Hi all,
No racing in England means Irish Champions Weekend gets underway with the stage to itself. The BHA announced on Friday morning that all racing on Saturday in England would be cancelled. However, there will be a nine-race card on Sunday which will include the St Leger. The Flying Childers and Doncaster Cup that were due to be run on Friday will also be part of the card. As will the Champagne and Park Stakes from Saturday’s card.
Irish Champions Weekend – Leopardstown
There’s been plenty of rain at both Leopardstown and the Curragh and plenty more is being forecast for the latter track on Sunday. More rain was forecast for Leopardstown on Friday although its set to be dry on Saturday. The going at Leopardstown at the time of writing on Friday afternoon as soft all-round.
The Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (3.45) and the Group 1 The Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes (4.55) are feature races of an eight-race card for day one of Irish Champions Weekend.
In today’s preview I have had a look at the best of the action on the Leopardstown card and Saturday’s betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
Irish Champions Stakes
Seven have been declared for the Irish Champion Stakes. Coral Eclipse winner Vadeni heads the betting. He only had a neck to spare over Mishriff at Sandown, but he’s open to more improvement, and I don’t think Mishriff wants soft ground. Vadeni is a worthy favourite and is the one to beat.
Luxembourg third in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket returned from a 4-month absence with a workmanlike success in a Group 3 at the Curragh last month. He should be capable of further improvement over 1m 2f and with that run under his belt looks set for a big run. There doesn’t appear to be much pace on show, but his stablemate Stone Age could help set it.
Onesto wasn’t well positioned when a 6 ½ length 5th of 15 to Vadeni in Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly. He’s since improved to win the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris (1m 4f) at Longchamp. His stamina could well come in handy here and trainer Fabrice Chappet doesn’t think he will be inconvenienced by the drop back to 1m 2f.
Alenquer gets ease in the ground for the first time this season. He can’t be ruled out, but you would be disappointed if he proved good enough.
Verdict: Vadeni is the most likely winner but I’m expecting a big perfromances from fellow French challenger Onesto and Luxembourg. If I have a bet in the race its most likely to be Onesto.
Matron Stakes
Quick ground means we haven’t seen Homeless Songs since her impressive win in the Irish 1,000 Guineas. Some ease in the ground is what she wants but she’s never raced on ground as soft as this yet.
English challenger Saffron Beach is the biggest rival to the favourite. She’s had light campaign winning the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville last month. This likable 4-year-old will give Homeless Songs plenty to think about.
Tenebrism was runner-up in Saffron Beach in the Prix Prix Rothschild last time and looks held as does fifth Pearls Galore. The latter does get the first time cheekpieces though and has form over C&D. On soft ground you wouldn’t be surprised to see the 5-year-old get into the places.
Verdict: It looks a match between Homeless Songs & Saffron Beach. I like the former, but I think Saffron Beach looks big at 9/4. For those looking for one each way then Pearls Galore is interesting in the first time cheekpieces.
Quick thoughts on the rest of the card
2:05 – A competitive 18 runner Premier Handicap run over 7f gets Irish Champions Weekend underway. As you would expect give the field you can make a decent case for plenty of them.
Markaz Paname heads the betting. The 3-year-old has won both his starts this season including a Group 3 at the Curragh in April. Not seen since his Curragh success but they have been waiting for easy ground and we know he goes well off a lay off. Plenty to like about his chance as he’s open to further improvement but stall 20 isn’t great.
Andreas Vesalius got no sort of run 2f out when an unlucky 1¼ length 4th of 11 at Gowran Park last month. He can race off 3lb lower here but this a deeper race. He’s got winning form on soft ground as a juvenile so underfoot conditions should be fine.
Final Voyage returned from a 121-day break to post a solid enough effort when a 1 ¾ length 5th of 12 at Dundalk last month. That performance came over an inadequate 6f. He stays further than a mile which will come in handy here. All his best form for previous trainer James Tate came on the all-weather but given he’s by Camacho he should handle soft ground. He has a handy draw in stall 6 and trainer Johnny Murtagh could have his horses in better form – 6-18 in the past 14-days.
2:40 – The Aidan O’Brien trained Auguste Rodin & Tower Of London are at the head of the betting. Both juveniles are highly regarded and capable of going on too much better. The former seems to be the pick of Ryan Moore and the latter may prove better over middle distances as a 3-year-old. Serious Challenge, trained by Jim Bolger, shouldn’t be underestimated given he’s proven on heavy ground after winning a maiden at the Galway Festival. Although he’s a gelding he’s open to further improvement and looks overpriced.
3:10 – Point King completed a seasonal hat trick when winning a Listed race (1m 6f) here last month. Drops back 2f here but testing ground will bring his stamina into play. His biggest rivals look to be the Paddy Twomey trained Earl Of Tyrome & Beamish. The soft ground just swings towards the latter. Beamish lost his unbeaten record when only 3rd of 8 over C&D last month. He shouldn’t be judged to harshly on his latest run as he would have preferred more of a stamina test and he’s 2-2 on soft ground.
4:20 – Recent Goodwood Group 2 winner Jadoomi probably deserves to head the betting. However, the Group 2 he won was weak for the class and whilist he will like the ground, I want to take him on. All three of Boundless Ocean’s three career wins have come here including two over C&D and he’s respected. However, I like Irish Lincolnshire winner Raadobarg. He’s got 6lb to find with the favourite on official ratings, but he goes well on testing ground and when he won the Irish Lincolnshire, he had looked a Group horse in handicap. Hopefully on his preferred ground he’ll be able to show it.
5:30 – Twenty three have been declared for this Premier Handicap over 1m 4f. Handicap puzzles don’t get harder to solve than this. Plenty in with a chance including early bird favourite Temple Of Artemis, who gets the first time blinkers, and useful handicap hurdler Jesse Evans.
Baby Zeus is respected on his 8 ¼ length 3rd of 18 in a Premier handicap at Galway over today’s distance. Moracana made it 2-2 at Leopardstown when winning on her handicap debut in April. She was below form when a 9 length 6th of 19 at the Curragh the following month but has been given 112-day break. Goes well fresh and although she’s yet to race beyond 1m 2f or on soft ground there should be more to come from this lightly raced 4-year-old.
Dutch Schultz was having his first start on the flat since comfortably winning on his handicap debut at Gowran Park (1m 4f) last October when a finishing a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 20 to Echoes In Rain in the valuable amateurs riders handicap at Galway last time. He drops back from 2m here but is only 3lb higher than at Galway and his guaranteed stamina will be useful on rain softened ground.
La Hacienda comes into the race in excellent form having won handicaps over 1m 6f at Galway and Killarney. The handicapper has raised her 4lb for her Killarney win but given her present vein of form she maybe able to defy the rise. The cheekpieces she’s been wearing on her last four starts are replaced by the blinkers for this drop back in trip.
Betting Advice:
Leopardstown
2:05 – 1pt win – Andreas Vesalius -10/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt each way – Final Voyage – 20/1 @ Bet365 (paying 5 places)
2:40 – 1pt win – Serious Challenge – 13/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:45 – 1pt win – Onesto – 9/1 @ Bet365
5:30 – 1pt win – Dutch Schultz – 15/2 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – La Hacienda -9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
It’s going to be as busy Sunday with the conclusion of the St Leger Festival at Doncaster and the final day of Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh.
Cheers
John