2024 St Leger Result and Replay - Jan Brueghel edges out Illinois in a thrilling Classic finish

Aidan O'Brien saddled the first three in the betting. Queen's Vase winner, Illinois topped the market when the field was confirmed and was still favourite on the morning of the race. A sway of support for the unbeaten Jan Brueghel saw O'Brien's Gordon Stakes winner jump briefly to the head of the market.

Aidan's third runner, Grosvenor Square was also supported on the morning of the St Leger. As the runners went into the stalls, there was hardly anything to separate the three Ballydoyle runners in the market.

The main market mover was David Menuisier's Sunway, who was available at 10/1 on Thursday, but was sent off as a 5/1 shot. You Got To Me had been supplemented into the race by Ralph Beckett, and the Irish Oaks winner remained fairly solid in the market.

Owen Burrows and Jason Watson teamed up with Epsom Derby fourth Deira Mile. With Oisin Murphy riding in Canada on Saturday night, Danny Tudhope jumped into the saddle of Andrew Balding's outsider, Wild Waves.

A switch to front-running tactics had worked wonders for Grosvenor Square in recent starts. Aidan O'Brien's colt made all to win the Irish St Leger Trial by 20 lengths last month, so it was no surprise to see Gavin Ryan guide his mount straight to the front.

Illinois went forward too and Wayne Lordan seemed keen to keep tabs on his stablemate. Jan Brueghel was keen early on, but eventually settled in fourth place alongside Wild Waves.

Sunway was held up out the back, along with Deira Mile. You Got To Me caught a wide trip in the early stages, but at the halfway stage, there were just seven lengths between first and last.

On the turn for home, Grosvenor Square pointed his toe and extended his slim advantage. Illinois was still well in touch and Jan Brueghel began to make stealthy progress.

Despite setting fairly steady fractions, Grosvenor Square dropped away rather tamely. Deira Mile and Sunway began to make progress from the rear, but it was the other two O'Brien runners who moved on to fight out the finish.

Wayne Lordan and Illinois had the rail to help. Jan Brueghel still looked green, edging away from his stablemate as they rubbed shoulders at the furlong pole. Yet, it was the more inexperienced of Aidan's runners who gained the upper hand, and Jan Brueghel extended his unbeaten record into a fifth race by landing the 2024 St Leger.

Deira Mile kept on well from the rear, narrowly edging out Sunway in the race for third as the leading four pulled clear of the field. After a steward's enquiry, Sunway was promoted to third-place.