John Gosden would love to provide Frankie Dettori with another memorable leg of his farewell “world tour” when saddling Gregory in the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster next week.

Gosden and Dettori have teamed up to win the final Classic of the season twice before, with Shantou in 1996 and Logician in 2019.

The Italian will be seeking a seventh St Leger success overall when partnering Gregory on Town Moor, with Classic Cliche (1995), Scorpion (2005), Sixties Icon (2006) and Conduit (2008) his other triumphs.

Dettori’s final year as a professional jockey has already featured a number of notable victories and Gosden joked: “I think the great world tour is going exceptionally well.

“He rolls into Deauville for one ride and wins the Prix Jacques Le Marois. He wins the Juddmonte International at York, Ascot Gold Cup, 2000 Guineas and he won the Dubai Turf earlier this year as well.

“So, I think the world tour is going extremely well and I’m sure he’d love to cap it off at Doncaster in the final Classic.”

Gosden can boast five St Leger wins himself and will now be chasing a first success since taking out a joint-license with son Thady.

Gregory is regarded by sponsors Betfred as the pick of their four potential runners and he currently heads the outright betting at 3-1.

The son of Golden Horn was a Group Two scorer at Royal Ascot over the Leger distance of one mile and six furlongs in the Queen’s Vase.

He then paid the price for setting too strong a pace when third in the Great Voltigeur at York, but Gosden senior is hopeful of turning the tables on the winner Continuous.

“Gregory went a little quick early in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York,” said the trainer. “When I saw the early fractions, I thought ‘We’ve just gone inside 12 seconds for a furlong’.

“I think there were three of them trying to make the lead in order to boss the race and they all got into a scramble early on. You’re not going to do those fractions over the first three furlongs and finish a race.

“It was obvious where the winner came from, he was 20 lengths out the back. He actually ran a very good race and when Frankie put his hands down, he galloped out well to the line and after the line.

“He came out of the race at York in very good order. If the weather is set fair at Doncaster, that won’t bother him with it being top of the ground.”

Stablemate Arrest warmed up for another possible crack at Classic glory with a comfortable victory in the Group Three Geoffrey Freer Stakes at Newbury.

After running away with the Chester Vase in May, he disappointed in the Derby and at Royal Ascot but now looks back on track, although Gosden would like to see some rain hit South Yorkshire.

He said: “We’re very pleased with Arrest, he took his race very well at Newbury. He’s in top order but I think if it’s good to firm at Doncaster I think you’ll find him heading to Paris for the Prix Chaudenay rather than Doncaster.

“He’s a lovely horse but he rolls his knee and he’ll enjoy more what I call the autumn ground.”

Middle Earth is expected to be supplemented for the St Leger after coming with a late charge to land the Melrose Handicap at York under Oisin Murphy.

“I think Oisin was very impressed with him, he hit the line strong,” added Gosden. “He came from a long way back and finished off his race well.

“He’s been a horse we’ve always liked but we’ve had a few niggles along the way and haven’t quite been able to have a smooth run with him.

“Qatar Racing have won the race before and I think they are game to go. It’s the last Classic of the year and it’s for three-year-olds over a trip.”

Lion’s Pride could be another son of Roaring Lion to represent the Clarehaven team at Doncaster, having beaten Middle Earth at Kempton in July before finishing third at Windsor last month.

Reflecting on that defeat, Gosden said: “It was a trappy race on a difficult track. They went slow and he pulled, then he came on the outside. It was against older horses and he’s learnt a lot from that.

“I think there’s a likelihood he will run in the race as well, after all there’s only one St Leger.”

Roger Varian believes King Of Steel looks stronger now than at any stage this season and is hoping his patience is rewarded with a victory in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The Amo Racing-owned grey faces a rematch with his Derby conqueror Auguste Rodin over a reduced trip of 10 furlongs in the highlight of the two-day Irish Champions Festival.

While Auguste Rodin did follow up in the Irish Derby, he ran no race at all in the King George at Ascot, just like he had done in the 2000 Guineas.

