WHAT a Saturday of racing ahead with the Cazoo St Leger Saturday and day one of the Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.

At Doncaster in the St Leger, the final Classic season of the flat season, it is hard to oppose Hurricane Lane Unibet 8/11, whose four successes this season include the Dante, Irish Derby and the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp. His Derby third to Adayar, is his only defeat in 2021. In contrast, the race for the places looks wide open. Earlier in the afternoon the Champagne Stakes Group 2 looks a close call between Reach For The Moon and Lusail, trained by Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon. 

Day One of the Irish Champions Weekend takes place at Leopardstown, with a sell-out crowd of 4,000.  There are two Group 1s, including the Irish Champions Stakes, with Poetic Flare stepping up in trip, it looks between Tarnawa and St Mark’s Basilica in some renewal!

Enjoy whether on a racecourse or #AtHome.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.40 Leopardstown – Matron Stakes Group 1 (1m)

Mother Earth, the 1,000 Guineas winner, was placed in her next three starts, including the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot when third to Alcohol Free in truly testing conditions and then she was second in the Falmouth Stakes to Snow Lantern in a high-quality renewal on good to firm. Last time out she won the Prix Rothschild at Deauville last time by a head from Sagamiyra when she always doing enough. Mother Earth last ran in early August, is ground versatile and is such a genuine filly, who will take this Group 1.

Unibet 5/4 win

1.45 Doncaster – Portland Handicap (5½f)

Hurricane Ivor (nap) looked back to something like his best when a close third to Copper Knight at York, doing plenty of good late work after finding a bit of mid-race trouble. He has taken some time to acclimatise since coming over from France and now looks ready to take a big handicap. The pace angles around him in stall 5 look sure to suit him for a late challenge and he has the class to win off top weight.  

Unibet 6/1 each way

Beyond Equal hasn’t finished outside of the first four on six starts this season and will relish the conditions. Beyond Equal won over five furlongs on quick ground earlier this season and is effective over further. He has strong each way claims from stall 20.

Unibet 18/1 each way

2.45 Leopardstown – Irish Champion Stakes Group 1 (1m 2f)

Tarnawa will relish the quick going versus her main rival St Mark’s Basilica who hasn’t raced previously on this type of ground. Tarnawa has later season targets too with the Arc and Breeders’ Cup so this fabulous mare was having her first start of 2021 last month when easily winning a Group 3 as she liked. She is seen as being more effective over two furlongs further, yet Tarnawa won a Group 1 over today’s trip last season and has only been defeated once in five starts over this distance.

Unibet 13/8 win

3.00 Doncaster – Cazoo Park Stakes Group 2 (7f)

Danyah has definitely improved for the drop back down to 7f on his last two starts, as he was fourth in the Lincoln at the start of the year but has progressed and gets another chance to dominate this small field. Given a small break since winning the Moët & Chandon International Stakes at Ascot last month, which is probably ideal. The Owen Burrows yard are in good form and Danyah can make all again.

Unibet 5/2 win

3.15 Leopardstown – Stakes Group 3 (1m 4f)

Forbearance, for the inform Jessica Harrington team, started the season on a mark of 79 and is now up to 104. She might have a bit to find on the bare form, but she keeps improving with every start and she was very game in winning the Galtres Listed contest at York last time out when finding plenty after hitting the front two furlongs out. The good going really suits her and she can get right in the mix here.

Unibet 9/1 each way   

3.35 Doncaster – Cazoo St Leger Stakes Group 1 (1m 4f)

Interpretation is three from three for the Aidan O’Brien team in 2021 and is improving with every run. Last time out Interpretation made all to win a Listed contest beating Fernando Vichi (reopposes today) when always doing enough and staying on well. The good going will suit, whilst there is no doubt he gets the trip so his claims look strong for a place as he looks sure to take another step forward here.

Unibet 12/1 each way