Racing tips for July 23rd - Three pattern races covered at Sandown and Leopardstown

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 22 Jul 2026 16:57

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Free horse racing tips for Thursday 23rd July
We're backing Aperoll in the Star Stakes at Sandown
Green Empress and Aix La Chapelle are our selections at Leopardstown

The Star Stakes at Sandown. (Getty)

Flat racing fans have got three pattern races to look forward to on Thursday, with juveniles taking centre-stage in the feature at Sandown and the Group Three double-header at Leopardstown.

Here are our best betting tips for the feature races on Thursday.

Free Racing Tips - Thursday 23rd July

2:55pm Sandown - Star Stakes Tips

Having run so well from the front in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, APEROLL (11/8) is hard to oppose in this Listed contest.

Richard Hannon's charge looked smart when scoring on debut at Newbury, and was backed into 12/1 before the start of the Chesham. Aperoll didn't look out of place against the colts that day, and battled on bravely after being passed by Nola Soul to eventually lose out by less than a length.

Pat Dobbs' mount looked happy taking a lead on her first start at Newbury, and both Bayside View and War Banner will likely want to make the running on Thursday. Aperoll holds a Group One entry in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at the end of the season, and really ought to be up to winning at Listed level.

6:08pm Leopardstown - Silver Flash Stakes Tips

Aidan O'Brien has won the last four editions of this Group Three. All were odds-on favourites who had run at Royal Ascot. Alpha didn't appear at the Royal Meeting, but she dominates this betting heat after an easy maiden win at the Curragh last month.

GREEN EMPRESS (9/2) has bumped into the excellent Sun Goddess on both of her starts so far. Joseph O'Brien's filly was no match for that rival when they met on debut, but managed to get within a length of the odds-on favourite when they met in last month's Airlie Stud Stakes.

Sun Goddess went into the Airlie Stud on the back of a narrow defeat in the Albany, and looked to have the race sewn up when she hit the front. Green Empress made her move later than the favourite, and chose the inside route rather than the outer, but ate up the ground late on and hit the line hard back in second.

Joseph won this Group Three with a maiden in 2021, and his operation continues to roll on in excellent form. Green Empress should give Alpha plenty to think about.

6:43pm Leopardstown - Tyros Stakes Tips

I've taken on the Ballydoyle favourite in our opening Group Three at Leopardstown, but I do think AIX LA CHAPELLE (4/6) will take plenty of beating in the Tyros.

Aidan O'Brien's charge won nicely on his debut at the Curragh, moving through the gears to beat Bull Shark and the odds-on favourite and stablemate, Giant Sequoia. Aix La Chapelle was then favourite for the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, but reared going into the stalls, gave Ryan Moore a bump, and was withdrawn from the contest by the stewards.

Money had come from Aix La Chapelle before that Listed contest, and he didn't appear to do much damage to himself in that stalls incident. I fancy he's one of Aidan O'Brien's best two-year-old colts.

Verdict

Pattern race tips for July 23rd

Thursday's free tips:

Aperoll

2:55pm Sandown

@11/8 - 5 Units

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Bet at Star Sports

Green Empress

6:08pm Leopardstown

@7/2 - 5 Units

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Bet at bet365

Aix La Chapelle

6:43pm Leopardstown

@8/11 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £40

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Bet at BOYLE Sports