 Expert - Bill Esdaile | |
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| Bill Esdaile has worked in racing journalism in the United Kingdom for over 20 years. He began his working career at the Sporting Life back in 1995, and has since worked for the Racing Post, The Sportsman, and is currently racing editor of London-based City AM. He is a keen form student, and will bring a unique insight into the major European races. | |
Expert Column for Irish Champion Stakes Day (S1) (Bill Esdaile)
S1-1 Ingabelle Stakes
KAYHANA looks well up to this Listed grade in the 1,400m Ingabelle Stakes after making a successful debut at Limerick in June. She travelled like a classy filly in that 1,400m maiden and was well on top at the finish. The form of the race has worked out really well with the runner-up ALL THINGS NICE and third-placed PANDORA LOVEGOOD both winning their next two starts. KAYHANA is bred to stay much further but clearly has the pace for this 1,400m distance. She is a daughter of her owner-breeder the Aga Khan’s Derby winner HARZAND and there are Group-race winners in her pedigree which bodes well for next season.
ZARINSK is already proven in Group races, so this is a drop in grade for Ger Lyons’ filly. After beating smart pair OLIVIA MARALDA and NEVER ENDING STORY on her maiden over 1,200m at the Curragh, she finished fourth in a G2 over the same course and distance despite missing the break. The start again caused her problems when a stumble coming out of the stalls put her on the back foot before finishing fourth behind NEVER ENDING STORY in the G3 Silver Flash Stakes over 1,400m at Leopardstown. She has the class to make an impact at this level granted better luck at the starting gate.
SHEYYA gives her powerful owner the Aga Khan a strong hand. She made a winning debut over 1,400m at Leopardstown in June. The way she travelled through the race was most impressive and she showed an excellent change of pace to see off MADLY TRULY in the closing stages. There looks to be much more to come from this well-bred filly.
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has won this race twice in the last three years and his LIBRARY has to be respected. She came good at the third attempt when comfortably landing a 1,500m Tipperary fillies’ maiden two weeks ago. Her earlier second behind smart stablemate MAYBE JUST MAYBE over 1,419m at Leopardstown was another excellent effort and she is clearly progressing with every race.
SWEETEST ROSE made a promising debut when third behind subsequent G3 runner-up SHELTON over 1,400m at the Curragh. She is sure to improve for that run and she gives Lyons a useful second string.
SELECTIONS: 5. KAYHANA, 11. ZARINSK, 9. SHEYYA, 6. LIBRARY & 10. SWEETEST ROSE
1ST DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (36 unit bets):
S1-1:
Banker – 5. KAYHANA
Selections – 11. ZARINSK, 9. SHEYYA, 6. LIBRARY & 10. SWEETEST ROSE
S1-2:
Banker – 4. MARKAZ PANAME
Selections – 18. PIERRE LAPIN, 6. EMPORIO, 3. RHOSCOLYN & 5. SAN ANDREAS
S1-2 3yo+ Handicap
This is the time of year when a classy 3YO can beat his elders in these valuable races.
Ger Lyons did just that in this race 12 months ago with MASEN, who was placed in two G1s in America the following season, and in the unexposed MARKAZ PANAME, Lyons has another potential star. Gelded after a light first season, MARKAZ PANAME matured through the winter and won twice in the spring over 1,400m, including the G3 Gladness Stakes at Curragh. He has always looked above-average at home and he is best fresh so lack of a recent race is not a problem.
RHOSCOLYN, a close third in a similar 1,400m race at Goodwood, also filled the bronze medal position behind INVER PARK at Royal Ascot over 1,400m. He is in his element in these big-field cavalry charges.
You can never rule out the O’Briens in these top handicaps, and, though Donnacha’s EMPORIO was frustrating early on, being runner-up in five maidens, he finally struck lucky at the Curragh over 1,600m in June last year. EMPORIO has always promised plenty – he finished fifth in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas – but he has had plenty of issues at home. Nevertheless, he was going away at the finish when winning at the Derby meeting, and that did his confidence the world of good. Donnacha had EMPORIO gelded in the spring, and the operation clearly worked as despite an absence of 14 months, he outclassed the opposition on his return at Tipperary over 1,500m last month.
PIERRE LAPIN won his first two races over 1,200m when trained at Newmarket by Roger Varian, but that was three years ago. He was then gelded and joined Adrian McGuinness in Ireland, finishing a close fourth in this race last season. Being a past winner of the G2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, PIERRE LAPIN has undoubted class and there have been recent signs that he is returning to form. Considering he ran well to finish fourth in a competitive handicap at the Curragh over 1,600m last time, it was a bonus to see his handicap mark dropped.
