but his upward trajectory and proven Group form make him one of the most interesting alternatives.

Billy Loughnane has been booked to ride the colt at Doncaster, with Joseph O’Brien moving to secure the current leader in the British jockeys’ championship for Saturday’s Classic.

Group Experience Could Count Against Hatteen and Highwayman

Hatteen is one of the leading British-trained challengers following a campaign that included victory in the St Leger Trial at the Doncaster Racecourse earlier this season.

The concern when looking specifically at previous trends is his lack of success at Group level. Nineteen of the last 23 St Leger winners had previously won a Group race, which places a considerably emphasis on proven quality before tacking the Classic.

Highwayman faces the same historical question. Joseph O’Brien’s runner remains an interesting contender, but the recent profile of St Leger winners suggests horses arriving with established Group-race credentials have held a clear advantage.

Could Amelia Earhart Surprise the Colts?

Amelia Earhart is another runner worth considering at a bigger price, particularly given the surprisingly strong record of fillies in the St Leger.

She is the only filly among the 12 horses confirmed on Monday and is set to join Christmas Day, Pierre Bonnard and several other Aidan O’Brien-trained runners at Doncaster.

Simple Verse became the first filly since User Friendly in 1992 to win the race when successful in 2015, while Dunfermline, Sun Princess and Oh So Sharp are other notable female winners.

The wider record is even more interesting. Since User Friendly’s victory, 11 of the 23 fillies to contest the St Leger have finished in the first four, including seven runners-up.

Amelia Earhart has not managed to deliver on some lofty expectations this season, having been beaten after starting favourite for the Oaks before subsequent defeats in the Irish Oaks and Pattern company. Aidan O’Brien nevertheless confirmed that connections had decided to give her the opportunity to face the colts rather than run in the Park Hill Stakes.

Her overall form leaves her with something to find, but history suggests being a filly should certainly not be viewed as a disadvantage.

St Leger Trends Verdict: Christmas Day Sets the Standard

When the principal St Leger trends are combined, Christmas Day has the strongest historical profile heading into Saturday’s race.

He has already won the Derby, ran second in the Irish Derby and arrives directly from the Great Voltigeur, three races which have repeatedly featured in the campaigns of previous St Leger winners. His third at York is not ideal on paper, but history shows that being beaten in the Great Voltigeur has been no barrier to success at Doncaster.

Enceladus looks the main alternative on trends thanks to his progression from handicaps into Group company, while Pierre Bonnard’s Great Voltigeur performance makes him another obvious contender. Amelia Earhart is perhaps the most interesting outsider given the excellent record of fillies who have taken their chance in the Classic.

For Christmas Day, however, Saturday offers the opportunity to achieve something much bigger. Victory would make him the first Derby winner since Reference Point 39 years ago to follow up in the St Leger, while also giving Camelot the St Leger success that narrowly eluded him when his own Triple Crown bid ended at Doncaster in 2012.

Betfred St Leger Stakes 2026 FAQs

When is the 2026 St Leger Stakes?

The 2026 Betfred St Leger Stakes takes place at the Doncaster Racecourse on Saturday 12th September as part of the four-day St Leger Festival, which runs from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th September.

Who is the leading contender for the 2026 St Leger?

Derby winner Christmas Day heads the leading contenders alongside Enceladus and Pierre Bonnard. Based specifically on previous St Leger trends, Christmas Day has particularly strong credentials following his appearances in the Derby, Irish Derby and Great Voltigeur.

When was the last Derby winner to win the St Leger?

Reference Point was the last horse to complete the Derby-St Leger double in 1987. Christmas Day is attempting to become the first horse in 39 years to win both Classics.

How many times has Aidan O’Brien won the St Leger?

Aidan O’Brien is seeking his tenth victory in the St Leger in 2026. His previous winners include Milan, Brian Boru, Scorpion, Leading Light, Capri and Kew Gardens.

Can I book St Leger Festival hospitality with Eventmasters?

Yes. Eventmasters offers a selection of St Leger Festival hospitality packages at the Doncaster Racecourse, including Private Box Hospitality and restaurant packages across the meeting. Options are available for St Leger Day itself as well as the other days of the 2026 Festival.