Championship Leader Billy Loughnane Lands St Leger Ride on Enceladus at Doncaster

British jockeys’ championship leader Billy Loughnane has been booked to ride Joseph O’Brien’s leading contender Enceladus in Saturday’s St Leger at Doncaster, adding another major opportunity to the 20-year-old’s outstanding season.

Loughnane takes over from the injured Dylan Browne McMonagle on a colt who has climbed rapidly through the ranks during 2026. Enceladus is unbeaten in three starts this season and heads to the 250th running of the world’s oldest Classic as one of the principal challengers to Derby winner Christmas Day.

Experience the St Leger Festival with Eventmasters Hospitality

The latest jockey booking adds another storyline to what is already shaping up to be a significant St Leger Day at Doncaster Racecourse. The St Leger Festival takes place from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th September, with Saturday’s showpiece marking 250 years since the race was first staged in 1776.

Eventmasters offers a range of St Leger hospitality options at Doncaster, including Private Box Hospitality and places in the Conduit Restaurant, Home Straight Restaurant, Sky Garden Restaurant and Triple Crown Restaurant. Guests can combine premium hospitality with one of the biggest Flat racing occasions of the season as the final British Classic takes centre stage.

Loughnane Gets Major Classic Opportunity

Loughnane has been drafted in after Browne McMonagle was ruled out of the Doncaster meeting. The Irish champion jockey had ridden Enceladus in four of his five career starts, including his Group 3 Gordon Stakes victory at Goodwood in July, but has been sidelined since a fall at Bellewstown on 25th August.

The booking hands Loughnane another high-profile ride during a season in which he has established himself at the top end of British Flat racing. He currently leads Oisin Murphy by 14 winners in the jockeys’ championship and has already recorded multiple Group 1 victories this year, including aboard Comanche Brave in the July Cup for Donnacha O’Brien.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing about Enceladus, Loughnane said: “It’s a fantastic ride to pick up. It’s unfortunate for Dylan [Browne McMonagle] who is on the sidelines at the minute.

“Enceladus has been impressive this summer and hopefully he’s got another one left in him. He’s been going through the ranks smoothly, and obviously it’s a stiffer assignment on Saturday, but I imagine Joseph will have him in fantastic nick.”

Enceladus Has Risen Rapidly Through the Ranks

Enceladus began his season with victory at Cork before making his mark at Royal Ascot, where he won the King George V Stakes. He then stepped into Group company for the first time at Glorious Goodwood and justified favouritism in the Gordon Stakes, beating Geryon by a length and a quarter over a mile and a half.

That Goodwood performance pushed the Sea The Stars colt firmly into St Leger contention. Saturday presents another significant rise in standard, with Enceladus stepping from Group 3 company into a Group 1 Classic over approximately a mile and six and a half furlongs, but his progress across increasing distances has made him one of the leading contenders.

Joseph O’Brien is pleased with his preparation and also confirmed that stablemate Highwayman remains on course for Doncaster.

“Obviously we’re happy to have Billy on board Enceladus and he’s been training nicely,” said O’Brien. “Both horses are preparing well. It’s a big step up in class for Highwayman but he’s progressive, so you never know.”

Loughnane and O’Brien Already Have Royal Ascot Success

Saturday will not be the first time Loughnane has ridden a major winner for Joseph O’Brien this season. The pair combined at Royal Ascot in June when King Of Cloughan won the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes.

Loughnane has also enjoyed success for Joseph’s brother Donnacha, most notably aboard Comanche Brave in the July Cup at Newmarket. His appointment for Enceladus therefore continues an increasingly successful association with the O’Brien family and gives him another opportunity at the highest level.

Browne McMonagle, meanwhile, has been sidelined since his Bellewstown fall, leaving O’Brien needing an alternative rider for Doncaster.

Joseph O’Brien Launches Two-Pronged St Leger Challenge

Enceladus will be joined by Highwayman as Joseph O’Brien targets a second St Leger victory as a trainer. His previous success came in 2020, when Galileo Chrome won under Tom Marquand.

Highwayman has improved as his distances have increased, winning by nine lengths at Killarney in July before following up in the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes at Leopardstown. Saffie Osborne is set to take the ride at Doncaster, giving O’Brien two progressive runners in the final Classic of the British season.

It also sets up another major contest between Joseph and his father Aidan O’Brien. Seven of the 12 horses remaining at the latest confirmation stage are trained by the pair, with Aidan responsible for five and Joseph fielding Enceladus and Highwayman.

Christmas Day Heads Powerful Ballydoyle Challenge

Derby winner Christmas Day remains the headline name among the possible runners. Victory would make him the first horse since Reference Point in 1987 to complete the Derby and St Leger double.

Aidan O’Brien could also be represented by Pierre Bonnard, Amelia Earhart, Piazza San Marco and Action as he targets a fourth consecutive victory in the race. Pierre Bonnard arrives with strong recent form after finishing second to Maltese Cross in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York, one place ahead of Christmas Day.

The withdrawal of Charlie Appleby’s Del Maro means there will be no Godolphin representative among the leading contenders, while Andrew Balding’s Hatteen is among the principal British-trained challengers.

With Christmas Day attempting to end a 39-year wait for a Derby-St Leger double and the rapidly improving Enceladus now partnered by Britain’s championship leader, the 250th St Leger has no shortage of major storylines heading into Saturday.

St Leger 2026 FAQs

When is the 2026 St Leger?

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

Who will ride Enceladus in the St Leger?

Billy Loughnane has been booked to ride Enceladus for trainer Joseph O’Brien. He replaces Dylan Browne McMonagle, who remains sidelined following his fall at Bellewstown in August.

Has Joseph O’Brien won the St Leger before?

Yes. Joseph O’Brien won the St Leger as a trainer with Galileo Chrome in 2020, when the colt was ridden by Tom Marquand.

Who are the leading contenders for the 2026 St Leger?

Derby winner Christmas Day heads the leading contenders alongside Joseph O’Brien’s Enceladus and Aidan O’Brien-trained Pierre Bonnard. Twelve horses remained in contention at the latest confirmation stage.

Is St Leger hospitality available with Eventmasters?

Yes. Eventmasters offers St Leger Festival hospitality at Doncaster Racecourse, with options including Private Boxes and the Conduit, Home Straight, Sky Garden and Triple Crown restaurants.