Leopardstown hosts an interesting seven-race card on Thursday evening and Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders runs you through his three best bets.
7.30 Leopardstown
Flying Dolphin
2pts win
8.00 Leopardstown
Lily Pond
2pts win
8.30 Leopardstown
Okita Soushi
2pts win
Dolphin can fly home
Flying Dolphin was the major eyecatcher to emerge from the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot three weeks ago and has a fine opportunity to make amends in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Nasrullah' Handicap (7.20).
The Johnny Murtagh-trained three-year-old needs marking up for his fifth-placed effort there as prominently ridden horses dominated the finish and he fared best of those held up from off the pace.
That race is typically one of the hottest handicaps of its kind and the fact Flying Dolphin has gone up 2lb in the ratings to 94 is of little concern as he seemed to finish with running to give.
This contest is weaker and the drop to 1m2f from 1m4f is of little concern as he produced a better Racing Post Rating when landing his maiden over 1m1½f at Gowran Park two starts back. He might be a Pattern performer disguised as a handicapper.
Lily to bloom in Stanerra
Punters will doubtless be drawn to Rosscarbery in the feature Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stanerra Stakes (8.00) after her Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes third and subsequent disqualification last time.
Rosscarbery carried 5lb less than she should have and would have likely finished fifth or sixth if competing off her true weight, and it might not be ideal backing up just 11 days after that over a trip four furlongs further.
She also lacks form over this 1m6f distance. Admittedly so does Lily Pond, but it may be worth turning to her.
Aidan O'Brien has won this with three-year-olds in four of the last seven seasons and I fancy the 102-rated Lily Pond to continue the golden run in receipt of 17lb from Rosscarbery.
Lily Pond has two and a half lengths to make up on Rosscarbery for their meeting two starts back but is 3lb better off and open to much more improvement after just three starts, while her pedigree suggests this trip will be spot on for her. A 29-day break to freshen her up might also prove the difference.
Soushi to nourish punters
Another unlucky Royal Ascot loser was Okita Soushi in the Copper Horse Stakes and he can make amends in the concluding Belfield (Q.R.) Race (8.30).
Okita Soushi was attempting to defy a welter burden off a mark of 104 when third there and was finishing strongly from further back than ideal. That run suggested he would be fine over this extra furlong and the form isn't too shabby either as the winner, Get Shirty, obliged at Haydock last weekend in a 17-runner handicap off 6lb higher.
He remains lightly raced after just four runs and despite being unsuited by the conditions of this race in relation to the higher-rated Sandhurst, who receives 7lb, he can earn a first victory since scoring on his debut last June.
The suspicion is Sandhurst is slightly flattered by his rating - one earned in a Chester Vase last season that hasn't worked out - and this is his first run for Jessica Harrington following a 428-day absence. The fact Coolmore decided to cut ties is another cause for concern.
| What: | Horse Racing |
| Where: | Leopardstown, Dublin |
| When: | Thursday 7th July, 2022 |
| How to watch: | Racing TV and bet365's Sports Live Streaming platform |
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