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Preview leopardstown 8th Aug

Wed 7th Aug 2013, 13:00

Kerisa (nearest) holds off the challenge of Drifting MistKerisa (nearest) holds off the challenge of Drifting Mist
© Photo Healy Racing

An intruiging renewal of the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes features on a seven-race card at Leopardstown and Ernest Hemingway bids to confirm the huge impression he made when slamming Royal Diamond in the Curragh Cup at the end of June.

Aidan O'Brien's lightly-raced Galileo colt simply bolted up at Headquarters and will be all the rage to double up despite Johnny Murtagh's charge being 6lb better off at the weights.

The real fly in the ointment could be Jim Bolger's thriving three-year-old filly Scintillula, beaten just a length when fourth in the Irish Oaks and a convincing winner over O'Brien's Mars in the Meld Stakes here last month.

Dermot Weld, winner of the past four runnings of the Ballyroan, isn't represented this year but he has live chances elsewhere, not least with Acting Talent in the opening Foxrock Fillies Maiden at 5.15.

She made a bright start when third at Navan and should give Il Palazzo plenty to think about providing she's gone the right way since her introduction.

O'Brien looks to have identified a really good opening for Friendship in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. He's had four attempts already but will be hard to beat if repeating his Galway second.

Bolger's Mona Brown won stylishly at Naas on Monday and looks a serious threat to the hat-trick seeking Strandfield Lady in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

Bolger goes for his third straight win in the "Bressie" Maiden with the returning Tonabrocky, although Curragh third Muyrphy's Delight could also have a major impact with race-fitness on his side.

The Black Devil and Carenza stand out in the MSL Sandyford Handicap, while the concluding Leopardstown Club Members Handicap sees an exciting clash between improving youngsters Weather Watch and Mourani, representing Jessica Harrington and John Oxx respectively.