Irish Champions Weekend

Hi all,

It’s a huge day of Flat racing in Britain and Ireland – without doubt the best quality day of the flat season. At Doncaster we have the final Classic, the Betfred St Leger (3.40). The Town Moor card is strong, but it can’t quite match what’s on offer at Leopardstown.

Day one of Irish Champions Weekend brings a mammoth nine-race card. The feature is the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes (5:30) with eight declared, while eleven fillies and mares contest the other top-level event, the Matron Stakes (4:25). ITV Racing will be showing the first five races from Leopardstown alongside two from Chester.

I’ve got plenty of fancies (15) across Doncaster and Leopardstown, but you can’t back them all. I’ve had to be selective and, sod’s law, the winners will no doubt come from the ones I’ve left out.

On Wednesday I highlighted some Doncaster horses for Saturday, which you can find here. For this shorter piece, I’ve focused on two Leopardstown handicaps on Irish Champions Weekend.

Irish Champions Weekend – Leopardstown

2:50 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Sovereign Path Handicap (Premier) – 7f

Dance Night Andday got up late to beat Gleneagle Bay by a head in last year’s race. The latter has improved since and shaped well when runner-up at Galway on soft ground. I just prefer him today on the likely ground from a handy low draw in stall 5.

UK raider Glenfinnan bounced back to form when fourth at Sandown last time and is very well handicapped if he settles. Stall 1 might help him do that.

Dunum, runner-up in this race 2 years ago from 3lb higher enjoys soft ground. Hewas just behind Gleneagle Bay at Galway. With a 5lb apprentice booked, he can get closer, though his front-running style means he’ll need luck to get over from stall 12.

Pier Pressure has improved since a hood was fitted (form figures 221). He’s up 4lb for a Gowran win but remains well treated. His yard, successful in 2021, also run One Smack Mac. The 3yo flopped in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot but had earlier been second in Listed company. Respected on handicap debut, especially as three-year-olds have won five of the last seven renewals.

Verdict:

Last year’s first and second Dance Night Andday and Gleneagle Bay must have chances with a slight preference for the latter on rain softened ground. Dunum will like the ground and if he gets over from stall 12 is a big player.

6:05 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Petingo Handicap (Premier) – 1m5f

Aidan O’Brien took this with a 3yo last year and could repeat the trick with Light As Air. He got off the mark at the Curragh and should improve again up in trip (half-brother to a St Leger winner). Blinkers go on for the first time, he looks well treated, and Jack Cleary claims 5lb.

Crypto Force shaped as if he stayed 1m6f when ninth in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot. He’s handicapped to go well back up in trip, but soft ground is a concern. Stablemate Bryant won at Roscommon and could progress further now handicapping, but again he’s unproven on soft.

Aeronautic, a C&D winner, has run well in big handicaps this summer. He finished two lengths ahead of Crypto Force at Ascot and followed up with a close third at Goodwood last time. He’s still unexposed and looks set for another big run.

Helvic Dream showed his ability remains intact when second in the Galway Hurdle. On the Flat he was a close third over 1m6f at the Curragh two runs back. He loves soft ground and is a serious contender.

Willie Mullins, who won this in 2017 and 2018, saddles three: Too Bossy For Us, Bunting, and Charlus. The latter is the most interesting. He was set far too much to do when 13th in the Ebor but should be more effective back on soft. A big run looks likely.

Verdict:

Light As Air could be well treated on handicap debut for last year’s winning yard. Crypto Force is interestingbut soft ground is a concern.The slight drop in trip will suitthe strong travelling Aeronautic who can win a race like this. He handles good to soft but softer is an unknown. No issues with soft ground for Helvic Dream or Charlus and both can go well.

Staking Challenge Selection

Today’s staking challenge selection is from Doncaster.

Doncaster

3:00 – Marvelman: £1.60 win – 11/2.

Running Total: £70.40

If you want all my weekend picks from Doncaster and Irish Champions Weekend you can get them for just a fiver – Click Here.

There will be short Sunday column this week looking at the best of the action at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John