Irish Champions Weekend kicks off at Leopardstown with a star-studded card. The highlights include the Irish Champion Stakes and the Matron Stakes, along with several other pattern races and handicaps. Key bets are Nancy J in the Ingabelle Stakes, Poker Face in the Solonaway Stakes, and Porta Fortuna in the Matron Stakes. The day also features tips for Sumiha, Derry Lad, Kortez Bay, and Snellen in other key races.
Irish Champions Weekend kicks off at Leopardstown on Saturday, where the Irish Champion Stakes headlines a stacked card. Viewers have a second Group One, the Matron Stakes to enjoy on Saturday, along with four further pattern races and three lucrative handicaps.
Leopardstown Tips - Irish Champions Weekend Day 1 Tips
1:10pm Leopardstown - Ingabelle Stakes Tips
We're yet to have a favourite land this Listed contest and three of the six winners returned a double-figure SP. Bubbling and Chantez are strong at the head of the betting, but I'd rather have an each-way punt on NANCY J (14/1).
Jessica Harrington's filly looked as green as grass on debut at Gowran Park, but still managed to claim a narrow win over Dignam, who has boosted that form with a victory since. I'm sure this daughter of Ten Sovereigns would get a mile comfortably, but Nancy J showed a nice turn-of-foot during that debut win and natural improvement would put her bang in the picture.
1:40pm Leopardstown - Champions Juvenile Stakes Tips
A disappointing field of just four colts will contest this Group Two. Green Impact and Delacroix are tighly-matched, and Bernard Shaw was impressive at Dundalk. There's little between them in the betting. No bet for me here.
2:15pm Leopardstown - Solonaway Stakes Tips
POKER FACE (9/1) comes into his own around this time of year and a red-hot pace over a mile is the perfect set-up for this hardy five-year-old.
James Doyle's mount has flopped on his two starts at Group One level this term. However, on his reappearance in the bet365 Mile at Sandown, Poker Face was narrowly beaten by a race-fit and progressive Charyn, and the Crisford's star was touched off by the mud-loving Ice Max on his most recent outing at Goodwood, where the favourite was giving seven-pounds to his younger rival.
Poker Face does like a bit of dig in the ground, but good going at Leopardstown should be ideal. He could go well at a nice price.
Poker Face (right) finishing on the tail of Charyn earlier in the season. (Getty)
2:50pm Leopardstown - Matron Stakes Tips
Soprano is progressing at a rapid rate and I don't think we've seen the best of the classy Vespertilio this term. Both hold each-way appeal, yet, the top two in the betting look clear on seasonal form and I expect them to fight out the finish.
Fallen Angel is two-from-two in Irish Group Ones and Karl Burke has had his filly - who has been snapped up by Wathnan Racing in the interim - laid out for the Matron since she won the Irish 1000 Guineas.
PORTA FORTUNA (11/8) also comes into this Group One on the back of a break. Donnacha O'Brien's filly hasn't been seen since her excellent victory in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket. Before that, Tom Marquand's mount comfortably beat subsequent Nassau Stakes winner Opera Singer in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot, having gone close on her reappearance in the 1000 Guineas.
Porta Fortuna's seasonal form is better than Fallen Angel's and she's been off the track for half as long as her main rival. She could also have a fitness edge too.
4:00pm Leopardstown - We're Here To Play Stakes Tips
With an abundance of potential front-runners in the field, the set-up should be perfect for the SUMIHA (4/1) who - after just four lifetime starts - could be the most progressive horse in the field.
Dermot Weld's four-year-old had traffic problems when second to Thunder Roll on her reappearance at Cork, and couldn't quite reel in the dangerous front-runner Candleford in the Orby Stakes in May. Chris Hayes' mount got into a protracted battle with another hardy front-runner in Trevaunance on her most recent start in the Munster Oaks, but found a little extra in the closing stages to pull a length clear of her rival.
I expect Hayes will try to sit behind the pace for as long as possible on Saturday, as Sumiha has more than enough stamina for this distance and looks to have a useful turn-of-foot.
4:35pm Leopardstown - Petingo Handicap Tips
The handicaps during Irish Champions Weekend have never been a happy hunting ground for me. I'll be placing my biggest bets in the graded races, but there are a outsiders that I like in this race and the upcoming Sovereign Path.
Wesley Joyce takes five pounds off the back of DERRY LAD (50/1), who is yet to produce his best form in Ireland. Kevin Coleman's six-year-old won back-to-back Sunday Series handicaps in the UK last season, and ran a blinder to finish third in the Nifty 50 at Epsom's Derby Festival in May. The form of that handicap has worked out really well since and, while Derry Lad has underperformed twice since then, he's handicapped well enough to go well under a featherweight.
Gary Carroll riding Snellen wins Chesham Stakes on day five during Royal Ascot 2023 at Ascot. (Getty)
5:10pm Leopardstown - Sovereign Path Handicap Tips
Five of the last six renewals of this handicap have gone the way of three-year-olds, so it's no surprise to see that youngsters dominate the market. The least-fancied three-year-old in the betting is KORTEZ BAY (25/1), who was beaten a length on his only previous handicap start back in May.
Sheila Lavery's star claimed an overdue maiden success at Fairyhouse in June, before finishing well down the field in the Jersey Stakes and the Platinum Stakes last time out. Kortez Bay was drawn poorly in both of those races though, and I fancy the hustle and bustle of this competitive handicap will suit this burley colt.
A new race has been added to the Irish Champions Weekend Day One card, and it looks incredibly competitive. I'm going to continue the theme of backing outsiders in the handicaps by siding with SNELLEN (18/1), who traded wins with the much more fancied Lady Lunette earlier in the season.
Gavin Cromwell's filly - who landed the Chesham as a two-year-old - claimed her second win of the season at Gowran Park in July, before finishing Listed level too hot to handle on her most recent outing. Dropping back to handicaps will suit, as will this drop back in trip.
Verdict
Best bets on day one of Irish Champions Weekend 2024:
1: Porta Fortuna 2:50pm Leopardstown @11/8 at bet365 - 15 Units
2: Sumiha 4:00pm Leopardstown @4/1 at BOYLE Sports - 10 Units
3: Poker Face 2:15pm Leopardstown @9/1 at Betgoodwin - 5 Units
4: Kortez Bay E/W 5:10pm Leopardstown @25/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
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