Leopardstown – Thursday 20th July
With the Irish Oaks meeting at the Curragh this weekend, you could be forgiven for thinking that this Leopardstown card might be slightly below par. However, what we have is an extremely competitive 8-race card that gets underway at 4:45 and our team have looked through the card and found 3 selections to get the weekend of Irish action off to a fast start.
5:45 Ryan’s Cleaning Apprentice Handicap
WHO NOT WHAT
Our first selection comes in the 3rd race over the extended 7-furlong trip and whilst this race does have an open feel to it, we like the chances of the Andy Oliver trained, Who Not What. He made a promising start to his racing career when not beaten far in 3 maidens last Summer and his connections will have been hopeful that he could make his mark after being gelded over the winter, but he has certainly taken time to warm to the task. After some disappointing efforts, he appeared to be coming to form when 2nd in a handicap here 6-weeks ago. Travelling nicely in a first-time tongue-tie, he ran on very strongly in the home straight and was unlucky to be caught in the final strides by the fast finishing Hightimeyouwon. The winner followed this effort with a solid 2nd in a competitive handicap at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend and from just 1lb higher, there is a case to be made for Who Not What being one of the better handicapped horses in this field. The cheekpieces are added to the tongue-tie for this race and Scott McCullagh looks a good booking for this apprentice handicap. From a solid draw in stall 2, he should be able to get into a prominent early position once again and any improvement gained from the cheekpieces, might well be enough to see him break his maiden tag at the eighth attempt.
6:50 Dublin to Bahrain Handicap
VOCAL STUDIES
With just 1 victory from his 12-starts on the track, it is hard to say that Vocal Studies is a progressive horse, but he is consistent. Having started the season on a rating of 83. He has fallen 6lbs in the weights after 7 starts in 2023 but as a result, he should find this race easier than the competitive handicaps that he has been contesting in recent weeks. He was last seen finishing 4th in the Harp Bar Kildare handicap at the Curragh on Irish Derby weekend where he bumped into a resurgent Verhoyen and the previously mentioned Hightimeyouwon. Although he was eventually beaten 4-lengths, he raced in touch for most of the contest and the top speed figure of 68 that he recorded is amongst the best in this field. He won at Galway on soft ground in the autumn so the recent rain can only have enhanced his chance and with the Bolger yard enjoying a decent of late, he looks to be a fair each-way bet in what looks to be a significant drop in grade.
7:25 Aer Lingus College Football Classic Meld Stakes (Group 3)
BOLD DISCOVERY
Our final selection comes in the feature race at 7:25. Trustyourinstinct and Alfred Munnings are the unexposed pair and could prove to be better than this level, but they will both need to run a career best to win on these terms so instead we will stick to more proven form with Bold Discovery. Jessica Harrington’s son of Bolt D’Oro has already placed twice in Group 3 company as well as getting the better of Tarawa in a Listed race at the Curragh last time. Since winning on his debut at Naas last September he has been the model of consistency and although he found the Irish 2,000 guineas a little too hot in May, he was beaten less than 10-lengths by Paddington and his official rating of 109 looks very fair. Those ratings have him on top in this contest and if he can match the level of form that he showed when winning at the Curragh at the start of the month, it may well be too much for his 5 rivals.
Selections:
*Prices subject to fluctuation.
