Doncaster will be front and centre from Wednesday onwards as the course stages the four-day St Leger Festival, culminating in the final British Classic of the season on Saturday afternoon.
The Town Moor meeting is always one of the most eagerly anticipated on the autumn schedule and that will be truer than ever as Doncaster welcomes back spectators to racing this week.
Here are five horses worth keeping an eye on at the St Leger Festival.
Acklam Express
Nigel Tinkler’s improving gelding has won three on the bounce since mid-July when he got off the mark at the second attempt in a Hamilton novice contest.
He made short of his Glorious Goodwood rivals afterward and confirmed his upwardly mobile profile since by taking out a soft-ground Listed sprint at York’s Ebor Festival.
He’ll face some hardened rivals in Dakota Gold, Moss Gill and Tarboosh in the Listed Scarbrough Stakes on Wednesday, but the youngster may give them all a headache.
Logician
John Gosden has confirmed that last year’s St Leger hero Logician is likely to take his chance in a Conditions event at Doncaster on Thursday. The Frankel colt has yet to taste defeat in five starts and looked another star in the making for the Khalid Abdullah operation when he won that Classic here 12 months ago.
He hasn’t raced since but it would be very fitting should he announce his return in style just days after Enable bid farewell to British racing in the same silks.
Cold Front
Things didn’t go to plan for the William Haggas-trained Cold Front on handicap bow at York last month as he tackled a mile for the first time. He was out the back for most of the journey and never really looked like getting into the mix.
He was very well backed and his previous Haydock win isn’t forgotten. A drop in trip is imminent if he turns up at Doncaster and he’s not one to abandon yet.
Nayef Road
Mark Johnston’s stayer was expected to profit when Stradivarius skipped York last month but could only manage third in the end behind Enbihaar.
Third in the St Leger here last season, the trip of two-and-a-quarter-miles in the Doncaster Cup on Friday should be right up his street if his Ascot Gold Cup second earlier this summer is anything to judge off.
Pyledriver
The horse that nobody wanted at the Sales has made his mark. Anyone that cobbled about his Royal Ascot win in June certainly had to eat their words when he surged clear of his rivals in the Great Voltigeur at York last month.
He had plenty to spare on the Knavesmire but rider Martin Dwyer was far from convinced the extra yardage of a St Leger would suit. Connections are coming for a crack at the Classic and he’s a real feel-good story.
