AIDAN'S COCKY; O'Brien well pleased with Leger pair.

Byline: Garry Owen

AIDAN O'BRIEN reports Age Of Aquarius and Changingoftheguard to be in fine shape ahead of the St Leger at Doncaster a week tomorrow.

The two colts are the 3-1 and 6-1 second and third favourites respectively with the sponsor and O'Brien has high hopes of recording his fourth victory in the world's oldest Classic.

"Age Of Aquarius had a break after France (second to Cavalryman in the Grand Prix de Paris) a few weeks back, he's in good shape," said O'Brien.

"He's a good traveller this fellow, he's probably even a stronger traveller than Scorpion (2005) and Brian Boru (2003).

"He's got a high cruising pace and he just slings along.We think he's a very nice colt. Changingoftheguard won well at Down Royal and ran a stormer in the Ebor. It wasn't a fast-run race and often when you take your time in a race like that, it can be tricky."

Ladbrokes St Leger, sponsors bet: 5-2 Kite Wood, 3 Age Of Aquarius, 6 Changingoftheguard, Monitor Closely, 10 Father Time, Mourayan, 16 Mastery, 25 bar.

Despite the continued uncertainty over the participation of Sea The Stars in tomorrow's Irish Champion Stakes, William Hill have installed him as their 10-11 favourite.

John Oxx's brilliant colt had looked doubtful to even be declared onWednesday, but an improvement in the weather forecast and the fact the management at Leopardstown will be using two separate tracks has eased fears slightly.

Henry Candy has warned that Markab, joint-favourite for the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup, is not a definite starter in the race.

Winner of the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last time out, the sixyear-old is set to tackle the Ladbrokes Portland on St Leger day at Doncaster.

Candy said: "If he ran well and didn't quite win the Portland, you would have to consider Ayr but I'm considering Ayr more for Signor Peltro."

CAPTION(S):

STEERING JOB: Robert Winston bolts up on Shaayeq at Epsom yesterday