King Of Steel, on the other hand, won the King Edward VII and ran well to finish third in the King George, after which Varian felt the extra time between that race and this would be more beneficial than heading to York.

“We’ve been delighted with King Of Steel since the King George. He ticked over nicely for a couple of weeks afterwards and we built up his work heading towards the Irish Champion Stakes,” said the Newmarket handler.

“I thought the King George was a very attritional race and he ran really well, but you’d be kidding yourself if you didn’t think he had a hard race, so we felt the extra two and a half weeks the Irish Champion Stakes gave us over the Juddmonte International was beneficial for a horse of his age and at this stage of his career.

“I think he’s been maturing and strengthening throughout the year and you won’t see the finished article maybe until next year, but his performances have shown you that he’s well up to performing (at this level) and we think he can only get better.

“He looks stronger now than he did three months ago and I think with a winter on his back he’ll be even stronger next year.”

Auguste Rodin now has something of a question mark hanging over him but having brought him back from his dismal run in the Guineas to win the Derby, Aidan O’Brien is not too concerned.

He said: “We’re really happy with him, the circumstances are all different for this. It’s a mile and a quarter, quicker ground, he’s drawn in rather than out and we’ve been happy with him since Ascot.

“There’s a lot of things different this time. Ryan (Moore) felt him come off the bridle early last time and didn’t take a chance, he took the decision to protect him rather than damage him, which definitely wasn’t the wrong thing.”

O’Brien also runs last year’s winner Luxembourg and Point Lonsdale.

“Luxembourg is very well also since Ascot, we probably rode him a little bit forceful over a mile and a half on that ground, he’s not a mile and six horse, he’s a mile and a quarter horse that gets a mile and a half,” said O’Brien.

“He has done a lot of hard, strong work and seems in good form.”

Owen Burrows, and in particular owners Shadwell, have enjoyed a stellar season in the top races and chase another Group One with the supplemented Alflaila.

With Mostahdaf winning the Prince of Wales’s and the Juddmonte International, Al Husn taking the Nassau and Hukum starring in the King George, the famous blue and white silks have been as prominent as ever this season, despite the streamlining of the operation.

“Touch wood, all has gone well and he’s had a nice prep from York,” said Burrows referring to his only start this season, a victory in the York Stakes.

“He’s not had a break as such, but he’s obviously had a nice spell between the two races. I’m not sure about it (bounce factor) to be truthful, but it certainly eliminates that possibility anyway.

“We’re all happy he goes there in good form and we’ll see on Saturday whether or not he’s good enough.

“He hadn’t run for a good few months when he went to York obviously, so he’s going to be sharper for it and he’s going to have to be.

“But he’s won his Group Threes and he’s won a Group Two and this is the logical next step up. There isn’t too much at home for him to go for and it’s sporting that Shadwell have supplemented him to give us a chance of being involved in another top, top race.”

Adding further spice is John and Thady Gosden’s multiple Group One-winning filly Nashwa, who lost little in defeat when beaten a length by stablemate Mostahdaf at York.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Imad Al Sagar, said: “It’s really exciting to be going there with her in what looks to be a top-class renewal.

“She came out of York really well, she’s bouncing, and she deserves to be there.

“Her York run was a rock-solid performance in every way and we’re delighted to be there. The BHA viewed her York run as a career-best, they put her up to 121 which is the second highest in the race.

“Hopefully, Leopardstown could suit her style.”

Onesto was second to Luxembourg last year and is back for another crack for Fabrice Chappet – with Frankie Dettori on top.

“He has a bit of experience doesn’t he. He knows his way round,” said Chappet of Dettori.

“He was supposed to ride Onesto earlier this year and he has ridden for me in the past. I have no worries having Frankie aboard and we are all very happy about that.”

On comparing last year with this year, he went on: “The first two in the Derby look decent and a Group One race is never easy. But I am happy with my horse and he has worked well since his race first time out in the Jacques le Marois, which was a good effort.

“It’s not easy for me to say at this stage and at this time of the year is when we get the chance to compare the three-year-olds and the older horses. Before they meet each other, I guess it is difficult to say. It is consistently a good race.”

