RACING/Leopardstown preview: Leopardstown may be overshadowed by Killarney in the number of races and the number of runners this evening but two Listed Races and a Premier Handicap more than compensate.
Indeed the executive can not be accused of keeping their best wine until last as in the first race the English raider Voile has form that ties up with the very best juvenile filly form in Europe at the present time.
She was second to Pearl Grey at Newmarket on her latest start and Pearl Grey in turn ran second to Mark Johnston's flying Royal Ascot winner Attraction in the Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket last Tuesday, in the aftermath of which Attraction was installed 10 to 1 favourite for next year's 1,000 Guineas.
Anyone who was tempted to trade at these odds, nine months in advance, will get a shock if Voile can't beat the Irish fillies in the Silver Flash Stakes.
John Oxx claims four of the 12 runners in the other Listed Race, the Challenge Stakes and while Johnnie Murtagh's mount Chartres is the most recent winner amongst the quartet her stamina is still unproven. This is a charge that can not be leveled at Cruzspiel who put in his best work in the final quarter mile over two miles at Royal Ascot and was third to Shanty Star.
Dermot Weld's mother has a notable light weight Ivowen to carry her colours in the Stillorgan Premier Handicap. He is going for a hat-trick but will have plenty to do if Mr Houdini reproduces the form he showed on his first run for Oliver Finnegan when beating Avorado at Leopardstown. Avorado successfully beat off a strong English challenge in the Emirate Airline Minstrel Stakes on Sunday.
In a programme structured more towards jumpers than flat racers the top billing at Killarney goes to the Murphys Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle in which Best Wait who ran on the flat over the weekend is a speculative choice.
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