Leopardstown

Unbeaten entering Sunday's G3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" S. at Leopardstown, A Lilac Rolla (Ire) (Harry Angel {Ire}--Mejala {Ire}, by Red Ransom) carried on where she left off with a battling success from Kitty Rose (GB) (Invincible Army {Ire}). Last seen beating the subsequent G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Opera Singer (Justify) at The Curragh in August, the Paddy Twomey-trained €40,000 Tatts Ireland September bargain was delivered to tackle Kitty Rose at the furlong pole and gave generously to Billy Lee to eke out a head success at odds of...

Ballydoyle's season cranked up a gear at Leopardstown on Sunday as the No Nay Never pair Battle Cry (Ire) and Samuel Colt (Ire) completed a one-two in the G3 Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" S. Runner-up in the Listed Star Appeal S. at Dundalk in October, Battle Cry who is a son of the listed scorer I'll Have Another (Ire) (Dragon Pulse) was switched off in rear early by Ryan Moore. Launched wide in the straight, the 10-1 shot overhauled his stablemate passing the furlong marker for a half-length success, with...

Sunday sees a swing in the momentum towards the more meaningful Flat action of 2024, with Leopardstown--which has to survive an early-morning inspection--and ParisLongchamp staging a host of Classic trials. Ballydoyle's wheels are really set in motion at the former venue, with several of their promising 3-year-olds ready to be unleashed in the card's trio of preps including the 10-furlong G3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax S. It is in that early Derby pointer that Rosegreen's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud third Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and impressive course maiden-winning TDN Rising...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a daughter of Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 13.45 Leopardstown, Mdn, €15,000, 3yo, f, 8fT WINGSPAN (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) is a notable newcomer from Ballydoyle, as the second foal out of the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S. and G1 Matron S. heroine Hydrangea (Ire) (Galileo...

The Irish EBF Barrier Trials, which has been a source of Group 1, Classic and even Cheltenham Festival winners, will get underway at Naas on Monday, May 27.  Dundalk Stadium will host the middle fixture on Monday, July 8, while Leopardstown will be the venue for the final date on Wednesday, August 28, again at six and seven furlongs.   Charles O'Neill, CEO of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, commented, "We are looking forward to staging the Irish EBF Barrier Trials again this summer. We are delighted to have the backing of the...

The Cashel Palace Hotel has stepped in to sponsor the G3 Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown on Sunday, May 12. The three-year-old contest, which is run over 10f, has served as an important stepping stone for many Classic aspirants down through the years but had been run without a sponsor after Derrinstown Stud ended its long association with the race in 2021. Leopardstown chief Tim Husbands commented, "We are delighted to welcome Cashel Palace Hotel as the sponsor of the Derby Trial Stakes. Their support and partnership will add a...

The 2024 QuinnBet National Hunt Finale was the final fixture at Leopardstown Racecourse to be overseen by track foreperson Willie Gibbons, who is set to retire from the position he's held since July 1986. He was preceded by his father John, who first took on the role in the late 1940s, kicking off nearly 80 years of dedicated service to Leopardstown from the Gibbons family. Speaking at Leopardstown, Gibbons said, "It's been very good, I've enjoyed it. It's a great place to work. I've always been blessed by having great...

Gerry McGrath, breeder of Champion Hurdler Jezki (Ire) (Milan {GB}) and high-class performers Jett (Ire) (Flemensfirth), Jered (Ire) (Presenting {GB}), Jetson (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) and Jenari (Ire) (Milan {GB}) all out of the outstanding broodmare La Noire (Ire) (Phardante {Fr}), has outlined hopes that the legacy can continue with leading Dublin Racing Festival contender Jetara (Ire) (Walk In The Park {Ire}). A granddaughter of La Noire, the mare who was famously gifted to McGrath by his late father in the nineties, Jetara will take on the boys in the G1...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a son of Quality Road returning at Leopardstown seeking an initial stakes win. 14.10 Leopardstown, Listed, €40,000, 3yo/up, 8fT CAIRO (IRE) (Quality Road) makes his return to the track after a five-month absence in this Listed Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire S., with his last start being...

There had already been two TDN Rising Stars during Saturday's action at Leopardstown by the time the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden came along, but in that mile contest Ballydoyle's Ocean Of Dreams (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}--All For Glory, by Giant's Causeway) categorically made it a third as he annihilated the opposition to suggest he could be one of the stable's big Derby players next summer. Settled in mid-division early by Seamie Heffernan, the Coolmore homebred from the heralded dynasty of Galileo (Ire) and Sea The Stars (Ire) made gradual...

Becoming the 10th TDN Rising Star for Siyouni (Fr), who carried that mantle himself, The Aga Khan's Azada (Ire) conquered Leopardstown's deep surface to make the ideal start to her career in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden on Saturday. Out of Azmiyna (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose son The Autumn Sun (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) carried all before him in Australia, the 4-1 shot raced with two behind early after a tardy break from her wide draw. Cajoled forward by Leigh Roche from three out, the Dermot Weld-trained...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Saturday's Observations features a Galileo (Ire) son debuting at Leopardstown. 16.46 Leopardstown, Mdn, €16,000, 2yo, c/g, 8fT BLACKPOOL (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is an exciting newcomer for Aidan O'Brien in a maiden he has targeted with some smart types in recent times, being the third foal and first runner out...