Kyprios is due to make his highly anticipated return to action in Sunday’s Comer Group International Irish St Leger with Aidan O’Brien surprised his star stayer is in the line-up.

The Moyglare Stud-owned chestnut carried all before him last season, winning the Gold Cup at Ascot, the Goodwood Cup, this corresponding race and the Prix du Cadran by a staggering 20 lengths.

Unfortunately, he met with a setback in the spring and O’Brien and his team have been forced to use all the guile, skill and patience required to get him back in time to defend his title on Irish racing’s biggest weekend.

Having picked up an infection on the inside of a joint and then enduring a far from straightforward recuperation, O’Brien admits he did not expect him to be lining up so soon.

“I didn’t think he’d make it back (for the Irish Leger) to tell you the truth and I can’t quite believe that he’s going to make it back, there’s still another day to go,” said O’Brien.

“He had a massive injury and I didn’t think it was going to be possible to get him back but the team have done a great job to get him back here, everyone that has been involved in him along the way deserves the credit.

“We’re hoping that he makes it back, he starts off OK, comes home well and then we can start planning after that, really.”

Aidan O’Brien has not ruled out the possibility of running both City Of Troy and Henry Longfellow in Sunday’s Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh.

Both colts are unbeaten and feature prominently in the betting for next year’s Classics.

O’Brien had suggested that Henry Longfellow would wait for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket after he won the Futurity Stakes three weeks ago but his name was a surprise inclusion when declarations came through on Friday morning.

“It’s possible they could both run. Both are in good form,” said O’Brien.

“Obviously City Of Troy would prefer the ground to be quick whereas Henry Longfellow handles an ease but they are both in good form.

“Both of them have had two runs each. It’s a good while since City Of Troy ran but he’s been in good form at home so I’m looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

“Obviously Henry Longfellow only ran a couple of weeks ago but he’s been well also.

“It has been a while since City Of Troy ran so he is ready for a comeback run if we’re going to run him again after this but he looked a bit unusual at Newmarket, didn’t he.”

All eyes will be on Tahiyra when the brilliant filly returns to action in the Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Sensational when winning the Moyglare Stud Stakes 12 months ago, Dermot Weld’s charge was narrowly beaten by Mawj as a hot favourite for the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May – but has since added to her Group One tally with victories in the Irish Guineas and the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Having enjoyed a midsummer break, the daughter of Siyouni returns as one of the star attractions on the opening afternoon of the Irish Champions Festival and jockey Chris Hayes is hopeful she can pick up where she left off.

“I’m looking forward to it, we haven’t seen her since Royal Ascot so I’d be looking forward to her lining up,” he said.

“Hopefully the ground will be nice and I suppose we’ve an adequate draw – she’s drawn fairly low (stall four of 13). I haven’t gone through it in great detail yet but I presume with that amount of runners there should be a decent level of pace, so fingers crossed.

“She just finds everything so easy – she finds going fast easy, she finds going slow easy and there are no issues or anything with her.

“In a race, no matter what pace they’re going, it feels like slow motion when you’re sitting on her, so hopefully that will be the same on Saturday.”

While Hayes feels Tahiyra has improved physically, he admits she is unlikely to be at peak fitness ahead of her first competitive outing in nearly three months.

He added: “I’ve sat on her plenty and she has strengthened up quite well – she’s a stronger filly than she was earlier in the year.

“She hasn’t run in a while so she’ll obviously come and improve as her autumn campaign progresses, but she’s definitely ready to start and put her best foot forward, so hopefully we can get the right result and go forward from there.”

One of the biggest dangers to Tahiyra is her older stablemate Homeless Songs, aboard whom Hayes won last year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas.

The Frankel filly has not been seen in competitive action since pushing Buckaroo close in the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown in early April, but Hayes is nevertheless wary of the threat she poses in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

He said: “She hasn’t run in a long time, but she ran Buckaroo quite close in Leopardstown and she’s in good shape and looks well.

“She’s drawn right beside Tahiyra, so tactically it will be interesting, but my filly is quite versatile and Homeless Songs is quite versatile.

