This preview has expired.

See all our latest betting tips or suggested betting sites

Leopardstown Tips on September 9th - Irish Champions Weekend Day 1 Tips

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Fri 08 Sep 2023 10:27

Share

Jon Vine 08 Sep 2023

Share this article

Free tips through the card on day one of Irish Champions Weekend
Day One takes place at Leopardstown on Saturday 9th September
Jumbly, Buckaroo and Adelaide River feature in our selections

Expired

Leopardstown races. (Getty)

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 two lucrative handicaps.

Here are our best betting tips through the card on day one of Irish Champions Weekend.

Leopardstown Tips - Irish Champions Weekend Day 1 Tips

Race 1 - Ingabelle Stakes Tips

There's yet to be a winning favourite in this Listed contest, which is bad news for fans of Kitty Rose, who returned odds of 25/1 when making a winning debut for Natalia Lupini at Naas two weeks ago.

Content made all to break her maiden tag here at Leopardstown two weeks ago, but I was more impressed by the performance of runner-up APRICOT ICE (5/1), who was making her debut in that contest. Ger Lyon's filly settled well and didn't allow Content to pull away from her down the home stretch. If this daughter of Bated Breath has improved for that effort, then she may be good enough to land Saturday's opener.

Race 2 - Champions Juvenile Stakes Tips

A £2.4m purchase for Ballydoyle last year, Diego Velazquez looked every inch a superstar in the making when winning easily on debut and it's no surprise to see Aidan O'Brien's colt installed at such a short price.

When the "betting without the favourite" special market opens up, I'd be interested in backing DEEP ONE (9/2). Paddy Twomey's youngster won convincingly on his first couple of starts and lost nothing in defeat to Warney in a Listed race at Tipperary last time out. He could follow the favourite home.

Race 3 - Matron Stakes Tips

We now reach our first Group One of the meeting, where we find a yawning chasm between odds-on favourite Tahiyra and the chasing pack in the market. All of the other runners can be backed at double-figure prices if you shop around, so the race for the places is clearly wide-open.

At an each-way price, I'm going to have a risky punt on JUMBLY (25/1), who has made an encouraging start to life with Joseph O'Brien. After solid efforts at Ascot and the Curragh, Jumbly placed third in the Group Two Spa Stakes at Saratoga two weeks ago, running on well after a slow start to finish less than a length behind the winner.

Jumbly improved with running during both of her seasons with Roger Charlton and clearly relishes quicker ground. A mile around a speed track like Leopardstown should be right up her street.

Race 4 - Irish Champion Stakes Tips

Read our full guide to the 2023 Irish Champion Stakes to find out who we're backing in Saturday's main event.

If you plan on watching any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet, then check out our Irish Champion Stakes Live Stream page.

auguste rodin — Adelaide River (right) finishing second in the Irish Derby behind Auguste Rodin. (Getty)

Race 5 - Park Stakes Tips

He might have to give five pounds to the three-year-olds around him in the market, but BUCKAROO (3/1) has clearly been laid out with this Group Two in mind and Joseph O'Brien's four-year-old brings some strong course form to the table.

Buckaroo virtually dead-heated with Piz Badile in the Ballysax Stakes here last year and defeat Homeless Songs to make a winning reappearance at this venue back in April. O'Brien's star hasn't been seen since solid efforts in both the Prix d'Ispahan and the Wolferton Stakes earlier in the season, but Buckaroo's record when fresh is very strong and he clearly likes this track.

Race 6 - Paddy Power Stakes Tips

Three-year-olds have an excellent record in this 12-furlong contest and the strongest stayer in the field, ADELAIDE RIVER (7/4) warrants his position at the head of the betting.

Aidan O'Brien's colt made Auguste Rodin work hard to beat him in the Irish Derby and proved that performance was no fluke when pushing Feed The Flame hard in the Grand Prix de Paris. Ryan Moore's mount has been freshened up since that effort at Longchamp and Adelaide River could be hard to beat as he drops down into Group Three company.

Race 7 - Petingo Handicap Tips

At the prices, the one that interests me most is IMAGINARIUM (16/1). Ger Lyon gelding only ran twice as a three-year-old last season, and was well-beaten on his reappearance in a Listed race at Roscommon back in July.

Imaginarium made his handicap debut in the hugely competitive Guinness Handicap at the Galway Festival, where he stayed on gamely after getting outpaced to finish a decent sixth. Colin Keane's mount was dropped to a mark of 91 following that effort and I'm confident that this lightly-raced four-year-old has the ability to reach a triple-figure mark.

Race 8 - Sovereign Path Handicap Tips

British horses have a strong record in this card-closing handicap and I'm going to take an each-way chance on URBAN SPRAWL (14/1) for last year's winning trainer, Charlie Johnston.

Urban Sprawl ran out an impressive winner of a £39k handicap at Goodwood in the spring and followed that performance with a strong third in the Britannia at Royal Ascot. Having bounced back to form with a decent effort at Goodwood two weeks ago, Urban Sprawl will make his Irish debut running off a workable mark of 90 and the track here at Leopardstown should suit his running style.

Verdict

Irish Champions Weekend 2023 Day One

Best bets on day one of Irish Champions Weekend 2023:

Adelaide River

Paddy Power Stakes Tips

@7/4 - 15 Units

50% back up to £25

Racing Specialists

18+ New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. No cash out. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses (from first bet settlement until 23:59) as a Free Bet up to £25, valid for 7 days. Min. 3 bets on different events required, with 2 bets being at least 50% of your largest stake. Place at least 1 bet of £10+ at odds 2.00+ to receive a £5 Free Bet even if your account is up or losses are under £5. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org

Bet at QuinnBet

Buckaroo

Park Stakes Tips

@3/1 - 10 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad

Bet at bet365

Apricot Ice

Ingabelle Stakes Tips

@5/1 - 10 Units

Bet £10 Get £10

with promo code NEWBONUS

Join betgoodwin with promo code NEWBONUS and get access to their Bet £10 Get £10 as a free ACCA welcome offer. 18+ only. T&Cs apply.

Bet at Betgoodwin

Jumbly E/W

Matron Stakes Tips

@25/1 - 5 Units

50% back up to £25

Racing Specialists

18+ New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. No cash out. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses (from first bet settlement until 23:59) as a Free Bet up to £25, valid for 7 days. Min. 3 bets on different events required, with 2 bets being at least 50% of your largest stake. Place at least 1 bet of £10+ at odds 2.00+ to receive a £5 Free Bet even if your account is up or losses are under £5. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org

Bet at QuinnBet

Top Betting Sites

Betting offers

Upcoming Events

27 May 2026

Daily Tips on May 27th -
Horse Racing

Racing Insider Daily Racing Tips on May 27th

28 May 2026

2026 Brigadier Gerard Stakes -
Horse Racing

2026 Brigadier Gerard Stakes Odds - Ombudsman odds-on to score at Sandown

30 May 2026

2026 Lester Piggott Stakes -
Horse Racing

2026 Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes Odds - Estrange favourite on Haydock return

2023 Irish Champions Weekend Tips - September 9-10

Leopardstown Tips on September 9th - Irish Champions Weekend Day 1 Tips