Order Of St George scares off rivals
In reality this should be an easy enough victory for this season's star stayer who has had a midsummer break following his win in the Ascot Gold Cup
GOLD Cup hero Order Of St George makes his return from a midsummer break in Saturday's Palmerstown House Estate Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh.
It was in this Group Three contest 12 months ago that the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt really burst onto the staying scene, with a comprehensive victory preceding a similarly dominant display in the Irish St Leger itself the following month.
The four-year-old has continued in the same vein this season, landing the Saval Beg at Leopardstown before his Gold Cup heroics at Royal Ascot and he will be long odds-on to continue his winning run this weekend.
O'Brien said: "Order Of St George had a break after Royal Ascot and is just back ready to start.
"The plan with him after Ascot was to start back at the Curragh this weekend and we'll get over that first, but hopefully then he will go back for the Irish St Leger."
Order Of St George faces just four opponents in the one-mile-six-furlong contest.
The second highest-rated runner in the field is Dermot Weld's American import Charming Kitten, who showed some smart form Stateside, but was beaten into third place on his Irish debut in a Listed event at Down Royal last month.
Jockey Pat Smullen said: "He was a good stayer in America. We were happy with his first run and you'd be hoping he'll improve, but on all known figures, we're all playing for places behind Order Of St George.
"If our horse can finish second, it will be a big run."
The Harry Rogers-trained Benkei, Jim Bolger's course scorer Twilight Payment and Arya Tara from Joseph O'Brien's stable complete the field.