“We both like to come off a fast pace and I’d imagine with a bit of luck in running the two fillies should definitely represent the boss and ourselves well.”

Homeless Songs is one of two runners declared for owners Moyglare Stud Farm along with the Paddy Twomey-trained Just Beautiful, who notched her first win since being bought out of Ivan Furtado’s yard two years ago in the Group Two Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh in May.

“Homeless Songs is in good shape, she might be a week or two short and if Leopardstown don’t water and it stays as hot and sunny as this and the ground is fast she probably won’t run, but she’s declared and we’ll just see,” said Moyglare’s Fiona Craig.

“Just Beautiful loves fast ground. She got a splint after we bought her and it’s taken a while to get her right, but her last run was her first run on fast ground for us and she did it well.

“She will suit Leopardstown and Paddy has been training her for this for quite a long time.

“Obviously, Tahiyra gets 5lb from both of ours, but at the end of the day, if you’re not in you can’t win, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Aidan O’Brien fits Meditate with blinkers for the first time, while three-time course winner Zarinsk must be respected for trainer Ger Lyons.

British raiders Rogue Millennium (Tom Clover), Olivia Maralda (Roger Varian) and Prosperous Voyage (Ralph Beckett) add further spice to the one-mile contest.

This year’s Racing League is set for a fascinating conclusion after Wales & The West just about maintained top spot from Ireland.

Jamie Osborne’s defending champions have been blazing a trail throughout, but the Kevin Blake-managed Irish outfit enjoyed a good night at Newcastle last week and that was the case again at Wolverhampton on Thursday, with just the finale at Southwell on Wednesday to come.

Wales & The West led by 568 points to 496 heading into the fifth week at Dunstall Park, but by the end of play that was down to just two points (666 to 664).

After solid placed efforts in the opening few races, Ireland hit the jackpot with the Billy Loughnane-ridden, George Boughey-trained Koy Koy in race four – a win that also put crack apprentice Loughnane on 94 career winners, just one away from losing his claim.

Race five looked like going to Ireland, too, as Naxos and Dylan Browne McMonagle went for home, only to be swamped by Freddy Larson aboard Rebecca Menzies’ Painters Palette for Mick Quinn’s North team.

Even better for Quinn was that he played a joker, one that rewarded his squad with 70 points from the race.

Blake’s confidence seemed to be riding high for race six, as he too played a joker but the well-fancied 9-4 favourite Belgoprince and Loughnane had to settle for fourth place, one in front of another Irish runner, Percy Jones.

But while the points were still doubled for a positive Irish outcome that took them to the summit, Blake did admit to being disappointed the joker did not pay a better dividend, especially as he has no more left to play.

“We had a big chance to stick a nail in Osborne this evening, I feel we’ve only done half a job. When you play a joker you want better than that, so I’m disappointed,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“Osborne with his two jokers will be tough next week, I don’t think we’ll be much weaker next week – I’ve got a good feeling about next week, I’ve got a bunch of trainers ringing and wanting spots which is exactly what you want.

“If Osborne nails his two jokers, we’re all in trouble, but if he scuffs one…”

The feature event of the night was the concluding William Hill Pick Your Places Racing League Race 35 Handicap, carrying £100,000 in prize-money and which produced success for the Scotland team, with Linda Perratt playing a joker and being rewarded by victory for George Baker’s Get It, ridden by Paul Mulrennan.

It also proved a critical race in the standings, as placed horses for Wales & The West saw them just about back on top, to add to the feeling of what might have been for Blake.

Notable also on a night where Saffie Osborne was not in action in order to be able to take a full book of rides for her father’s team at Southwell, was that McMonagle seized the opportunity to eat into her advantage at the top of the jockeys’ standings.

“I didn’t think I was as close to Saffie as that, I’m creeping up quite nicely,” he said.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to come over next week, but I’ll take it as it comes.”

Away from the Racing League, McMonagle is looking forward to a big weekend at the Irish Champions Festival, including Joseph O’Brien’s Atlantic Coast in Saturday’s KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown.

