Red Verdon each-way value in St Leger ante post odds

David Metcalf | August 22, 2016

Red Verdon each-way value in St Leger at Donny

Red Verdon looks cracking each-way value at 10/1 with Coral in the St Leger ante post odds at Doncaster on Saturday, September 10th.

The market for the 1m 6f contest is dominated by Idaho, with Aidan O’Brien’s colt clear favourite at 11/8 following his success in last week’s Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

There is little doubt that he was very impressive to come from off the pace and win going away by 1 3/4 lengths from stable companion Housesofparliament, but there are reasons to believe that Red Verdon is capable of lowering his colours.

Fine effort in Investec Derby

Trained by Ed Dunlop, Red Verdon won two handicaps in impressive fashion before being pitched into the deep end and running far better than his finishing position suggest when sixth of 16 to Harzand in the Investec Derby over 1m 4f at Epsom.

After being held-up in last place, the three year-old was in 14th position turning for home and had a mountain to climb.

However, after being switched to the inside Red Verdon was making stealthy headway only to clip heels two from home.

That interference stopped the colt in his tracks and it was to his credit that he tried to rally bravely only to be denied a clear run yet again a furlong from home.

In the end he kept on nicely to be beaten 12 lengths and in doing so finished nine lengths behind Idaho who came third.

Given that rival had the run of the race it was an excellent effort from Red Verdon and I don’t think that there would have been much between them in a clean run contest.

Step up in trip will suit

Red Verdon backed that up with a solid 4 1/4 length fourth in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh where he kept on strongly at the death and only narrowly failed to get up for third.

The son of Lemon Drop Kid once again finished behind Idaho who was beaten 1/2 a length into second by Harzand, but the way in which Red Verdon finished off the 1m 4f classic contest suggested he was crying out for a step up in trip.

He will get that in the St Leger and goes into the race on the back of a fine second in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris over 1m 4f at Saint-cloud when again doing all his best work at the finish.

Willing attitude a big plus

To me, Red Verdon looks the ideal Leger type and he is a straight forward sort who has a really willing attitude.

With Idaho having a strange head carriage and looking far from a easy ride, should it come down to a battle between the pair I would definitely want Red Verdon on my side.

Another plus is that Dunlop has a good record with his stayers, and at the odds on offer Red Verdon looks well worth an each-way wager in the final classic of the flat season.

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