It is the opening day of the Irish Champions Festival on Saturday and we have picked out three selections for the top-quality card at Leopardstown.
Leopardstown stages one of the highest profile Irish Flat meetings of the year on Saturday, the Irish Champions Stakes accompanied by the Matron Stakes on what is an exceptional nine-race card.
In addition to the two Group 1s, there are a pair of Group 2s, a Group 3, a Listed race and three ultra competitive Premier Handicaps, offering something for everyone on the opening afternoon of Irish Champions Weekend.
The action gets underway at 14:15 and concludes at 18:40 with Aidan O’Brien’s Delacroix arguably the star turn of the afternoon, as he looks to add to his Sandown Eclipse victory in the feature.
Selections
NAP: Alakazi (Leopardstown 16:55) @ 9/2
Next Best: Delacroix (Leopardstown 17:30) @ 13/8
Long Shot: Mighty Danu (Leopardstown 14:15) @ SP
NAP: Alakazi (Leopardstown 16:55) @ 9/2
The Johnny Murtagh-trained ALAKAZI appeared to have superstar potential when leaving his rivals trailing in a course-and-distance maiden in April and, although he’s not quite made the strides some of us expected, he’s been making steady and persistent progress and looks set for a first Group 2 win in the Solonaway Stakes.
The son of Footstepsinthesand has the potential to stay 1m2f in time and requires a strong pace to aim at, something he didn’t get when chasing home the re-oppsing Johan in the Group 3 Desmond Stakes here last month.
He was only beaten half-a-length on that occasion and should have no problem turning the tables on that rival, who’ll likely face competition for the lead with another British-trained runner, Skukuza, this time.
Next Best: Delacroix (Leopardstown 17:30) @ 13/8
Aidan O’Brien will surely have been buoyed by the Gosden’s decision to bypass Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes in favour of a crack at the Champions Stakes at Ascot next month with Ombudsman,, DELACROIX having finished a fair way behind that colt in the Juddmonte International at York last month.
His absence should make life considerably easier for the grey son of Dubawi, who, although clearly not straightforward, has by far the strongest form credentials on paper, his rating of 126 upwards of 3lb superior to his seven rivals.
Alongside that, he’ll be in receipt of a 6lb weight-for-age allowance from his elders and this should present a good opportunity for him to supplement his Sandown Eclipse Stakes victory from July when he stormed home for a memorable success.
Long Shot: Mighty Danu (Leopardstown 14:15) @ SP
Henry De Bromhead has long been considered one of the best National Hunt trainers around in Britain and Ireland, but he’s making a good fist of things on the Flat these days too and might be able to upset likely short-priced favourite, Diamond Necklace, in the opener courtesy of MIGHTY DANU.
The daughter of Coulsty made a winning debut over this trip at Galway at the beginning of last month, victory looking unlikely for much of the journey before the filly sprouted wings inside the final furlong.
The bare form is nothing out of the ordinary, the second finishing second in a nursery off 79 subsequently, but that experience won’t have been lost on her and she could improve significantly.
- SCCG Management. The Gambling Industry’s Global Connector. Access Here.
- Source: https://blog.betway.com/horse-racing/irish-champions-festival-day-1-tips/