He added: “He’s a lovely colt, he couldn’t really have pleased us more the first day at the Curragh. Also our two-year-olds usually progress from their first runs so what he showed us on his debut was really special. We’ll be confident of a good run, but it’s obviously competitive racing so fingers crossed.”

Eve Johnson Houghton’s Juniper Berries pounced late to land the Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes at Salisbury.

The two-year-old was sent off at 16-1 in the Group Three affair under Charlie Bishop, despite a consistent campaign thus far this year.

A winner on debut, the daughter of Expert Eye was second to Relief Rally in a novice before coming home a solid fourth in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

She was well beaten in the Super Sprint but regained her form to finish second in the Alice Keppel at Goodwood and then fourth when beaten a little over  length in the Listed St Hugh’s Stakes when last seen.

Up in trip to six furlongs and back up in grade at Salisbury, the filly was ridden patiently to best utilise her speed and as the line approached she threw down her challenge to collar the front-running Dorothy Lawrence and prevail by a short head.

Johnson Houghton said: “I thought the step up to six (furlongs) would help, I thought the firm ground would help.

“She’s been running over five in soft ground and she deserved this, every time she ran at Newbury she never got any cover.

“We knew she had an amazing turn of foot, but it was just getting her to use it at the right time.

“We all made a plan, the owners and I, that we’d drop her in and if she didn’t get there on time then she didn’t get there on time.

“The last thing we wanted to do was get there too early and stop, she has a wicked turn of foot but it’s not a very long turn of foot.

“I’m thrilled. Look at the size  of her, she does herself really well and she’s on the grow again I think.

“She’ll be a lovely filly for next year and they’ve (the owners) got the stud, so it’s great for them. What a star. Good old Junie, we love her!”

Ralph Beckett’s Skellet got off the mark with a convincing success in the Bob Mccreery Memorial British EBF Quidhampton Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

Under Rossa Ryan the Kingman bay was the 5-6 favourite after being beaten just a length when fourth on debut at Sandown in August.

In a field of nine she was this time a straightforward winner, by a length and a quarter ahead of Richard Hannon’s Serene Seraph.

“I was very pleased. She’s a bit raw, she’s a big, tall, gangly filly,” Beckett said.

“Her sister, Skitter Skatter, was the size of a pony and she won a Moyglare for Patrick Prendergast – this filly is completely different.

“She was a bit antsy behind the gates, she’s still looking around.”

On future plans the trainer added: “She’s a nice filly, one for next year. It’s likely we’ll take a more conservative view, I don’t know what trip she’ll end up getting, we hope a mile but we’ll find out next year.”

Frankness (13-2) was a fitting winner of the European Bloodstock News EBF ‘Lochsong’ Fillies’ Handicap for Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding.

The race is named in honour of the great sprinter, a 15-time winner owned by Jeff Smith who dominated the sprint scene in the early nineties.

Frankess runs in the same silks and as Lochsong was trained by Balding’s father Ian, the victory particularly apt for the owner of both horses.

Mick Easterby has paid a heartfelt tribute to Derby-winning jockey Edward Hide, who has died at the age of 86.

Hide had a long and distinguished association with the Easterby stable, but his crowning glory came when winning the 1973 Derby with Morston for Arthur Budgett, pipping Lester Piggott on Cayo Doro.

Three-times champion apprentice in the 1950s, Hide won the prestigious ‘Cock of the North’ accolade 16 times.

Writing on his website Easterby said: “It is with great sadness today that I heard of the passing of my great buddy Eddie Hide.

“Eddie Hide was quite simply one of the best Flat jockeys I have seen seen. He was wonderful.

“In my career I have been fortunate to put up two of the finest jockeys. Sadly 2023 has seen the passing of both Eddie and my former stable jockey Terry Lucas.

“In the 1970s I’d put Eddie up whenever I had a runner in any of the big races and he never let me down once. Eddie had it all. He was an intelligent man and he knew the formbook inside out.

“You could get rich quite quickly backing Eddie on my horses, because he only rode them when he knew they were going to win.”

