Hanson: Spot Plays for St Leger Festival Sept. 14

It's definitely a big weekend of racing in Europe. The two-day Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown and the Curragh predominates, and the Sunday card at Longchamp will feature several Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) trials.

Not to be overlooked, though, is the world's oldest classic on Saturday, the St Leger (G1) at Doncaster. It's an event I had the good fortune to attend six years ago, and I enjoy having an annual punt on it as well as the two supporting Group features.

My last published pick on English racing, Bradsell in the Aug. 23 Nunthorpe (G1) at York, finally broke a prolonged dry spell in this space, albeit at a lower-than-expected $7.80. Our bankroll for the season stands at $478.90, with 5% of the outstanding balance being bet to win on the following recommendations.

Race 1: Champagne (G2), 8:50 a.m. ET

I am going to the well again with #6 Wolf of Badenoch (4-1), whom I backed in the July 30 Vintage (G2) at Goodwood in this space. Unfortunately, Wolf of Badenoch conceded ground early and got uncorked too late, but still ran respectably to finish second to a promising Godolphin-owned colt.

Wolf of Badenoch showed a lot of promise on debut over this course and distance three months ago. Although there is a concern this race might turn into a tactical affair, he remains with a lot of potential and the price at which is he trading at present seems fair.

Race 3: Park (G2), 10 a.m. ET

He carries a weight penalty following a recent Group 2 score in Ireland, and his price is dropping following the defection of #9 Lake Forest from this race, but #1 Poet Master (6-1) appears primed for another Group success.

A lightly raced four-year-old, Poet Master has won five of seven, the two setbacks both occurring at Haydock. A course-and-distance winner at this meeting last season, he's taken his game to another level this term, most recently dominating the Minstrel (G2) by a widening 3 3/4 lengths. The form of that received a boost when third-placed Mutasarref earned a second Group 3 win of the season in the Aug. 8 Desmond (G3).

Poet Master is the pick to topple the relatively inexperienced #9 Lead Artist and the seemingly past-his-prime #2 Kinross.

Race 4: St Leger (G1), 10:35 a.m. ET

Admittedly not the most compelling St Leger, and it might shape up as an intramural battle among a trio of candidates from Coolmore and trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Preference goes to #4 Jan Brueghel (7-2), who enters with a 3-for-3 record. He only narrowly won his two trials by a neck, but the former win in the International (G3) at the Curragh was better than it looks, given he was far from the finished article after an eight-length maiden win the month prior.

Negotiating an undulating Goodwood course he might not have enjoyed last time in the Gordon (G3), Jan Brueghel was more the hunted rather than the hunter when making the lead in upper stretch before staving off Bellum Justum, subsequent winner of the Nashville Derby (G3) at Kentucky Downs. I like his chances to separate himself more on Saturday if he has a target to run at it inside the final two or three furlongs.