The St Leger 2026: The Game Said Christmas Day by a Neck. Highwayman Won It at 11/1
12 September 2026
The Set-Up
Eleven runners, a mile and three-quarters on Town Moor. Christmas Day the 2/1 favourite and top rated, Enceladus going for a hat-trick at 5/2, Pierre Bonnard the stablemate who places every time at 4/1. Highwayman, winner of his last two but rated seventeen pounds below the favourite, was 14/1.
The Race
Action made the running, as an 80/1 Ballydoyle third string usually does, with Christmas Day sat behind him. Pierre Bonnard was the one moving: closer order past the mile post, short of room at the bend, switched, and still through to join his stablemate. Straight ahead it was the two of them together, Enceladus three lengths back and nobody else in it.
Three out Pierre Bonnard went past and for a hundred yards the second string was winning the St Leger. Then he stopped at the furlong pole and Christmas Day did not. Christmas Day by a neck, Enceladus two lengths back in third.
Against the Real Thing
Highwayman won the real one at 11/1 by two and a half lengths from Enceladus, with Amelia Earhart third at 22/1 and Alderman fourth at 40/1.
The game had Highwayman winning one race in a hundred, because the ratings come off the market on the day and the market had him at 14/1. That is what 14/1 shots do now and again, and the St Leger has a habit of it. Pierre Bonnard hung left and weakened for sixth. Christmas Day was ninth and reported lame on his right hind afterwards. Enceladus was in the frame both times, and Action led early and finished last both times.
Played With
Past the Post, the full tabletop horse racing game, using the Race Builder app: the racecard typed in on the morning of the race, rated from the Racing Post figures, Doncaster's Long Grind in force at Three Out.