Bondi can bounce back
IT’S a real racing fest for punters this weekend with the meetings at Doncaster, Leopardstown, The Curragh and Longchamp featuring eight Group One races. Here our top tipster
ROBIN GOODFELLOW gives his verdict on who to follow.
TODAY
LADBROKES ST LEGER Doncaster, 3.45 TV: C4 & ATR (Sky 415) STORM THE STARS, the Derby third and Irish Derby runner-up, leads the home defence against a trio of Aidan O’Brien challengers and seeks to confirm his superiority over Bondi Beach after winning the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York. ROBIN’S VERDICT: BONDI BEACH was carried across the track at York by Storm The Stars and can reverse the placings with today’s trip sure to suit.
IRISH CHAMPION STAKES Leopardstown, 5.45 TV: ATR THE participation of Gleneagles hinges on how much rain falls but this is a glittering field with Derby winner Golden Horn challenged by last year’s winner The Grey Gatsby, Royal Ascot scorer Free Eagle and seven-time Group One winner Cirrus Des Aigles. ROBIN’S VERDICT: FREE EAGLE should not be inconvenienced by any rain. He loves the track and could prove a tough adversary for Golden Horn.
MATRON STAKES Leopardstown, 6.20 TV: ATR AMAZING MARIA, trained by David O’Meara, goes for a third consecutive Group One win under j ockey Olivier Pesli e r but f aces stiff competition from Legatissimo, the 1,000 Guineas and Nassau Stakes winner, plus French-trained Cladocera. ROBIN’S VERDICT: LEGATISSIMO would not want this race to develop into a sprint but should still have enough class to see off Amazing Maria and long shot Ainippe.
TOMORROW
PRIX VERMEILLE Longchamp, 3.10 TV: ATR DUAL Arc winner Treve, two from two this year, will use this as a stepping stone to a potential historic third Arc success. She faces a field including David Elsworth’s shock International Stakes winner Arabian Queen and Pretty Polly Stakes winner Diamondsandrubies. ROBIN’S VERDICT: TREVE will not be fully wound up for the race but should still be too strong for Arabian Queen.
MOYGLARE STUD STAKES The Curragh, 3.40 TV: ATR BALLYDOYLE, trained by Aidan O’Brien, is ante-post favourite for next year’s 1,000 Guineas and her odds will shorten further if she conf i r ms Debutante Stakes superiority over stablemate Minding. Blue Bayou, trained by Brian Meehan, and Richard Hannon’s Great Paige represent Britain. ROBIN’S VERDICT: The form of BALLYDOYLE is beginning to stack up and she is taken to withstand the challenge of the progressive Blue Bayou.
PRIX DU MOULIN Longchamp, 3.45 TV: ATR PETER CHAPPLE-HYAM’S Arod and Dutch Connection, trained by Charlie Hills, face tough tasks against a field including Andre Fabre’s Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Esoterique and her Classicplaced stablemate Territories, plus 2014 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Karakontie. ROBIN’S VERDICT: Soft ground was against TERRITORIES when beaten by Esoterique at Deauville and he can reverse places on a better surface.
NATIONAL STAKES The Curragh, 4.15 TV: ATR AIR FORCE BLUE already has a Group One prize on his record having won the Phoenix Stakes and will be a hot favourite to make it two. Opposition includes Final Frontier and Birchwood, unlucky at Glorious Goodwood last time out. ROBIN’S VERDICT: AIR FORCE BLUE is narrowly fancied to win at the expense of Herald The Dawn and Birchwood.
IRISH ST LEGER The Curragh, 4.50 TV: ATR THE Michael Owen- owned Brown Panther is back from injury and bidding to win for a second year running. Agent Murphy, Gospel Choir, Second Step and Vent De Force are other British challengers. Forgotten Rules and Kingfisher lead the Irish charge. ROBIN’S VERDICT: The prospect of softening conditions will play to the strengths of Order Of St George but AGENT MURPHY impressed at Newbury and is preferred.