6.10pm Leopardstown Tips & Betting Preview 10/09/2016

Our race preview looks at a great quality Group 2 at Leopardstown. With lots of horses with brilliant form in the book, it will be tough to separate. However, see our betting tips below to uncover a horse with untapped potential and can build on his seasonal re-appearance and run a big race.

IN SUMMARY: Awtaad is now back on ground he should appreciate and if performing to his usual level he’ll be very tough to beat. The problem for Prendergast’s colt is TRIBAL BEAT, who ran very well on his seasonal re-appearance when beating a few of these in the process. He should be able to step up on that effort and with all that potential considered, he is the pick today. Hit It A Bomb was also on re-appearance when just behind the selection and he should be better for that run.

1 CUSTOM CUT – Won this last year but faces a much harder time of it in this years renewal. Ran well in the Strensall Stakes at York (9f, Good) before a poor run in the Superior Mile Stakes at Haydock (8f, Soft). Soft ground was a possible excuse but regardless, he is very exposed compared to some of these and needs to pull something more out. Probably vulnerable to an improver.

2 DREAM WALKER – Running well in Handicaps recently, latest when a good 5th in the Irish Cambridgeshire (8f, Good). However this looks incredibly ambitious, and should be soundly outclassed by this field.

3 FLIGHT RISK – Last win came back at the Curragh in April 2015 and has run quite a few times since then which is a concern. Best recent run came 3 starts back at Cork when 2nd in a Listed Race (8f, Good to Yielding). Hasn’t really gone on from that and has been sub par on his last two runs, has something to find even on his best form so may well struggle again.

4 GORDON LORD BYRON – Oldest in the field but still pulling out some decent performances this year, best of which 4 starts back when putting a decent field to the sword at the Curragh in July (7f, Good). Last few runs have been decent but really needs to find more, and probably quite vulnerable to the younger improvers. Suited by a shorter distance, so going against some experienced and outstanding milers really wont help either.

5 SRUTHAN – Ran well on penultimate start when winning a listed race at the Curragh back in June (8f, Good to Yielding), but then disappointed latest at Cork when beaten by Flight Risk (8f, Good to Yielding). Best form is clearly on softer ground and has a bit to find with a few of these, so passed over for today.

6 AWTAAD – Won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in good style beating Galileo Gold back in May (8f, Yielding), but couldn’t hold that form as it was reversed when beaten in the St James Palace Stakes (8f, Soft). That is some very serious form, and probably an excuse when soundly beaten at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes (8f, Good to Firm), as he had never raced on ground that firm. Back on softer ground (Forecasted Good) and if getting back to form he will take all the beating and then some, but will he want it even softer?

7 HIT IT A BOMB – A lot was hyped around his return after his great win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf back in October (8f, Yielding). However it was slightly underwhelming to see him finish 3rd behind Tribal Beat back in August at Leopardstown (8f, Good to Firm). May have needed that run and remains with huge amounts of potential and going back to Good ground rather than Good to Firm will probably be a plus, so has to be considered a main danger.

8 TRIBAL BEAT – Some good form posted last season before returning in impressive fashion to beat Hit It A Bomb and Custom Cut at Leopardstown (8f, Good to Firm). He remains with a lot of potential and the forecast ground will not be a problem. Pedigree suggests we can expect more from Bolger’s Colt and he may well be hard to beat if building on that impressive return.

myracing Forecast Prices: 11/10 Awtaad, 2/1 Hit It A Bomb, 11/4 Tribal Beat, 9/1 Custom Cut, 14/1 Sruthan, 18/1 Gordon Lord Byron, 28/1 Flight Risk, 33/1 Dream Walker