19:00
Leopardstown
Odds correct as of 2:07pm 10th Jun
We have a rare treat of some Group race action at Leopardstown on Thursday and the Ballycorus Stakes looks like a competitive event. There’s an Irish raider at Newbury and a British raider at Leopardstown who draw the eye too. There’s also the small matter of our 33/1 outsider of the day at Newbury. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
British raider Native Warrior is very popular in the betting and he produced a high level of form in big handicaps last term. He was a narrow second in a Group 3 at Saint Cloud on seasonal debut and a similar performance would surely give him every chance.
David Marnane’s East Hampton was only just denied by Diego Velazquez in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes last season and that form is amongst the best on offer. Celestial Orbit represents Oaks-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien and she is already a Group 3 winner this term.
Zodiac Bear wasn’t disgraced when third in this very race last year and hasn’t been seen since. He should be competitive but is obviously entitled to need the run.
Irish trainer Kevin Coleman is sending a runner to Newbury for the first time ever on Thursday and that makes the horse in question one to consider. Coleman already has 12 British winners from a small pool of runners and Kieran Shoemark has been booked for the ride.
Honouramongthieves remains lightly raced but is winless in six starts thus far. He hasn’t performed too badly in his last couple of starts, despite finishing sixth, and the best is surely yet to come.
Karl Burke has three winners from just eight runners at Leopardstown in the last five seasons and he sends Native Warrior over for the Ballycorus Stakes. He probably has a bit to prove on the evidence of his most recent run at Naas but does bring some solid handicap form to the table.
Obsidian Dream (33/1, bet365) is lightly raced still and wasn’t disgraced when fourth in a valuable sales race at York as a two-year-old. The trip didn’t suit at Bath last month and the return to 7f combined with another drop in the weights should enable him to be much more competitive.