Vintage Crop Stakes Tips & Betting Preview

This is the Vintage Crop Stakes over 1m 6f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a fascinating race and TORCEDOR can come out on top. He took a massive step up on his seasonal reappearance when thrashing Twilight Payment by 5 1/4 lengths and although the weights are reversed here he won with a consummate amount of ease and should confirm the form today. Order Of St George is the class act in the race but he’s unlikely to have had a big preparation for this and he’s likely to have much bigger targets than this later in the year.

1 ORDER OF ST GEORGE – The classiest horse in this race by a long way, Aidan O’Brien’s runner is a multiple Group One winner and the best horse in this race. When racing off long breaks, he has finished second and first which shows he’s generally tuned up first time out each season although this is the quickest he’s been brought out in his career. He’s versatile ground wise and the 1m 6f trip on Good ground looks ideal so there is plenty to like. He must give away weight to race fit rivals but is the class act in this. Ryan Moore is a notable absentee in the saddle.

2 FORGOTTEN RULES – Won the Vintage Crop Stakes on this card two years ago and he has failed to win since. He was lightly-raced in 2016 and ran with credit in a Listed contest over an extended 1m 7f at Saint-Cloud finishing second of 11, beaten ½ a length but he must improve on that here. He was slightly disappointing over today’s trip at Leopardstown just over two weeks ago when sent off the 4/5 favourite but he’ll come on for that and has the benefit of race fitness today. Blinkers are applied for the first time today.

3 TORCEDOR – Finished 5 ½ lengths ahead of Twilight Payment at Leopardstown earlier this month receiving 6lbs and he’s much worse off at the weights with that rival on today’s terms. He clearly improved for the step up in trip and there should be more to come on this better ground. He’s won on Good ground so conditions will be perfect and there should be more to come from him. The yard are in good form of late with a 21% strike rate in the past fortnight.

4 LUSTROUS LIGHT – Did well to win a conditions event over 1m 4f at Fairyhouse last summer and he’s shown his best form on Good to Soft and Yielding ground so today’s conditions are of slight concern. He’s been well-held in two Group Three contests to date and although he will strip fitter for his seasonal reappearance, he’ll need to take a step up on form today. The step up in trip should suit and the yard are operating at an 18% strike rate in the past fortnight.

5 TWILIGHT PAYMENT – Closely tied in with a few of these on form and he made his seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown earlier this month when well-beaten by Torcedor. He will improve for that run and whilst better off at the weights today, will need to show he has trained on as a 4yo and hasn’t regressed. He beat Forgotten Rules last year by ½ a length over 2 miles and was only beaten 1 ½ lengths by Order Of St George in August, albeit receiving over a stone in weight. Looks best treated on today’s terms and should be right in the mix on this better ground.

6 DEW LINE – Took her form to a new level last year having notched up a double in handicaps before going on to finish fourth of fifteen in a listed contest. She’s rated 89 which gives her over a stone to find with most of her rivals in this and it would be a surprise to see her anywhere near the winner of this today. The yard has a 3% strike rate here (2 winners from 60 runners) and she would be a surprise winner of this.

7 MORGA – Mixed code performer and she’s run to a decent level in Listed handicaps on the flat. She was beaten 4 ¾ lengths at Galway last September which came off a mark of 94 and she couldn’t keep tabs on Twilight Payment over 2 miles in another handicap. She’s been hurdling since and has something to find with a few of these and she will be seen to better effect in handicaps later in the season. Best watched here off a seasonal break.

8 RED STARS – Finished 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Chemical Charge at Roscommon last summer and the form of that run gives him a fair chance here. He struggled in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh but wasn’t far away when dropped back down in grade in a listed contest earlier this month. He looked to need that run and he should do better here over an extra 2 furlongs. Receives plenty of weight from his rivals but will need a career best to win this.