SAN ANDREAS has finished second four times since he won on the polytrack at Dundalk over 1,600m in March. Inevitably, that means he gets little respite from the handicapper, and he is also probably a better horse on the all-weather than he is on the turf.
SELECTIONS: 4. MARKAZ PANAME, 18. PIERRE LAPIN, 6. EMPORIO, 3. RHOSCOLYN & 5. SAN ANDREAS
S1-3 Golden Fleece Stakes
Some very good horses have won this G2 over 1,609m, including dual Derby winner AUSTRALIA, and there could easily be another star in this year’s line-up. Aidan O’Brien has won the contest a record eight times, including six in a row from 2010 to 2015. The Master of Ballydoyle has a strong hand again this year, being doubly--represented with TOWER OF LONDON and AUGUSTE RODIN, both of whom are among the favourites for next year’s Derby. TOWER OF LONDON was hugely impressive when winning his only race over this same 1,600m in July. Despite being very green for his debut, this big, scopey son of GALILEO showed a smart gear-change in the last 200m, and he is bound to improve plenty with that experience behind him.
AUGUSTE RODIN was beaten when a short-priced favourite for his first run at the Curragh over 1,400m in June. However, he suffered lots of traffic problems in the last 400m, flying home when eventually finding daylight and there’s no doubt he was an unlucky loser. AUGUSTE RODIN clearly learned plenty from that and made amends at Naas over 1,400m a month later. It was only an average maiden, but he did the job professionally and this extra distance will suit him better.
That said, Jim Bolger’s SERIOUS CHALLENGE might split O’Brien’s pair. He looked to find the 1,400m too short when finishing third on his debut at Galway, but he returned to that course the following week and, relishing the step up to 1,700m, he beat the Ballydoyle hotpot HIAWATHA decisively.
Donnacha O’Brien’s ALDER was not given a hard introduction at the Curragh’s Derby meeting over 1,400m, finishing an eye-catching fourth. He then ran at Killarney, where he still looked inexperienced, but the 1,618m proved just what he needed as he managed to beat off the persistent challenge of HIAWATHA.
The final runner in the field is Joseph O’Brien’s filly CAROLINE STREET. She won over course and distance on debut in July, but was then disappointing in a 1,600m G3 at the Curragh last month and has something to prove now.
SELECTIONS: 4. TOWER OF LONDON, 2. AUGUSTE RODIN, 3. SERIOUS CHALLENGE & 1. ALDER
S1-4 Kilternan Stakes
Last year Ger Lyons broke Aidan O’Brien and Dermot Weld’s grip on this G3 race over 2,409m and there is likely to be another different winner this time around, with Paddy Twomey holding a strong hand. His EARL OF TYRONE has improved out of all recognition this season, belatedly getting off the mark in maiden company before winning a handicap and then Listed race over 2,500m. He then finished a close third in the Ebor over 2,771m at York, one of the most competitive handicaps of the Flat season in Britain, which suggests that his progression hasn’t reached its limit yet. It was only in the last 400m that his run flattened out there and this drop back in trip should suit him.
Ger Lyon’s chances of winning back-to-back editions of this race lie with his 5YO mare THUNDER KISS. She won over this trip on her seasonal reappearance at Cork in April, but wasn’t at her best on her next two outings at York over 2,051m and then back at Cork over 2,400m. Last time out, she bounced back to something like her best form when staying on for fourth in the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes over 2,000m. The form of that contest has worked out and now back over her optimum trip, a big run can be expected.
After only four career starts there is surely to be more to come from BEAMISH. Also trained by Paddy Twomey, this 4YO has risen quickly through the ranks, winning in Listed company at Roscommon over 2,400m on his second outing this season. Last time out he finished third in the G3 Ballyroan Stakes over this course and distance, when making up good ground from the rear in the closing stages. While he looked to have a slightly awkward head carriage there, it didn’t seem to hinder his progress, and another step forward here would put him right in the picture.
POINT KING has only had four starts and is unbeaten since making his debut here in October last year. While he probably didn’t beat a great deal when winning the Listed Vinnie Roe Stakes over 2,800m here last time out, he looks the type of horse that should improve when faced with better opposition. Rider Shane Cross should make plenty of use of him over this shorter trip, so dropping back down to 2,400m might not be an issue.
Things didn’t go to plan for PEROTAN in the G3 Give Thanks Stakes over 2,400m last time, but before that she was unbeaten in her two other starts and it’s worth forgiving that effort.
