Lion’s Pride is likely to be kept over middle distances after connections decided to swerve the St Leger.

The John and Thady Gosden -trained colt had been considered for the St Leger following a third in the Listed August Stakes at Windsor, but would have faced three opponents from the same yard including favourite Gregory. 

Lion's Pride was an impressive three length winner of a novice stakes on the all-weather at Kempton Park in July, beating Middle Earth, who was supplemented for the St Leger following a victory in the Melrose Handicap at York.

The three-year-old boasts an impressive pedigree as a half-brother to Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Courage Mon Ami, who is also trained by the Gosden team. 

"We decided in the end that he probably wouldn't stay a mile and three-quarters and rather than run him with two or three others from the same stable, he could probably win a mile-and-a-quarter or mile-and-a-half Group race rather than run over a distance that on breeding, Mr Gosden and myself wasn't sure he would stay," said owner Anthony Oppenheimer.

"We thought we would be careful and give him a chance somewhere else. He's a very nice horse indeed and he is probably my best horse this year.

"We're not even a quarter of the way to getting to the bottom of him. He's got a lot of speed and more speed than probably distance and that is why we decided not to take a chance in the St Leger. He's unlikely to stay and we thought why waste this horse.

"This is a new decision so there is nothing really in mind at moment, but he's a lovely horse."