Billy Loughnane could experience yet more Classic success this season after Joseph O'Brien handed him the ride on St Leger second-favourite Enceladus.
The 20-year-old tasted a first Classic success of his career aboard Bow Echo in the 2,000 Guineas back in May and his season has only gone from strength to strength. Loughnane has landed three further Group 1 contests, two wins at Royal Ascot and has clear of rival Oisin Murphy in the race to be crowned champion jockey.
With regular rider Dylan Browne McMonagle out through injury, O'Brien moved quickly to book Loughnane to ride his main Leger contender.
Enceladus booked his ticket Doncaster following back-to-back wins at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood and is now 5/2 to land the final British Classic of the season.
Loughnane told Sky Sports Racing: "It's a fantastic ride to pick up. It's unfortunate for Dylan [Browne McMonagle] who is on the sidelines at the minute.
"Enceladus has been impressive this summer and hopefully he's got another one left in him. He's been going through the ranks smoothly, and obviously it's a stiffer assignment on Saturday, but I imagine Joseph will have him in fantastic nick."
O'Brien also has Highwayman heading to Town Moor in an attempt to win the race for a second time in his career after Galileo Chrome gave him a maiden victory in 2020.
The three-year-old was defeated on each of his first four ventures to the track, however, has been much improved of late, winning his maiden at Killarney before striking at Listed level when defeating stablemate Cannes in the Vinnie Roe Stakes.
Joseph, alongside his father Aidan, have a decent grip on the Leger market with the latter readying 13/8 favourite Christmas Day for another Classic bid. Ballydoyle are also expected to run Irish Derby third and Great Voltigeur runner-up Pierre Bonnard, who is 5/2 in the market.
O'Brien Snr is aiming to land a fourth successive Leger after Scandinavia gave him an unprecedented hat-trick under Tom Marquand in 2025.