Hide won the 1000 Guineas for Easterby on Mrs McArdy in 1977 and was associated with the champion sprinter of 1976, Lochnager, winning the Temple, the King’s Stand, the July Cup and the William Hill Sprint Trophy (now Nunthorpe).

Easterby went on: “I owe a great deal to Eddie Hide. He rode the biggest winners of my career and he helped put the stable on the map in the 1970s.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Cambridge was victorious as the trainer sent his first runner to Salisbury for 18 years.

The Dubawi colt was contesting the one-mile Byerley Stud Novice Stakes under Ryan Moore and started as the 11-10 favourite at the Wiltshire track.

The run was the bay’s second, his debut being a third-placed effort in a Roscommon maiden last month.

This time he looked like the winner from two furlongs from home, before facing a late challenge from Richard Hannon’s Houstonn, who got at least level in the final strides but was passed again as a short head split them on the line.

Moore said of the success: “I’m happy with him, travelling over would have done him the world of good.

“Hopefully he’ll build on this and be a good horse next year.”

Cambridge was watched by Coolmore’s UK representative Kevin Buckley, who last witnessed a Ballydoyle horse run at Salisbury when Dylan Thomas was beaten in the 2005 Autumn Stakes.

He said: “I’m pleased with that and it’s nice to be here, Salisbury have looked after us really well. We thought he’d improve from his run in Roscommon, the stewards’ report said he dwelt at the start, but Seamie (Heffernan) then subsequently said the stall was slow to open.

“He ran very green, he was much more professional there, he put his head down and got it done. I know the winning margin wasn’t much, but it’s about winning and that’s what he did there.

“(It’s been) 18 years. It was the Autumn Stakes, Dylan Thomas was second with Johnny Murtagh on board and Jamie Spencer was third on Arabian Prince.

“He’s a nicely-bred horse, by a partner, Peter Brant, by Dubawi out of a Galileo mare. Half-brother to Maqsad, who won a Pretty Polly at Newmarket, beating Shambolic who is the dam of Ylang Ylang who is running for us in the Moyglare.

“We’ll get him home now and see what we think, he’s been over the extended seven at Roscommon, we knew he’d get that, his dam won over 12 furlongs and was Listed-placed twice in France.

“He’s got the Royal Lodge entry and that wouldn’t be beyond the realms (of possibility).”

One-time Derby fancy Eydon is creeping towards an eagerly-awaited return to the racecourse later this month, with connections dreaming of teeing-up a shot at Ascot’s Qipco Champion Stakes later in the autumn.

The lightly-raced colt’s progress has been curtailed by injury and having advertised his talent with a taking success at Newmarket in the Feilden Stakes, he returned to the Rowley Mile to finish an honourable fourth behind Coroebus when getting a first taste of Classic action in the 2000 Guineas.

He was on course for a second bite of the Classic cherry in the Derby when a setback ruled him out of the race, and his 2000 Guineas appearance remains Eydon’s last sighting on a racecourse.

Switched to Andrew Balding from Roger Varian over the winter, it was anticipated he would return to the track in the early stages of the 2023 season, but a further issue in the spring ruled him out of the key summer months.

An outing at Listed level in either the Chasemore Farm Fortune Stakes at Sandown (September 20) or Ayr’s Virgin Bet Doonside Cup Stakes (September 23) is on the radar, before a possible big-race tilt on British Champions Day (October 21), providing Eydon shows he retains all of his old ability.

“Oisin Murphy was on him at Andrew’s and seemed happy and we’re going to either the Doonside Cup or the Fortune Stakes,” said Ted Voute, owner Prince Faisal’s racing adviser.

“He’s probably going to be a bit ring-rusty, but the aim is to see if we can get him to the Champion Stakes.

“It’s a big ask and he’s had lots of little niggly things along the way, but from what Andrew has seen, he has seen sparks of good things on the gallops and touch wood he’s still in one piece and that will be the plan.

“We’ll see how we go and we thought it was a good idea to have a target, because if he came out and was as good as he was in the Feilden Stakes then we would have a bash. We’re keeping our fingers crossed.”