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Blanco Looks Ante-Post Leger Value
23/08/10

Unless I'm missing something glaringly obvious, it's hard to see just why Aidan O'Brien's Irish Derby winner Cape Blanco is still on offer at up to 10/1 for the St Leger at Doncaster on September 11th, nearly double the odds of Midas Touch, the horse who finished second to him at the Curragh and who is a doubtful stayer, writes Elliot Slater.

I'm well aware that neither horse, both of whom are trained by Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien, is a definite starter in the race, but Cape Blanco has done little wrong this term, beating the subsequent Epsom Derby winner Workforce by over three lengths in the Dante Stakes at York, and then recovering from a rough race when sent off favourite and finishing unplaced in the French Derby, to bounce back and show tremendous guts and, most significantly, stamina, to defeat Midas Touch and Jan Vermeer in a thrilling renewal of the Irish Derby.

Although beaten by 11 lengths in finishing second to the mighty Harbinger in that freakish race for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, the son of Galileo nevertheless finished ahead of reliable top class performers Youmzain and Daryakana, and once again confirmed the form with fifth placed Workforce. You can follow the build up to the race with Betsplayer.com.

So how is Cape Blanco still available at 10/1? Sure, Rewilding was tremendously impressive in winning the Great Voltigeur at York and is a worthy favourite, but with O'Brien having won the St Leger three times in the last nine years, I believe that bookmakers are taking a real chance in offering double figures a Derby winner with proven stamina proving capable of landing the final Classic of the season.