Recent entries in Leopardstown
Irish racing tips from Leopardstown, Sunday
Johnny Ward / 31 October 2009 Free Bet View Market
Sunday's card at Leopardstown is the venue's last flat meeting of the year.
"The opener is notable in that Aidan O’Brien introduces Dylan Thomas’ half-sister Remember When. She is by Danehill Dancer so it would be no great surprise if she coped with easy ground and can emulate her half-brother in winning first-time out."
LEOPARDSTOWN's November Handicap would be the marmite of races for many punters and layers, but I would argue that - in a punting sense - little beats the kick out of backing the winner of a big-field handicap.
In terms of the trends, Rite Of Passage has plenty going for him in Sunday's renewal. Only one of the last ten winners has carried more than 9-1 before jockeys' claims; five of the last seven winners were rated between 86 and 89; nine of the last ten winners had an outing in the previous seven weeks; and four of the last nine were last-time-out winners (thanks to Tony Keenan's trends).
All of this will not matter much if Rite Of Passage fails to handle the ground and I would be concerned if it got very soft for the son of Giant's Causeway, but otherwise he has plenty going for him. Final Approach is interesting, but there is a major doubt about his stamina stepping up to this trip, as he is by Pivotal. Tawwaag has no chance of getting home and is an in-running play if travelling very well turning in.
The opener is notable in that Aidan O'Brien introduces Dylan Thomas' half-sister Remember When. She is by Danehill Dancer so it would be no great surprise if she coped with easy ground and can emulate her half-brother in winning first-time out.
Ballydoyle have four in the second race and it is notable that Ancient Kingdom - which ran well here first-time out - is not the apparent first-string. Jim Gorman's Is Feidir Linn (99 rated) can prove well-named and get off the mark. Bettors may have to temper their bullishness to some extent though due to the wide draw and very soft ground might be a concern too.
Ger Lyons contends that 90 per cent of his horses are fast-ground types but one of the ten per cent - Reggae Rock - may be the answer to a very difficult nursery. He appears to be feasibly treated and won on testing ground in Galway last weekend. He is boxed in six so there are no worries on that score.
The Knockaire Stakes has attracted a larger-than-usual field of 17 and it may not be a very original suggestion but Rayeni ought to go very close. John Oxx's Irish Guineas runner-up likes easy ground and seemed to win despite rather than because of the six-furlong trip at The Curragh last time. Stepping forward to seven furlongs is very much a positive here. Ten of these have three-figured marks so it is clearly a competitive race. Rayeni has a Group Three penalty to contend with (last year's Killavullan over course and distance) but that may not stop him.
The Listed Eyrefield Stakes could be another one for Ballydoyle. Mikhail Glinka and Marfach share the same rating and, while the former seems a little quirky, he has plenty of ability and is ground-versatile. Sense Of Purpose should be better for the extra furlong after scraping home in an tussle of attrition at Navan over three weeks ago.
In Galway last Sunday, Packsapunch beat Hampshire and Cheddar Island over seven furlongs, with the in-running money-buyers battered by Hampshire giving way close home. He has a perfect draw now, though, whereas Packsapunch is in gate 18 and has gone up eight pounds. However, Cheddar Island might beat them both from a decent draw and he can benefit from the extra furlong under Kevin Manning.
The finale is a trappy one, with Tarkari a hopeful choice near the foot of the weights for Gary Carroll and Willie Mullins.
