The Irish Champions Festival kicks off with a tremendous card at Leopardstown Racecourse on Saturday and it is no surprise that the king of Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien, has a ridiculous book of runners to go to war with. Ryan Moore is aboard several runners with a huge chance and, if they can all win, the bookmakers will be running for the hills. You can back it on the betslip provided.
Content finished third here on debut and although she disappointed in the Chesham at Royal Ascot, she bounced back with a win over this track and trip last month. She likes it here and can go well.
Aidan has a few in this race but Diego Velazquez looks a star in the making. The 2.4 million guineas purchase lived up to his price tag when landing a 13-runner maiden at the Curragh over 7f last month and he looks special.
Auguste Rodin has two ways of running but he won the Derby at Epsom in June and followed up in the Irish Derby at the Curragh in July. He ran a shocker last time but he has come back from the dead already this year.
Victoria Road is a well bred son of Saxon Warrior and he needed the run when well behind Ace Impact in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville last month. He will strip fitter now and he is a class animal, proven when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last year.
Adelaide River was given what can only be called a suspect ride when second to stablemate Auguste Rodin in the Irish Derby and he was then second in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp. His form is rock solid and this is easier.
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