16:35
Comer Group International Irish St. Leger
1m6f, Flat, 3yo+, €289,999, 7 runners
Winning time 2m 58.18s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Tip for this race
All today's tips ›Scandinavia is preferred here on the strength of a progressive profile and a fitness edge that may tip the balance over the longer journey at the Curragh, though Jan Brueghel holds a five-point advantage on our ratings and cannot be dismissed lightly, with Trustyourinstinct and Tennessee Stud also capable of making their presence felt in a competitive seven-runner field. The confidence in this call is modest, and punters should be aware this is a race that could easily fall to Jan Brueghel if that rating superiority proves decisive over fourteen furlongs on good ground. Scandinavia is the selection.
Result
Ryan Moore
A P O'Brien
Settled just behind the pace in 2nd - pushed to keep tempo 4f out and again with 2f left - hit front a furlong and a half out - kept finding to score driven out
Wayne Lordan
A P O'Brien
Set the early gallop - urged on with two furlongs left as challengers loomed - overtaken a furlong and a half out - held on for second at an even effort late
Ronan Whelan
A P O'Brien
Slow to begin - settled at the rear - urged into action approaching final 2f - improved into 4th but drifted right a furlong out - up to 3rd close home - stayed on for third but not troubling those ahead
No. 7, stall 3
6yo, 9-10, OR 113
J: Declan McDonogh · T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Declan McDonogh
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Held up early - improved into 3rd and driven approaching 2f out - third with a furlong left - dropped to 4th inside final furlong - held with no more to give
J M Sheridan
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Sat close to the pace - pushed along in 4th with 2f left - unable to close - held on for 5th
Tom Marquand
William Haggas
Settled in 5th - pushed along in 5th with 2 1/2f left - faded quickly - finished 6th
Colin Keane
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Sat handy behind front group early - pressed for effort and slipped to 6th with 2f left - faded through closing stages to finish 7th
Racecard
Tom Marquand
William Haggas 16/57
Consistently placed in recent starts — third last time out, and a runner-up three starts back — Arabian Force has run over today's trip and going, though he returns after 64 days off and remains yet to win, which tempers expectations despite a solid profile.
- Sire
- Lope De Vega (IRE)
- Dam
- October Queen (IRE) by Iffraaj
- Owner
- Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum
- Foaled
- 6 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Newmarket, Suffolk
- Trainer last 14 days
- 16 wins from 57 runs (28%)
- Trainer running to form
- 70%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 105
Ronan Whelan
A P O'Brien 5/50
Jan Brueghel was a winner three starts back and brings strong recent form into this, with experience over today's trip and going working in his favour; the main risk is a break of 85 days since he last ran.
- Sire
- Galileo (IRE)
- Dam
- Devoted To You (IRE) by Danehill Dancer
- Owner
- Westerberg Mrs Magnier M Tabor D Smith
- Foaled
- 7 May 2021
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 50 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 68%
- Ratings
- Perf 125, Speed 112
J M Sheridan
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 7/69
Winless in his last five starts and ranked bottom of the field on our figures, Leinster faces a stiff task under 136 lb, though he has run over today's distance and going before and was third last time out to offer a crumb of comfort.
- Sire
- Camelot (GB)
- Dam
- Black Envy (GB) by Kingman
- Owner
- Al Shiraaa Racing Limited
- Foaled
- 30 Jan 2021
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 7 wins from 69 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 104, Speed 88
Wayne Lordan
A P O'Brien 5/50
Ranked sixth of seven on our figures, Queenstown faces a stiff ask under 136 lb, yet his recent form reads well — a winner last time out, and placed in three of his four starts before that — and he has experience of today's distance and going.
- Sire
- Galileo (IRE)
- Dam
- Where (IRE) by Danehill Dancer
- Owner
- Mrs J Magnierm Tabord Smithwesterberg
- Foaled
- 4 Apr 2020
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 50 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 68%
- Ratings
- Perf 106, Speed 96
Ryan Moore
A P O'Brien 5/50
Five consecutive wins headline Scandinavia's recent form, and he returns to today's trip and going with genuine confidence, carrying 136 lb off an official mark of 125 after a 47-day break that bears watching.
- Sire
- Justify (USA)
- Dam
- Fabulous (IRE) by Galileo
- Owner
- Michael Tabor Derrick Smith Mrs John Magnier
- Foaled
- 9 May 2022
- Stable
- Cashel, Co Tipperary
- Trainer last 14 days
- 5 wins from 50 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 68%
- Ratings
- Perf 120, Speed 103
Colin Keane
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 7/69
Tennessee Stud showed smart form when winning four starts back and was third two starts back, giving him the profile of a genuine threat at 136 lb; the concern is that sixth last time out and 56 days off leave his sharpness to prove.
- Sire
- Wootton Bassett (GB)
- Dam
- In My Dreams (IRE) by Sadler's Wells
- Owner
- Westerbergtabormagniersmith
- Foaled
- 12 Mar 2022
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 7 wins from 69 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 109, Speed 100
56 days
6yo, 9-10, OR 113 -72121
J: Declan McDonogh · T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Declan McDonogh
Joseph Patrick O'Brien 7/69
Trustyourinstinct arrives on the back of an excellent recent spell, winning two of his last five starts including a victory last time out, and he has experience of today's distance and going — though the 56-day absence since that win is the one question mark he must answer.
- Sire
- Churchill (IRE)
- Dam
- Gussy Goose (IRE) by Danehill Dancer
- Owner
- John P Mcmanus
- Foaled
- 8 May 2020
- Stable
- Owning Hill, Co Kilkenny
- Trainer last 14 days
- 7 wins from 69 runs (10%)
- Trainer running to form
- 62%
- Ratings
- Perf 112, Speed 101
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.