SELECTIONS: 3. EARL OF TYRONE, 4. THUNDER KISS, 2. BEAMISH, 7. POINT KING & 9. PEROTAN
2ND DOUBLE TRIO SELECTIONS (18 unit bets):
S1-4:
Banker – 3. EARL OF TYRONE
Selections – 4. THUNDER KISS, 2. BEAMISH, 7. POINT KING & 9. PEROTAN
S1-5:
Banker – 7. VADENI
Selections – 3. MISHRIFF, 4. LUXEMBOURG & 5. ONESTO
S1-5 Irish Champion Stakes
Jean-Claude Rouget and Christophe Soumillon teamed up to win the G1 Irish Champion Stakes in 2016 with ALMANZOR and they have a great chance of repeating the feat with VADENI. The 3YO has won his last three, including the G1 Prix du Jockey Club over 2,100m by five lengths and most recently the G1 Eclipse Stakes over 1,990m. He took a bit of time to get going last time at Sandown, but when he did he won nicely and having proved himself on all types of ground, he’s very much the one to beat.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won this a record 10 times and his main hope this year is LUXEMBOURG. The CAMELOT colt has always been highly regarded and big things were expected when he won the G1 Futurity Trophy over 1,600m last season. O’Brien’s contender ran pretty well on his seasonal reappearance in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket over 1,600m, but a small setback subsequently kept him off the track. He returned with a fair effort to win the G3 Royal Whip Stakes over 2,000m last time and you’d expect him to improve from that here.
It’s hard to leave MISHRIFF out of the placings. He was poor in the G1 Saudi Cup over 1,800m at the start of the year, but ran a cracker to be second to VADENI in the aforementioned Eclipse Stakes subsequently. John & Thady Gosden’s 5YO ran okay in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2,392m at Ascot over a trip that probably stretches him, while he faced an almost impossible task against BAAEED in the G1 International Stakes over 2,051m last time. He rarely runs a bad race and can be expected to be there or thereabouts.
There’s a strong French challenge this year with ONESTO a contender too. The son of FRANKEL was a staying on fifth to VADENI in the Prix du Jockey Club and stepped forward from that to take out the G1 Grand Prix de Paris over 2,400m next time out. Drops in trip is a slight concern but he did win the G2 Prix Greffulhe at Saint Cloud earlier in the season over 2,100m.
SELECTIONS: 7. VADENI, 3. MISHRIFF, 4. LUXEMBOURG & 5. ONESTO
S1-6 Solonaway Stakes
UK-trained horses have a good record in the G2 Solonaway Stakes over 1,609m in recent times, winning five of the last 10 renewals.
Simon & Ed Crisford’s JADOOMI flies the flag for the UK here and looks to hold a good chance of recording a second G2 success this season. This gelding stayed on strongly to win a Listed race at Clairefontaine over 1,800m on his seasonal reappearance and displayed the same willing attitude when getting up late on to land the G2 Celebration Mile Stakes at Goodwood last time. His ability to handle a testing ground could be an advantage, with softening conditions expected at Leopardstown, and there could still be more to come from him. The booking of Christophe Soumillon is another positive.
As is often the case with Jim Bolger’s top runners, BOUNDLESS OCEAN has been busy this season, winning three of his eight starts. All of those victories have come at Leopardstown, including over this trip in the G3 Desmond Stakes last month. As a 3YO, he gets a handy weight allowance from his older rivals and, as the second highest rated, that should give him a strong chance of success. While he is a strong stayer at this trip, one issue might be if the ground was to turn really soft as his form is almost exclusively on good ground.
This is certainly no easy introduction to Irish racing for the returning JUST BEAUTIFUL who makes her first start for new trainer Paddy Twomey. Her form in the UK was strong last season, especially when winning a Listed race over 1,430m and signing off last season with victory in the G3 Sceptre Stakes over 1,405m at Doncaster. She has won both times on her reappearance, which means the lack of a run isn’t too much of a concern here.
STATEMENT finished behind JUST BEAUTIFUL in sixth at Doncaster last season, and has only run once so far this season, when a good fourth in the G3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes over 1,703m at Epsom in June. Since then, she has switched stables to Joseph O’Brien and with his record of improving horses, she could be primed for a career best effort.
Things clearly haven’t gone to plan for Aidan O’Brien’s GLOUNTHAUNE as she has been beaten a long way in both of her starts this season. However, she was a winner of the G3 Killavullan Stakes over 1,400m Leopardstown last season and a return to this course could spark a revival.
