Beaten Aqaleem States Leger Case

He may have been beaten, but Aqaleem advertised his Ladbrokes St Leger claims with his gritty second to Yellowstone in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The Vodafone Derby third went down by a head to the Ballydoyle raider, but Marcus Tregoning's charge had been hemmed in at a crucial stage and was carrying a 3lb penalty for his Lingfield win in May.

Despite looking unlikely to head to Doncaster on September 15, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Yellowstone was cut into 8-1 from 14s for the St Leger by the sponsors, who also trimmed Tregoning's charge into joint-favouritism.

He shares his place at the head of the market at 4-1 with O'Brien's pair of Royal Ascot winner Mahler and Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune.

Tregoning said: 'He was unfortunate, there was a lack of pace and I think he should have won, but it (trouble in running) can happen here.

'There is always another day and I'll have to talk to the owner, but I'd be quite tempted to go straight to Doncaster.'

Yellowstone's victory provided man-of-the-moment Johnny Murtagh with yet another high-profile success for Ballydoyle.

Just three days after guiding Dylan Thomas to victory in the King George at Ascot, Murtagh was back on duty for John Magnier and co aboard a colt was has had a busy time of it this summer.

Most recently seen finishing fourth in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes, Murtagh's mount was punted into 5-2 joint favourite and shot clear inside the final two furlongs of the mile-and-a-half race.

The winner's part-owner Michael Tabor said: 'Aidan thought he had a very good chance and his form was there for all to see.

'It looked a messy race, they went a bit slow and Johnny said he would have liked the ground a bit firmer as he's a big, strong horse.

'I don't think he is a Leger horse. Aidan might have different ideas, but from what Johnny told me he isn't a Leger horse.

'A mile and a quarter to a mile and a half would be his trip, with a little bit less juice in the ground.

'I have not discussed with Aidan, but Mahler might be more of the St Leger horse, and Yellowstone could be more of an Arc horse.'

Murtagh, who later completed a big-race double aboard Fleeting Spirit in the Betfair Molecomb Stakes, added: 'They didn't go a mad gallop so it was a bit tactical, but I was near enough to the pace and when I asked him to quicken, he stayed on well again.

'I don't think he wants to go further and that would be his trip, but he would appreciate better ground as he is a lovely big mover.'

Raincoat, who chased home Derby winner Authorized in the Dante, stuck his task in the final furlong, and stayed on eyecatchingly well into third on his first attempt at a mile and a half.

His trainer John Gosden said: 'It was a walking race and they've only run for four furlongs when we came to run a mile and a half, which was a bit silly, but that's life.'

Raincoat is a 14-1 chance for the Leger with Coral.

(C) PA Sport