Leopardstown preview
Order Of St George
© Photo Healy Racing
Order Of St George is the star turn at Leopardstown tonight as he makes his return to action in the feature race on the card, the Listed Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes.
An impressive winner of the Irish St Leger in September, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt faces just five rivals here, with Donnacha O'Brien the man in the saddle.
It will be a major surprise if he is beaten, despite the fact he has to give weight all round. Silwana is the second-highest-rated horse in the field and she could be the one for the forecast, while Fact Or Folklore Botany Bay Modem and Mandatario complete the line-up.
The other Listed race on the programme, the King George V Cup, is a much more open affair, with six also set to take part.
Aidan O'Brien is responsible for half the field, with Donnacha O'Brien taking the ride on likely favourite Claudio Monteverdi
He impressed when winning his maiden over the course in April, before finishing a disappointing fourth to So Mi Dar in a Derby Trial at Epsom. Santa Monica is one of three fillies in the line-up, and she is sure to have plenty of supporters, after she finished a good second in a Group Three at the Curragh on her most recent start.
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen are represented by Zalfana who makes her seasonal debut, while the field is completed by Lieutenant General The Major General and Siamsaiocht
Jim Bolger trains Siamsaiocht, and he saddles Locus Standi in the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap.
This son of Lawman has been a model of consistency at Dundalk over recent months and if he can transfer that form to the turf, he should go close.
Course-and-distance winner Beechmount Whisper is likely to have plenty of supporters, while others to consider in this competitive contest are Six Silver Lane Filosofo Estrenar and War Room The Butche's Filly just beat War Room at Dundalk in April and she takes her chance in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.
This mile-and-a-quarter contest is another wide-open heat, with Secret Splendour Mademoiselle Penny Maronella and Brosnan all likely to prove popular with punters. Midnight Crossing Cockatoo Island and Crafted Jewel are the stand out names in the William Fry Maiden, while Sharjah Brokopondo and Hurricane Sky look the ones to focus on the in the Grant Thornton Apprentice Handicap.
Six of the seven declared for the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden are newcomers and the market should give a good indication as to which of these is fancied.