Aidan O'Brien set to aim Derby winner Lambourn at St Leger after 'day at the races' defeat

Aidan O’Brien has set Derby winner Lambourn back on the St Leger trail after his shock defeat at York on Wednesday.

Lambourn lined up as hot favourite for the Great Voltigeur Stakes yet could only manage to finish in fifth place on his first start since his win in the Irish Derby. With stablemate Scandinavia heading the betting for the last Classic of the year, Lambourn’s participation appeared in jeopardy in the wake of a disappointing showing, with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe another option.

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Yet O’Brien has indicated the Betfred St Leger on September 13 will be Lambourn’s likely next target.

Lambourn would be the first winner of the Epsom Derby to line up in the St Leger since Camelot was denied an historic Triple Crown in 2012.

Reflecting on the York defeat, O'Brien said: "The Voltigeur was only a sprint down the straight and was a waste of a race really. They only hacked and it was just a day at the races.

"It is very possible that he will go for the St Leger. He didn't even blow after the race. We just needed to get a race into him."

On the same day Lambourn could be in action at Doncaster, O'Brien plans to saddle Delacroix for what he hopes will be a third successive clash with Ombudsman in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Delacroix was a narrow winner when the pair met in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in early July, but Ombudsman turned the tables in a fascinating Juddmonte International on Wednesday after the latter's pacemaker Birr Castle slipped the field before being reeled in late.

Of Delacroix, O'Brien added: "He's good, hopefully it will be back to Leopardstown and hopefully John (Gosden) and Sheikh Mohammed will come (with Ombudsman), we'll have something to look forward to then.

"York was just a Mickey Mouse race really."