Lah Ti Dar looks right in tune for St Leger glory
WE all love to complain in this country when a British personality or media outlet claims an Irish person as one of their own.
It’s happened quite a bit in recent times with Katie Taylor, Conor McGregor, various footballers, actors and other well-knows successful individuals.
But we should probably take a look at ourselves before we moan. The first thing we do when any celebrity lands on these shores is stick a microphone in their face, or put them on a TV chat show. We then get them to explain their Irish roots – no matter how tenuous, claim them as our own, and pat ourselves on the back when they tell us how wonderful our little country is.
Of course, one area where the Irish have always had a genuine enormous influence is horse racing, and we can claim credit for a good chunk of its history without shame.
Even in the British racing scene, there’s very little that doesn’t have some sort of Irish connection, and although the five Classics are often seen as the epitome of Britishness, we can also claim them as partly Irish.
Indeed the oldest of the lot, the St Leger at Doncaster (3.35), which was established in 1776, was an idea conceived by the Kildare-born Anthony St Leger, an MP for Grimsby and well-known soldier. St Leger, as I mentioned before on these pages, was buried at St Anne’s Church in Dublin.
I’d fill up the whole paper if I was to continue with the Irish theme, but the link continued last year when Aidan O’Brien won the race for the fifth time with Capri.
O’Brien has a very strong hand again this year with five of the 12 entries, Kew Gardens looking the best of the lot at around 9/4.
A Group One winner at Longchamp in July, he had to carry a penalty for that win when last seen in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in which he finished third of nine.
O’Brien said he was delighted with that prep run ahead of the Leger, although at 7/2 I was expecting a little more from the colt, and it wasn’t too long ago he ran poorly in the Derby.
I’m just not warming to him really, so my money is going on Lah Ti Dar for John Gosden, which was trading at 7/4 yesterday evening.
Owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the filly was originally going to run in the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp this weekend but I reckon they’ve made a good decision to go for the Leger instead, as the daughter of Dubawi looks like she could be something very special.
Blood
On the downside, she’s only raced three times and not above Listed level – but she was ruled out of some of the big summer races following some unsatisfactory blood tests, and has excuses.
She certainly came back with a bang at York in August to land her third win. An easy 10-length success at Listed level proved she’s one for the top races, and provided she has a bit of stamina, she’ll be very hard to beat today.
Earlier on the same card, Michael Stoute’s
Mustashry looks a bit of value around 3/1 in the Group Two Alan Wood Plumbing and Heating Park Stakes (2.25).
Supplemented for the race on Monday, he traded near 1/7 in-running on Betfair before finishing second to Lord Glitters in the Group Three Strensall Stakes at York last time out, which is no shame as Lord Glitters has some decent form in Group One contests.
The one concern I have is that he’s always raced at a mile or further, but I think he’ll handle the drop in trip to seven furlongs here, as he can go at a very good clip when asked.
At Chester, I’m quite keen on Gabrial, which looks set to go off around 11/2 in the Listed 32Red Stand Cup Stakes (2.40). Richard Fahey’s nine-year-old has been around the block a few times at this stage, clocking up nine wins and 18 places in 84 career races.
But he showed he’s still got something left to offer when registering his first win since 2016 when beating Dolphin Vista in a minor event at Epsom last time.
He wasn’t disgraced in some other good races this year, including fourth in the Lincoln at Doncaster and second in a Group Three at Epsom, and he’s fairly versatile going-wise, giving him every chance today on this softer ground. Blakeney Point is the danger to the bet, having finished a good fifth in the Ebor at York last time out.
Back home, I think the Irish Champions Weekend is a cracking idea, packing 10 Group races into a two-day event at Leopardstown and the Curragh.
At the Dublin venue today, it’s hard to get away from John Gosden’s Roaring Lion in the Irish Champion Stakes (6.35), although he’s priced accordingly at about 8/11.
He’s beaten nearest rival in the betting Saxon Warrior a number of times now, and his latest success in the Juddmonte International at York was quite stylish, suggesting he’s really at the top of his game at the moment.
I had high hopes that Saxon Warrior was going to be one of the greats, but I’ve been left somewhat disappointed and hope he gives a good account of himself.
Priced around 1/3, I won’t be having a bet on Alpha Centauri but Jessica Harrington’s filly looks nailed on in the Group One Coolmore Fastnet Rock Matron Stakes (5.25).
The Irish 1,000 Guineas winner is seeking a fifth Group One win in-a-row and she was extremely impressive when taking on the male horses in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville last time out.
Laurens or Magical might make a race of it, but the favourite will most likely have too much in hand.