FIVE GROUP 1 RACES: A stunning Irish Champion Stakes card at Leopardstown on Saturday. SHAMROCK previews each of them.
A truly superlative card from Leopardstown this afternoon and the featured Irish Champion Stakes is the race of the season for me.
4:00 Willis Towers Watson Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group 3) (2yo, Class 1, 1m, 5 runners)
The first Group race on the card and four of the five runners were winners last time out. Landfall made a pleasing winning debut at the Curragh and looks over-priced but the percentage call has to be Douglas Macarthur who failed to beat a single horse home when sent off the 2/5 favourite on debut here but returned to the course last month for an easy five length win. Over the same trip here he should take the world of beating and continue Aidan O’Brien’s monopoly of this race.
5:05 KPMG Enterprise Stakes (Group 3) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 4f, 5 runners)
Aidan O’Brien has three of the five runners here including likely favourite US Army Ranger, the Epsom Derby runner-up, who disappointed over a shorter trip at the Curragh last time out. The in form filly Zhukova might prove hard to beat as she seems effective on all kinds of ground and bids for a four-timer and could hardly have been more impressive when beating Pretty Perfect in a Group 3 at Naas last time out.
5:35 Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (Group 1) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m, 8 runners)
The first of the two Group 1’s and it looks a competitive renewal.
However, the French filly Qemah has strong claims. It was good to soft when she romped home in another Group 1 – the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot but was equally as impressive in Deauville on good ground in the Rothschild.
6:10 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes (Group 2) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m, 8 runners)
A good race for the British raiders and last years winner Custom Cut is back for another crack. However, he hasn’t won since and has had a busy campaign. Last seasons Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hit It A Bomb looked in need of the race on his comeback here in the Group 3 Desmond Stakes and with so few miles on the clock is well worth another chance here.
6:45 Qipco Irish Champion Stakes (Group 1) (3yo+, Class 1, 1m 2f, 12 runners)
What a race !! The race has been won by Ed Dunlop, John Gosden (twice), Kevin Ryan in the last four seasons but it’s an odds-on chance that the coveted prize will remain on home soil this year with Minding and Harzand disputing favouritism.
Minding has had two easy tasks since winning the Epsom Oaks but has got the job done in style with facile wins at the Curragh and Goodwood. She has 7 career wins from 10 but faces her toughest task to date here.
Harzand added the Irish Derby to his Epsom gold with a hard fought success over Idaho at the Curragh in June. All his wins have come with considerable give in the ground and the only time he was beaten was on good ground for his debut at Gowran Park.
The play might well be French raider Almanzor on the BETDAQ place market. He caused a shock when winning the French Derby but has won subsequently at Deauville and I don’t think there was any fluke about his success.
SHAMROCK’S BETS:
NAP: Douglas Macarthur (4.00 Leopardstown)
NEXT BEST: Zhukova (5.05 Leopardstown)
TREBLE: Qemah (5.35 Leopardstown)
WIN: Hit It A Bomb (6.10 Leopardstown)
PLACE: Almanzor (6.45 Leopardstown)
£25 IN FREE BETS
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