TORTE Ireland Ltd is sponsoring a £60,000 Jackpot guaranteed pool at Leopardstown today (from a carryover of £23,100), with three listed races. As they have attracted a total of only 16 runners, it is hardly surprising that the order of running has been amended to exclude them.
This meeting, which includes a racecard draw with attractive prizes, is geared towards families, with special family tickets available at £10 and all children under 14 free.
The listed Debutante Stakes has attracted three previous winners, including the Pat Flynn trained Trapped, who won as recently as Tipperary on Thursday. Aidan O'Brien is represented with Family Tradition and newcomer Strawberry Roan. The former short headed the Jim Bolger trained Swift Gulliver on her debut at Naas last month, and that form was boosted by the runner up's subsequent successes over this course and in a listed race at the Curragh last Saturday.
Bolger runs Sadlers Home, who ran green when beaten by the promising Nobility at Tipperary last month, but since rallied bravely to win at Gowran Park. The Dermot Weld trained Katydid had Trapped in arrears when runner up to Footlight at Galway.
In a tricky race, I favour Sadlers Home.
America's Cup, who found one too good for him in Dancing Hours in a conditions race at Tipperary on Thursday, attempts to atone in the listed Belgrave Stakes. Charles O'Brien, the former trainer of America's Cup, may have the answer in Parade Sauvage, who ran well in good company before winning her maiden and was not beaten all that far when finishing ninth behind Ta Rib in the French 1,000 Guineas in May.
Tout A Coup, who beat the subsequently demoted Parade Sauvage at the Curragh, was out of her depth in the Irish Oaks, but has better prospects in the listed Ballycullen Stakes. The Cheshire Oaks winner may have most to fear from the two years older Mohaajir, who beat a below par Oscar Schindler over this course in April.
The Bolger trained Graduated, who won the Golden Pages Handicap over this course and distance last month, will take beating in the Strathmore Handicap. The Charles O'Brien trained Wood Leopard, runner Lip to Auntie Maureen over this course, is taken to give the weight to Soft Spot in the Obelisk Handicap, and Hillcrest may reverse Gowran Park placings with Caudillo in the Mapis Fillies Maiden.
. The Charlie Brooks trained hurdler, Country Star, followed a Newton Abbot success earlier this month by coming up trumps in the Prix des Troenes at Clairefontaine, France yesterday.