SELECTIONS: 2. JADOOMI, 7. BOUNDLESS OCEAN, 5. JUST BEAUTIFUL, 6. STATEMENT & 8. GLOUNTHAUNE
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S1-6: Multiple – 2. JADOOMI, 7. BOUNDLESS OCEAN & 5. JUST BEAUTIFUL
S1-7: Multiple – 7. HOMELESS SONGS, 3. SAFFRON BEACH & 11. TENEBRISM
S1-8: Multiple – 1. LICENCE, 11. TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS & 16. LA HACIENDA
S1-7 Matron Stakes
Dermot Weld will need to put in a serious training performance if he is to win the G1 Matron Stakes over 1,609m for a third time with HOMELESS SONGS. His filly has been off the track since blitzing her rivals in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas back in May due to the quick ground most of England and Ireland have experienced over the summer. However, with a softer surface at Leopardstown, the daughter of FRANKEL should be able to show her class once again as she did at the Curragh in May.
Standing in her way, though, will be some worthy opponents, not least the impressive G1 Prix Rothschild over 1,600m winner SAFFRON BEACH. Jane Chapple-Hyam is having a vintage season and her filly has been nothing short of destructive in her two starts on European soil this year, in the aforementioned event at Deauville and the G2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes over 1,600m at Royal Ascot. The 4YO is versatile when it comes to the ground, so if it’s quicker than expected she will be able to take advantage.
Aidan O’Brien has won this race twice in the last six years and his leading contender looks to be TENEBRISM, who was second to SAFFRON BEACH in the Prix Rothschild last month. She is a classy filly with a G1 already to her name this season in the G1 Prix Jean Prat over 1,400m, but she has been beaten all three times she has raced over this trip.
One that is a bit more exposed is PEARLS GALORE for Paddy Twomey, but she does warrant respect as a proven performer at this level. She was a course and distance winner on her racecourse reappearance this season when landing the Listed Heritage Stakes in emphatic fashion. She was very impressive this time last year against the opposite sex, most notably when finishing second to SPACE BLUES in the G1 Prix de la Foret over 1,400m at ParisLongchamp and if she arrives here in that mood she won’t be without a chance.
Rounding out the selections is LIGHTS ON for Sir Michael Stoute. She was last seen finishing sixth behind BAAEED in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over 1,600m at Royal Ascot and although this is a tough ask, it is a far simpler assignment than chasing home that superstar.
SELECTIONS: 7. HOMELESS SONGS, 3. SAFFRON BEACH, 11. TENEBRISM, 2. PEARLS GALORE & 1. LIGHTS ON
S1-8 3yo+ Handicap
Some of Ireland’s most promising young stayers line up in the 2,573m 3yo+ Handicap and LICENCE certainly fits that category. His half-sister won a French G2 in the summer and he has already been tried in Group races. He looked sure to appreciate a step up in distance when staying on into fourth behind GEAR UP in the G3 Ballyroan Stakes over 2,400m at Leopardstown. The 2,771m 4yo+ Handicap at York looked an ideal race for Ger Lyons’ stayer but he simply found the quick ground against him. The recent rain will make conditions much more favourable this time.
TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS is bred to be a smart stayer. His brother, KINGFISHER, was runner-up in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and Joseph O'Brien’s lightly-raced 3YO has the potential to develop into a Group-class performer. He was successful on his handicap debut over 2,457m at Chester in May, before returning from a three-month break to finish fourth in the G3 Irish St Leger Trial at the Curragh last month. That race didn’t pan out for him as he was further back than ideal in the early stages but he should improve for the run.
LA HACIENDA has had a fruitful summer. She has already won three races and the way she landed a hot Killarney handicap over 2,836m last month suggests her winning streak might not be over just yet. She travelled smoothly before putting the race to bed with a nice change of pace. The winning distance was just a length but she was value for much further. She is clearly thriving and the softer ground should be ideal as she stays this 2,573m distance really well.
MORACANA looked good in the spring. She added to her 2,000m Leopardstown maiden win when returning from a six-month break to land a good handicap over the same course and distance in April. The form of that race is strong, so it was disappointing she was only sixth over 2,000m at the Curragh the following month. This longer distance should suit her much better and she goes well when fresh so she should be competitive on her first run for four months.
DUTCH SCHULTZ stays much further so the recent rain will have done his chance no harm. He was unlucky to only finish third in a hot 3,363m handicap at the Galway Festival when last seen in July.
SELECTIONS: 1. LICENCE, 11. TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS, 16. LA HACIENDA, 19. MORACANA & 9. DUTCH SCHULTZ
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