Masked Marvel closing gap on hot favourite

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt staked a massive claim for honours in the oldest Classic when taking the Great Voltigeur Stakes by a staggering eight lengths at York last month.

Olivier Peslier gets the leg up on Khalid Abdullah’s three-year-old due to stable jockey Ryan Moore being injured as the Frenchman attempts to win the St Leger for the first time.

Richard Hughes, who was in the saddle at York, has stayed loyal to his father-in-law Richard Hannon and will partner Census.

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s colt booked his place with victory in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury where he defeated Brown Panther.

Tom Dascombe’s stable star will again be in opposition in a bid to give Manchester United footballer Michael Owen a first Classic success.

Godolphin’s three-pronged attack is led by three-time Group One winner Blue Bunting. The mount of Frankie Dettori, the 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks heroine tries to become the first filly to beat the colts on Town Moor since User Friendly in 1992.

Sheikh Mohammed’s operation are also represented by Genius Beast and Rumh. John Gosden, successful 12 months ago with Arctic Cosmos, is double-handed with Masked Marvel and Buthelezi while Seville is Aidan O’Brien’s sole representative.

Ladbrokes make Sea Moon the 11-8 favourite. However, the big-race sponsors report a move for Masked Marvel and have trimmed Gosden’s hope to 7-1 from 8s.

“Masked Marvel is now the one attracting the attention away from the front end of the market,” said spokesman David Williams.