Updated 9.17 - all selections online
We have been deep in Derby and Oaks trial season, with Chester and Lingfield now behind us, but all eyes turn to Leopardstown today as Pierre Bonnard looks to bounce back from his seasonal reappearance. We also have cards at Cork and Ludlow to enjoy.
A cracking seven-furlong Group 3 here (2.30 Leopardstown), with a few familiar names in the line-up, including Royal Ascot winner Snellen. Plenty are having their opening runs of the season, such as Snellen, but that is not the case for warm favourite CITY OF MEMPHIS, who turns out again after scoring on soft ground at Gowran Park just over two weeks ago.
That race was the first time we had seen the daughter of Sioux Nation since her respectable fifth in the Irish 1000 Guineas last May. Connections are clearly seeking to make up for lost time and strike while the yard is in red-hot form.
Trainer Paddy Twomey is operating at a stunning 55% strike-rate right now, and I would be surprised if City Of Memphis cannot continue that fine run of form. She will need to contend with a quicker surface, but given what she achieved on good ground at three, that is of little concern to me today.
A key Derby trial as ever on this Leopardstown card (3.40), with PIERRE BONNARD taking centre stage on a recovery mission after a disappointing reappearance at this venue last month. He is entitled to take a massive step forward for that effort, and this race was nominated instantly by his trainer after what was a slightly underwhelming run.
At around even money, the early markets clearly believe he will improve and book his ticket to Epsom here. On his existing two-year-old form, I cannot look beyond the son of Camelot and, as a result, I will be backing him today.
Some may point to the fact that Endorsement finished in front of him in April, but as previously mentioned, I am expecting a significant step forward from Pierre Bonnard.
Aidan O’Brien has a huge team of horses at his disposal for Epsom, but I think after this race Pierre Bonnard could just emerge as the one to top the Derby betting.
Dan and Harry Skelton have started the new jumps season much like they finished the previous one: busy and getting plenty of winners. They run favourite Claim Du Brizais in the mares’ handicap chase over two miles and four furlongs at Ludlow, but I feel, based on her last couple of runs, she is just a shade too short in the betting to support.
As you would expect given the current ground conditions for jumps racing, the race has cut up to just five runners. Opposing the market leader is Northern Air, who has, at times, been a shade frustrating to follow. He always seemed to attract market support during his spell with the Skeltons and, now with another yard, he was a fair second at Newton Abbot last time. However, I am not sure I can trust him to back that effort up.
Northern Symphonie makes her chase debut, which I would prefer just to watch, while I struggle to find an angle into Ezmerellda, who lacks the recent form to suggest she can get involved.
My selection, with the aim of taking down the Skelton duo, is the Henry Daly runner REGAL RENAISSANCE (4.37 Ludlow), who went up 2lb for a fair second last time out at Stratford.
The top weight warrants more respect than the early betting has given her. She previously won off this mark at Warwick and was also second in this contest 12 months ago. Hopefully, she can go one better today.
Kate's Best Bets (scale 1-5 points):
2.30 LEOPARDSTOWN
1pt win CITY OF MEMPHIS (11-8 general)
3.40 LEOPARDSTOWN
1pt win PIERRE BONNARD (10-11 and 5-6 general)
4.37 LUDLOW
1pt win REGAL RENAISSANCE (13-8 general)
