Irish St. Leger Betting Tips

The Irish St. Leger is the last of the British and Irish Classics to be run each season. The race is unique amongst the Irish Classics in that it differs from its English equivalent, specifically in terms of the age groups permitted entry to the race.

Interest in the Irish St. Leger tends to peak when racehorses come into the event seeking to win the Irish Triple Crown after victories in the Irish Guineas and the Irish Derby or Irish Oaks. However, the field can sometimes be watered down as trainers instead send their finest 3 year olds to richer races elsewhere in Europe.

The Irish St. Leger is probably the most open and competitive of the Irish Classics, with bookmakers effectively forced to provide value for the field by the diversity of the entrants and their respective exploits earlier on during the flat racing season.

Irish St. Leger Tips

Because the Irish St. Leger is not age-restricted to 3 year olds it has produced several multiple winners, with around 40% of first-time Irish St. Leger winners going on to win the race again the following year. Many punters therefore choose to invest some of their bankroll in betting on the defending champion.
Age seems to have little influence on the outcome of the Irish St. Leger. While 7 year olds win the race only on rare occasions, wins by 5 and 6 year olds are far more common, and it is not unusual for Irish St. Leger winners to have won the race at the third or fourth attempt.
The important factor for this race is staying power and a proven record over race distances greater than 13 furlongs. Recent winners of the race all achieved prior success over stayers’ distances before winning the 1 mile 6 furlong Irish St. Leger.
Major racing festivals like Glorious Goodwood have provided Irish St. Leger winners in the past. Look out for entries that won or placed in the Ascot Gold Cup or Goodwood Cup earlier on in the season when placing bets on the Irish St. Leger.