Irish Champions Weekend (Day one ) Saturday 9th September 2023

Day one of the Irish Champions weekend at Leopardstown ,with five group races ,including the feature race of meeting the

€1.25 million Irish Champion stakes at 3.20 

However this looks very tricky card , with the big race looking very wide open ,with bookmakers going 3-1 the field .

Going concentrate on two supporting races .The G1 Matron Stakes & G2 Dullingham Park Stakes .

Coolmore America "Justify" Matron Stakes (Group 1) (Fillies & Mares) (3yo+) Winner €236,000 13 runners 1m Good ITV3

 

The Dermot Weld trained three-year-old TAHIYRA  stands out on form , having won three G1 races ,including winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot last time ,also was good winner of the Irish 1000 guineas at Curragh .Has been kept fresh for this race and will be difficult to beat from good draw in stall 4 .

 

Stablemate Homeless Songs would be big danger if repeating last years Irish 1000 guineas form, when beating the useful Tuesday by 5L ,though  has got nowhere near that level of form in 3 runs since , including when beaten in listed company over C&D at Leopardstown in April .

 

Of the other contenders ,three time course winner Zarinsk looks the most interesting, after winning 7f G2 contest at Leopardstown in July.Has excellent record at track winning 3 out 5.Place claims ,though has to overcome wide draw in stall 11 .

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VERDICT: (1) TAHIYRA (2) ZARINSK (3) HOMELESS SONGS  

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Dullingham Park Stakes (Group 2) (3yo+) Winner €118,000 12 runners 1m Good RTE2

 

race conditions  €200,000 guaranteed For  3yo+ Weights  3yo 9st 5lbs; 4yo+ 9st 10lbs Penalties  (to count from 1st January, 2023) Winner of a Group 1 race 3lb extra Weight for age  3yo from 4yo+ 5lb Allowances  fillies & mares 3lbs Penalty value  1st  €118,000.00 2nd  €38,000.00 3rd  €18,000.00 4th  €8,000.00 5th  €4,000.00 6th  €2,000.00 

 

 The Aidan O 'Brien trained Victoria Road has been put in favourite at around 11-4 ,had some useful form as two-year-old ,including winning the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf at Keenland ,though was disappointing on only start this season ,when finishing 7th of eight at Deauville in G2 company last month .The return to this shorter trip will suit ,though will need bounce back from that poor run .

 

 BUCKAROO goes well here at Leopardstown ,including winning listed race over C&D here in April ,also finished creditable short head second in Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last season .Ran another solid race at Royal Ascot last time in Wolferton Stakes ,finishing never nearer 2l third behind Royal Champion .Solid claims at around 3-1 in not the strongest looking G2 contest .

 

Of the others Bold Discovery looks the most interesting ,after winning listed race at Curragh in July .Slightly disappointing last time at Goodwood in G3 company,though looked unsuited by soft ground .Will be suited by this quicker surface .Each-way claims .

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VERDICT : (1) BUCKAROO  (2) BOLD DISCOVERY (3) VICTORIA ROAD 

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RECOMMENDED BET LEOPARDSTOWN  SAT 9TH SEPTEMBER  :

 

TAHIYRA 2.45 LEOPARDSTOWN MATRON STAKES  (1/5 ODDS 1-2-3)

(WINNER SP 5-6 )

BUCKAROO 3.55 LEOPARDSTOWN DULLINGHAM PARK STAKES (1/5 ODDS 1-2-3-4)

(SECOND SP 2-1)

0.50 PTS EACH-WAY DOUBLE @ 7-1 BET365 (EVENS & 3-1 )

(WINNER & 2ND LOSS £6.00 /0.06)