Ballydoyle duo aim for another Voltigeur

Aidan O’Brien sends both Constantinople and Norway to York as he bids for fourth victory in the Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stames.

The Ballydoyle handler has saddled Milan (2001), Powerscourt (2003) and Idaho (2016) to win Wednesday’s St Leger trial — and Constantinople appears the yard’s first string, following narrow defeats in the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on his two most recent appearances.

O’Brien said: “Constantinople ran well at Goodwood and seems to have come out of it well. It was a little bit of a messy race.

“Norway is in good form as well, and he should leave his King George run (finished seventh) behind him.”

Logician is a likely short-priced favourite as he bids to maintain his unbeaten record for John Gosden.

The Frankel colt made his racecourse debut in May, but has created a big impression on all his three starts — with a pair of emphatic wins at Newbury sandwiching a similarly dominant display at Newmarket.

Logician graduates to Group Two class for his latest assignment, and could book his place in the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster in September, for which he is currently second-favourite in the ante-post market at a general 8-1.

“He’s a progressive horse,” said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah.

“Obviously he’s stepping up now to proper Group company, but he’s been very straightforward.

“Everyone’s been happy with him, and he comes into the race in good form.”

Logician is the mount of Frankie Dettori, who guided him to victory on his latest start in a handicap at Newbury.

“He keeps on improving, but he has got a bit to find on ratings. I think York will suit him,” Dettori told his Ladbrokes blog.

“We know we are taking a leap forward with him, but we want to see if we can make him a Leger horse. That’s why he’s there.”

The Mark Johnston-trained Nayef Road beat Constantinople by a neck at Goodwood, having previously been placed in both the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.

Charlie Johnston, assistant to his father, said: “I’m sure he won’t be favourite — I’d imagine he’ll be third in the betting — behind a horse he beat last time, and a horse who is unbeaten and obviously progressive but still has a bit to find on ratings (Logician).

“I know we were getting a penalty from Constantinople at Goodwood, but I don’t see any reason why he won’t confirm the form.

“He’s going into the race in good form — having finished third, second and first at three of the biggest meetings of the summer — and I’m sure he’ll be bang there again.”

Godolphin’s Jalmoud, trained by Charlie Appleby, is the only one of the quintet without an entry in the St Leger.

Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “Jalmoud has a bit to find with a couple of runners, who finished in front of him in the Gordon Stakes, but we feel that the galloping course at York will suit him better.

“A mile and a half is his optimum trip, and a re-production of some of his form in France this season should make him competitive.”