Saval Beg Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

Leopardstown hosts listed action on Friday as the Saval Beg Stakes is the feature on the card, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Order Of St George is the one to beat but has been beaten at short prices in the past and perhaps the potential of MOTHERLAND can inflict another defeat on the 2016 Ascot Gold Cup winner. Running away with a Galway handicap by seventeen lengths, he wasn’t given a hard times of things when second on return and this step up in trip should suit him massively. Conditions are to suit and the inform Donnacha O’Brien takes the ride, so he looks a very worthy candidate receiving 7lb from the favourite and can cause an upset in this.

1 ORDER OF ST GEORGE – Won the Ascot Gold Cup at the Royal Meeting back in June 2016 and finished a valiant third in the Prix De l’Arc de Triomphe behind Found back in October, capping off a fine season with a forth in the Long Distance Cup when 4/6 favourite. Clearly a hugely talented stayer for Aidan O’Brien and he’s 12lb clear of all of these at the ratings, but he’s no stranger to losing at short odds which would have to be of some concern, being a beaten favourite on three of his last four runs. He returned this season when second at Navan in a Group 3 when unable to reel in the leader and he’s certainly not unbeatable, though is a deserved short price favourite. Conditions to suit and the one they all have to beat, but he’s certainly one to take on today.

2 TWILIGHT PAYMENT – Consistent four year old for Jim Bolger who was second to Order Of St George in the St leger Trial at the Curragh back in August 2016, beaten a length under hands and heels despite been giving over a stone. He has however improved since then and ran a good race on his latest start to finish third in a Gorup 3 at Navan, only just over taken by Order Of St George late on. He meets him on 2lb worse terms this time but he’s a much more backable price than that aforementioned rival, with connections in form at present. Interesting.

3 CARBON DATING – Running in Meydan over the winter for the Seemar yard, running well in some good races but certainly he faces some stiffer competition in this. He returned to the John Patrick Shanahan yard at Musselburgh where he won a stayers handicap comfortably, though when upped to Group 3 company he was thoroughly outclassed at Chester when last seen. Much more needed in this and he looks booked for a struggle despite receiving 7lb from Order Of St George.

4 MOTHERLAND – Lightly raced four year old by Galileo for Joseph O’Brien who won a Galway handicap back in July by the tune of 17 lengths, returning this season at Tipperary when second after being given an easy time of things. That was a nice introduction back to racing after nearly a year off the track and he is highly interesting upped in trip as it should suit him massively. He remains unexposed and Donnacha O’Brien has been riding winners for fun of late, with the yard itself operating at a good strike rate. Not one to write off despite being 16lb inferior to Order Of St George as he retains potential and he is our pick today.

5 STARS OVER THE SEA – Six time winner in Britain for Mark Johnston and he has since transferred to Henry De Bromhead, where he has run reasonably well in two runs this season for the in form trainer. He goes up in trip from his last flat runs and will have Wayne Lordan on board, but he faces a tough task at the weights in this. If they do go off hard in this small field he’s perhaps entitled to fight out for a place, but he would be a surprise winner.