Sunday 2nd April 2023

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

Welcome aboard to this Sunday blog where the focus turns to Leopardstown as it’s Guineas Trials Day, and we’ll be hoping to bounce back from a luckless few days on the site. Yesterday, in particular, was a bad day at the office.

We kick things off again though on Sunday at Leopardstown at 2:00 with a Fillies Maiden that’s contested over a mile. I’ve sided with Toistiun here at 5/1 who represents Jim Bolger and Luke McAteer who takes off three pounds. She posted a fine effort on her racecourse debut back in March when finishing third behind a horse who was rated 102. That also came on ground with heavy in the description, and if progressing naturally from that effort she should go close here if stepped up in trip.

Next up it’s the 2:35 which is the Group 2 2000 Guineas Trial that’s ridden over seven furlongs. I think that this particular contest is all about Hans Andersen at 4/5 who’s the NAP of the day for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien. He arrives here having by far the best form on offer in the race, with his fine second-placed effort behind stablemate Aesop’s Fables in the Group 2 Futurity Stakes last August. If he’s anywhere near that level here he should prove very tough to beat for his powerhouse connections who have already hit the ground running for the season.

The 3:10 is up next which this time is the 1000 Guineas trial that’s also a Group 2 affair that’s contested over seven furlongs. I think this is another race that can go to the Ballydoyle in the form of Never Ending Story at 9/4 who’s set to be ridden by Ryan Moore. She comes into the race with the most impressive form on offer from last term, having won a Group 3 before signing off her campaign with a fine effort when placing in Group 1 company in the Marcel Boussac at Longchamp back in October. She looks a typically highly progressive sort for the yard and if anywhere near the level of that Group 1 form she’s the one they all have to beat.

My penultimate punt of the day comes in the 3:45 which is the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes that’s contested over a mile and two furlongs. Alexandroupolis is the hot favourite here and looks like an exciting prospect, however, I’ve taken him on with his stablemate in the form of Denmark at 11/4 who’s the mount of Wayne Lordon. He looked like a nice prospect himself last season, bolting up on debut before going down by just a neck in a hot race in France the time after. There should be a whole host of improvement yet to come from him, and I think he could well have a big season that could well get off to the perfect start here.

My final selection comes in the 4:20 which is handicap action set to be ridden over a distance of a mile and two furlongs. This is a typically competitive affair in which I’ve taken a chance on Aurifodina at 9/2 who’s another runner for Jim Bolger and Luke McAteer. She developed into a solid handicapper last season when winning twice as well as finishing second with one of said victories coming at this track. Whilst a few of these have question marks hanging over them, she looks as though she’s probably the most solid pick in the race.