Racecards
16:20 Leopardstown (IRE)
Leopardstown Handicap
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- €15,500 added
- Winner: €9,300
- 2nd: €3,100
- 3rd: €1,550
- 4th: €775
- Form 2231-73
- Age 3
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Donnacha O'Brien
- Jockey Paddy Harnett
keen, soon prominent, 3rd halfway, effort straight, on terms 1 1/2f out, headed 1f out, one pace
- Form 1597-
- Age 3
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 94
dwelt and pushed along briefly, waited with, 10th halfway, raced on outer straight and headway, kept on same pace without threatening final furlong
Brazil (IRE)
197- Form 4318-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey J A Heffernan
waited with, 9th halfway, effort straight, no impression when squeezed for room final furlong and eased
- Form 81237-6
- Age 3
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey Wayne Lordan
pushed along briefly early, soon disputed lead, led halfway, joined 1 1/2f out, soon headed and no extra inside final furlong
- Form 5139-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey S Foley
waited with towards rear, slightly impeded approaching straight, soon headway and effort behind horses, kept on same pace without threatening final furlong
Irwin (IRE)
86- Form 3-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J P O'Brien
- Jockey S M Crosse
soon disputed lead, headed halfway, remained prominent, tight for room from 2f out, eased inside final furlong
- Form 54-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer A P O'Brien
- Jockey R L Moore
waited with, 11th halfway, soon towards rear, headway and effort straight, led 1f out, soon edged left and quickly asserted and stayed on well, easily
Bear Story (IRE)
121- Form 821-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer M Halford
- Jockey Ronan Whelan
led early, a little keen, soon mid-division, disputed 7th halfway, pushed along 3f out, headway and effort straight, kept on without troubling winner inside final furlong
- Form 81-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer J P Murtagh
- Jockey Shane Kelly
keen, prominent, 4th halfway, pushed along 3f out, effort straight, kept on same pace from over 1f out
- Form 666311-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer J S Bolger
- Jockey K J Manning
chased leaders, 6th halfway, pushed along 3f out, effort behind horses straight, no extra final furlong
Moon Daisy (IRE)
214- Form 655-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Donnacha O'Brien
- Jockey G M Ryan
waited with towards rear, headway and effort straight, kept on same pace from over 1f out
Britzka (IRE)
176- Form 05973-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer E P Harty
- Jockey M A Gallagher
chased leaders, 5th halfway, pushed along approaching straight, soon effort, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong
Cursory Exam
23- Form 6525-65
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer G O'Leary
- Jockey Chris Hayes
soon mid-division, disputed 7th halfway, pushed along from 3f out, no extra 2f out
In depth
Verdict
Once again there are three from Ballydoyle engaged with Ryan Moore on board SIR LAMORAK (NAP). The son of Camelot ran well in maidens won by stable companions last season and looked to be doing just enough when landing a Dundalk maiden last month. Verbal Fencing progressed as last season went on and her latest run at Naas was easily her best so far. She's greatly respected as is Bear Story, who had a bit to spare when landing a Dundalk maiden. Johnnie Murtagh's horses are running well and Chicago Bear is another Dundalk winner with more to offer as is Irwin, who still looked green when landing the odds there in January.
Formwatch
Zozimus (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) Rear of mid-division, 7th over 4f out, headway entering straight, led 2f out, soon ridden, edged left under 1f out, headed and dropped to 3rd final 150 yards, kept on, 3rd of 14, 1l behind Aesop (8-13) at Cork 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Ides Of August (USA) 11-2 (9-5) Towards rear, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression in 7th over 1f out, no extra final furlong, never a factor, 7th of 8, 7l behind Zaffy's Pride (9-0) at Dundalk 7f lst stks (1) pol in Oct.
Brazil (IRE) 11-1 (9-5) Chased leader, disputed after 2f, ridden in 2nd over 3f out, no extra over 1f out, 8th of 13, 11 1/2l behind High Definition (9-5) at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
San Martino (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Chased leaders on inner, ridden in 4th 2f out, 4th 1f out, no impression, 6th of 11, 10l behind To Glory (9-9) at Dundalk 1m pol in Mar.
Los Andes (USA) 20-1 (9-5) Waited with, soon towards rear, 8th halfway, pushed along over 3f out in last, under pressure on outer into straight and no impression, soon no extra, last of 9, 14 3/4l behind Flying Visit (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) Soft - Heavy in Oct.
Irwin (IRE) 4-9fav (9-7) Mid-division and pushed along early, some headway on outer under 2f out, ridden and led 1f out, under pressure and kept on inside final furlong, held on well close home, won at Dundalk 1m mdn pol in Jan beating Razdan (9-7) by hd, 14 ran.
Sir Lamorak (IRE) 4-6fav (9-7) Chased leaders on inner, improved into 2nd and pushed along 2f out, soon ridden, led over 1f out, hung right inside final furlong, stayed on well close home, won at Dundalk 1m 3f mdn pol in Mar beating Moktaffy (9-7) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
Bear Story (IRE) Evensfav (9-7) Broke well to lead, soon headed, 5th after 2f, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Dundalk 1m mdn pol in Dec beating Lincoln Hawk (9-7) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Chicago Bear (IRE) 15-2 (9-7) Chased leader, 6th halfway, headway under 2f out, ridden into 2nd under 1f out, led narrowly final 100 yards, kept on best, won at Dundalk 7f mdn pol in Nov beating Shackleton Hero (9-7) by nk, 14 ran.
Verbal Fencing (IRE) 7-2fav (9-11) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, headway 2f out and soon ridden to lead, asserted 1f out and kept on well, won at Naas 1m hcp gd in Sep beating Equilove (9-5) by 3 3/4l, 15 ran.
Moon Daisy (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Waited with, pushed along straight, headway and switched left over 1f out, kept on same pace without threatening, 5th of 14, 4 3/4l behind High Heels (9-2) at Cork 1m mdn fll gf in Sep.
Britzka (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride and soon prominent, improved to dispute lead after 1f, led before halfway, ridden 2f out, strongly pressed 1f out, headed and dropped to 3rd inside final furlong, no extra, 3rd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Benaud (9-11) at Leopardstown 1m hcp Yielding - Soft in Oct.
Cursory Exam 8-1 (10-2) Mid-division early, 8th approaching halfway, headway straight, kept on without threatening final furlong, 5th of 14, 3 3/4l behind Rock Etoile (9-6) at Dundalk 1m hcp pol in Mar.