Preview leopardstown 4th Aug

The Group Three Ballyroan Stakes is the feature on a six-race Flat card at Leopardstown, with Dermot Weld bidding to continue his fine run of form whilst also strengthening his recent grip on this particular race.

So successful when saddling 17 winners at the Galway Festival last week, Weld has landed the previous two renewals of this contest with Profound Beauty and has leading claims again, this time through Sense Of Purpose.

She looked a filly going places when gamely winning the Listed Challenge Stakes from the reopposing Bob Le Beau last month.

Chief in opposition would appear to be Marksmanship, who has been highly tried recently but remains open to improvement and Aidan O'Brien clearly thinks a fair bit of this son of Galileo.

Racing beings at 5.45 with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden and O'Brien looks to hold strong claims again, this time in the shape of Learn, who appeared to bump into a smart sort when just edged out by Riviera Poet at Galway. Entered in plenty of top juvenile races in the coming months, he shouldn't remain a maiden for much longer.

Nine fillies do battle for a decent a prize in the second race of the evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap, and Flic Flac could prove a popular selection amongst punters following her easy maiden success at Down Royal last month.

A promising juvenile last term, the Weld-trained daughter of Bahamian Bounty could go on from that triumph, although the likes of Strandfield Lady and Blackwitch Woman provide fair opposition.

Much more emphasis will be on stamina in the concluding Follow Leopardstown On Facebook Handicap over two miles and Sarteano certainly ticks plenty of boxes in that regard having scored over fences at Galway when last sighted.

John Oxx runs Kayalar and Raydari in the "Aslan" Maiden, while the Leopardstown.com Handicap could go the way of three-year-old Words Of Wisdom.