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Saturday’s Best Tips
IRISH CHAMPIONS DAY ON SATURDAY! Just the one meeting from Leopardstown. I have previewed all 8 races on the card. Daily Double pays 4/1!
NAP – My best tip of the day
Leopardstown 3.45 Vadeni (11/10)
Smart colt who took his form up another notch to win the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown when last seen in July; showed a nice turn of foot from off the pace and always doing enough to hold off Mishriff; more to come yet.
With 5 wins from 7 starts the fast improving VADENI can go in again for the French. He bolted up in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly and then swooped late to win the Coral-Eclipse last time. He had the measure of Mishriff on that occasion and given he remains open to further improvement he should confirm those placings here. With Stone Age and Alenquer likely to take each other on this could pan out perfectly again. Mishriff has run twice since losing to the selection at Sandown running a bit flat when third to Pyledriver in the King George but back to his best chasing home Baaeed at York. He will likely run his race again so looks the danger. Luxembourg kept finding to win latest but needs more.
NB – My Next or second best tip of the day
MY NEXT BEST ALSO RUNS IN IRELAND AT LEOPARDSTOWN ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON!
Leopardstown 2.40 Auguste Rodin (11/8)
Promising colt who needed the outing when second on debut but improved to win well at Naas last time; pricked his ears in front and stayed on strongly; will know more now and step up to a mile also a big plus.
Aidan O’Brien saddles the top 2 in the betting here but ready preference is for the scopey AUGUSTE RODIN with Ryan Moore in the saddle. This Deep Impact colt looked to be learning on the job when winning last time and with this extra furlong sure to suit he can improve again to win this. He looks to have tons of potential. His stablemate Tower Of London made a winning start despite hanging badly late and clearly has an engine. Definitely looks most likely to finish second to give the stable a 1-2 here. Serious Challenge left his debut run behind to win at Galway and should also improve but he might just be bumping into one or two smart ones here in what looks a decent renewal.
Check out all my tips for Saturday’s racing
I’ve gone through all 8 races at Leopardstown on Saturday so here’s what I’m backing. All my selections can be added straight to your bet365 bet slip (just click the orange links).
Leopardstown 1.30
Aidan O’Brien looks to have a good chance of taking the opener on Irish Champions weekend with the promising LIBRARY. This filly by Galileo continued her race-by-race progression to open her account at Tipperary last month. She kept on well and did it easily in the end. She steps into Listed company now but there should be plenty more to come and I’m struggling to see how she won’t be in the shake up under Ryan Moore.
Debut winner Easy is favourite at the time of writing and she has to be respected given how impressive she was first-up. She has scope too so should step forward and is the likely danger. Harzand filly Kayhana also made a bright start winning on debut and is another one that could run a nice race. Definitely Notebooks at the ready.
Leopardstown 2.05
As with all Premier handicaps it’s seriously competitive but there are two I quite like in here. RHOSCOLYN is my main bet after running a massive race behind I’m A Gambler who also runs here. He was coming all the way to the line but just fell short in the end missing out by just a head. He has put up some of his best numbers on soft ground so I expect a big run here with conditions likely to be ideal.
At a much bigger price SIRJACK THOMAS back down to 7 furlongs looks overpriced. He gets first-time cheekpieces and if in the same form as when chasing home stablemate Current Option (also runs here) he will go close. Current Option, Andreas Vesalius and Markaz Paname are all big dangers in what is a hot race on paper.
Leopardstown 2.40
I’m really keen on AUGUSTE RODIN here following that Naas victory last time. He is a big strong type who still looked to be learning on the job when winning. He pricked his ears out in front and kept galloping and was never getting caught. He’ll likely need to improve to win this but the extra furlong is a big plus and I think he might always be holding off his stablemate here. For me he has the most potential going forward in this field.
Tower Of London managed to win on debut despite hanging and showing clear signs of inexperience throughout. He’ll likely leave that behind in time and is the danger but he doesn’t have the size of the selection and Ryan Moore has jumped off to ride the favourite who he must feel is more promising. Serious Challenge best of the rest but needs more.
Leopardstown 3.10
Quite an open race with the top 3 in the market sure to be popular and any of them could go off favourite currently. Ger Lyons won this last year and has a great chance to win it again with THUNDER KISS. She was a close second last year and would have won with a clear run. She has been saved for this race and likely the softer conditions which she seems to run her best races on and is the one I think they have to beat.
Point King is marginal favourite at the time of writing and you can see why as he has won his last 3 races and likely has further improvement to come. The only reason I passed over him was because he isn’t proven on very soft ground unlike the selection. Earl Of Tyrone has the form at this trip to run well and will likely be in the top 3.
Leopardstown 3.45
I loved the way VADENI picked up to win the Eclipse last time beating Mishriff and given his profile he is still open to further improvement and if he does come forward again he is going to be really tough to beat. He has a nice turn of foot and with tons of pace on here again if should pan out perfectly so it’s no surprise to see him short in the betting for this as for me he is by far and away the most likely winner of the race.
Mishriff is such a tough colt and while he has been beaten twice since going down just a neck to the selection at Sandown he wasn’t disgraced behind Pyledriver in the King George and then bumped into Baaeed at York last time. He is the form choice to chase home the favourite once more. Luxembourg best of the rest but looked laboured last time.
Leopardstown 4.20
This looks close between Boundless Ocean and JADOOMI with the latter getting my vote. He won a Group 2 at Goodwood last time and is clearly a classy sort. He was running at Group 1 level as a juvenile before having his issues and looks back to his best going for his hat-trick here. He goes on any ground and is the one to beat for a yard that can do no wrong right now. They have had 24 runners in the past fortnight resulting in 12 winners.
Boundless Ocean is a tough one to judge as he won over a mile last time but was running in the Irish Derby earlier in the season. He is clearly a good horse but like plenty on this card needs to prove himself on soft ground. Just Beautiful is capable of going close at her best but has it all to do on her first run of the season.
Leopardstown 4.55
With the weather changing and the ground getting softer it’s no surprise that we’re going to see HOMELESS SONGS reappear. This Frankel filly looked hugely promising winning the 1000 Guineas Trial in April and then the main event in May, powering clear from Tuesday. She is open to further improvement after just a handful of starts and I think it would take a brave man to oppose. Conditions look like they’re going to be ideal which could be key.
The obvious danger to the favourite is Saffron Beach who is clearly thriving. Jane Chapple-Hyam is a very talented trainer and she has got the best out of this filly recently. She hacked up at Royal Ascot and then proved much too strong in the Prix Rothschild in France last month. She is expected to put up the most resistance to the selection.
Leopardstown 5.30
With 24 runners set to go to post for this I am going to have a couple in here starting with LA HACIENDA who has already won over course and distance this season and comes here on a hat-trick after a couple of decent wins. This Free Eagle mare will undoubtedly be at home on a softer surface and looks a solid each way bet with first-time blinkers potentially bringing more out of her as well.
Jessie Harrington won this last year and has one in here at a big price SANDHURST who has been running in pattern company. Going well in defeat recently. Now down to a mark of 97 he could be totally overlooked in the market with the trip and conditions to suit. Baby Zeus for Mullins could be the danger with Willie having a few winners of this race.
Irish Champions Day Acca
Some really good racing in Ireland on Saturday and I’ve taken my 4 best bets and placed an acca. Pays 27/1!
