St Leger: Capri, Crystal Ocean and Defoe among runners in Doncaster Classic

Capri (left) won the Irish Derby for Aidan O'Brien in July

William Hill St Leger
Date: Saturday 16 September Time: 15:35 BST Venue: Doncaster racecourse Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio 5 live

Capri and Crystal Ocean are the leading contenders among 11 runners in the St Leger at Doncaster on Saturday.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien is seeking his fifth victory in the world's oldest Classic, with Capri leading a four-strong team also numbering Douglas Macarthur, The Anvil and Venice Beach.

Sir Michael Stoute seeks his second St Leger win, with Crystal Ocean.

Frankie Dettori has elected to ride Coronet over her John Gosden-trained stablemate Stradivarius.

"She's strong, she's been racing in Group Ones for most of the year and I'm pleased to be on her," Dettori told BBC Radio 5 live.

"It was very hard and I left it until the last minute. Half the field can win it, probably even more.

"It's a good St Leger. All the good stayers are in it."

Dettori, pictured after victory on Scorpion in 2005, has won the St Leger five times

O'Brien's son Joseph - winner of the 2013 race as a jockey - runs Rekindling, while the Roger Varian-trained Defoe is around third favourite.

Raheen House and Count Octave - trained by Brian Meehan and Andrew Balding respectively - complete the line-up.

Ryan Moore will ride Capri, with Seamie Heffernan aboard Venice Beach, Emmet McNamara on Douglas Macarthur and Michael Hussey partnering The Anvil.

The St Leger, first raced in 1776, is the last of Britain's five Classics.

Laura Mongan became the first woman to train the winner when Harbour Law triumphed in 2016.

Winning jockey George Baker will attend this year's event as he continues his recovery from a heavy fall in February.

• I want to be a jockey again - Baker

Analysis

BBC horse racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght

It's a good quality, very competitive St Leger but, while much chat has surrounded the favourites, Crystal Ocean and Capri, one or two others have been notably talked up.

Defoe is definitely one, and Coronet another. Trainer John Gosden's wife Rachel Hood said that they were "very positive" the race is right for Coronet.

Theoretically, the filly is 'second-string' of the pair trying to give Gosden a fifth St Leger win, behind Stradivarius, who beat Big Orange no less at Glorious Goodwood.

Dettori's decision to ride Coronet looks a tip in itself.