Irish tips: Leopardstown – Eamonn Hames’ top betting preview for TODAY
LEOPARDSTOWN 3.50
A CLASH of the training giants under different codes - Willie Mullins vs Aidan O’Brien - and it will be fascinating to see which yard comes out on top.
O’Brien runs three and Mullins has five contenders and any of the eight could honestly win this.
I was very taken with the way Ballydoyle’s SARACEN KNIGHT won on his return at Naas. Yes he got the run of the race, but the way he picked up suggests that he could be a group horse.
Even if he fails to hit those heights, he is still well-handicapped and there is no doubt that he has the potential to be competitive over staying trips.
The best of Closutton’s five-strong battalion can be narrowed down to two and they are two top-class hurdlers Limini and Sharjah.
Both of them made big impressions at the Galway Festival, but Sharjah impressed most when hacking up in the Galway Hurdle.
MEET THE STARS Here's all you need to know about this year's 32Red Newmarket Open Weekend
4.25
Trainer Aidan O’Brien runs three and the best of his could be the rapidly improving WESTERN AUSTRALIA after the manner in which he won his maiden.
It was a shock to see how much pace this fellow has and greenness has clearly masked his true ability. Today’s mile will suit and he could be hard to catch with a forward ride.
Ballydoyle also run Sydney Opera House and Broome and both have huge potential. However, Madhmoon made mincemeat of Sydney Opera House when winning here on debut and the best is clearly yet to come from him.
Dermot Weld has given his Masaff plenty of time since his winning debut here in June, but the remainder have it to prove in what looks to be a strong renewal of this newly upgraded Group 2.
4.55
A little surprising to see Weld without a runner in a race that he has made his own and that leaves this at the mercy of Aidan O’Brien.
The champion trainer runs two here — both topping the ratings and both bringing top Group form to the table. It would not be a surprise if both were fighting out the finish and the one to be with is ROSTROPOVICH.
he Irish Derby runner-up’s recent Group 1 form is head and shoulders above what the rest have to offer and that includes stablemate Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Master Of Reality is an intriguing new recruit for Joseph O’Brien, while Mustajeer and Stellar Mass are also worth close consideration.
LATEST IN HORSE RACING
5.25
Alpha is way beta than her Matron rivals.
Jessie Harrington’s ALPHA CENTAURI comes here after four successive Group 1 victories already this season, but she doesn’t look like stopping any time soon and it should be an easy evening’s work for her.
This field is no pushover with the likes of three-time Group 1 winner Laurens and a strong bunch of Ballydoyle fillies in opposition. But, she just looks a superstar.
The Ballydoyle trio have ground to make up on the hotpot, but if one were to flourish it could be Clemmie.
She has been put in her place by the selection on all three of her starts this season, but she’s been steadily coming to the boil and this will be her first start when fit and clear of the virus that hit the yard this summer.
Turning the tables on Alpha Centauri is a stretch, but she appeals more than teak-tough Laurens.
6.00
It’s an unoriginal selection, but this does look likely to go the way of Aidan O’Brien’s KENYA after the way he demolished a red-hot Cambridgeshire field at the Curragh a fortnight ago.
The scopey son of Galileo was suggested as a proper dark horse for the race by some shrewdies, but was allowed to go off at a ludicrously big 20-1 in hindsight given his Group 3 romp here as a two-year-old.
He’s back up in grade today, but the way he moves suggests that he could be pretty good.
Jessie Harrington's Pincheck has to give a bit of weight away to the Classic generation as a four-year-old, but he’s been in great form all season and ran a career best when bolting up here in a Group 3 last month.
Making Light beat the Harrington runner at Cork last month, but she herself was beaten by Psychedelic Funk when he was last seen way back in April.
Neither are expected to kick I Can Fly out of the places though, with Ryan Moore taking the ride.
6.35
If this was to run to the form book then Roaring Lion will win handily.
However, I think everything went right for him at York and there are two other Classic winners in here that could be good enough to beat him.
Saxon Warrior may have been behind him the last three times they have met, but it was the other way around on the two occasions they clashed before and the O'Brien challenger could be back to that sort of level now clear of the virus that was rife in the yard.
The beautifully-bred 2000 Guineas winner isn’t my selection to down the Lion though.
I think the French raider STUDY OF MAN can cause a minor shock by picking them both up in a style similar to last year’s winner Decorated Knight.
Pascal Bary’s French Derby winner has a bit to find with the top two, but I don’t think we have seen the best of him yet and neither does his shrewd handler.
He badly needed his run at Deauville last time out and was not given a hard time by Stephane Pasquier.
He will love these conditions, the track should suit and if all goes well then the Arc has to be on the agenda.
UK raider Addeybb and Verbal Dexterity are not without a chance of making the frame, but the Classic winners set a very high standard.
LEOPARDSTOWN
Eamonn Hames
3.20 Iridessa
3.50 Saracen Knight (nap)
4.25 Western Australia (nb)
4.55 Rostropovich
5.25 Alpha Centauri
6.00 Kenya
6.35 Study Of Man
7.10 Spanish Tenor
Tom Pepper
3.20 Gospel
3.50 Cliffs Of Dooneen
4.25 Madhmoon
4.55 Giuseppe Garibaldi
5.25 Clemmie
6.00 I Can Fly
6.35 Saxon Warrior
7.10 Safe Voyage