Irish Champions Day One Preview 2021

The first race of the day at Leopardstown is the Listed Ingabelle Stakes over seven furlongs and the Jessica Harrington trained Corviglia could take some beating.

The two year old filly made her debut this term at Listowel looking to need the run over 6.5f and used that to improve massively to get off the mark over course and distance at Leopardstown.

Last time out she made it back to back wins in emphatic style at Roscommon and the second on that race has since gone on to win in nice style.

She has got a lovely draw and already being a course and distance winner makes her a player stepping up in class.

Next up is the Group Two Champions Juvenile Stakes over a mile and the horse that makes most appeal is the Joseph O'Brien trained Maritime Wings.

The two year old son of Gleneagles looks to be a very smart type for the yard, winning on debut in a Maiden stakes over 6.5f at Leopardstown.

Next time out he was seen finishing a good second behind the superstar Point Lonsdale over 7f at the track and again last time out had to settle for second behind him at The Curragh.

His form line of chasing home Point Lonsdale is the best in the field and if improving for the step up to a mile he looks the one to beat.

One of our best bets of the day at Leopardstown comes in the Group One Matron Stakes over a mile and Mother Earth is just a class above this field.

Mother Earth has been one of the stars of the mile fillies division this term running superbly in two Group One events and off the back of those she is the worthy favourite for this event.

The filly was a fair juvenile landing a Group Three event on her third start, and then towards the end of last season finishing second at the Breeders' Cup meeting in a Group One and also finishing a good third in the Group One Fillies' Mile.

The yard did not know what to expect for the daughter of Zoffany but on seasonal debut this term she managed to land the 1000 Guineas in taking style.

Off the back of that she was sent to France looking to land the 1000 Guineas double, but she could only finish second, giving another good account of herself.

Next time out the filly was seen finishing a close third behind Alcohol Free and Snow Lantern at Royal Ascot, but reversed some of the form when a narrow second in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

Looking to get back to winning ways she went to France for the Group One Prix Rothschild and beat off a strong field of 13 runners to land the event.

She is a dual Group One winner over a mile that should have too much for this field.

At a price in the Group Two Boomerang Mile we have sided with the Joseph O'Brien trained Thunder Moon who although being hit and miss is a colt with bags of ability and this drop to a Group Two could be what he needs.

The son of Zoffany was ultra impressive as a two year old, winning the Group One National Stakes and then finishing a narrow third behind St Mark's Basilica in the Dewhurst Stakes.

With big potential to have a stunning three year old campaign he has unfortunately not lived up to expectations, flopping in the 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes.

However, two starts ago he gave his best run of the season to finish a narrow second in the Group One Prix Jean Prat over seven furlongs.

Dropped in trip for the Prix Maurice de Gheest he ran a below par race, but now back up to a mile in a weaker race he could bounce back and at an each way price we are happy to take a chance.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Group One Irish Champion Stakes and although only four runners take to post it sees a whole host of talent.

The horse we can't get away from is the three time Group One winning colt St Mark's Basilica for Aidan O'Brien, with this three year old being arguably the horse of the season.

At the end of his juvenile career he truly showed just how good he can be when taking the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, having finished a close third in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes before.

This season he picked up from where he left off by taking the Group One French 2000 Guineas on seasonal debut and then at the start of June on his first try at an extended trip he took to it superbly to land the French Derby.

Staying at 1m2f he took on superstars Addeybb and Mishriff in the Coral Eclipse and blew them away, taking the Group One by close to four lengths.

The form of that race has taken a big upgrade and if improving like he has all season he could be tough to catch.

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Group Three Paddy Power Stakes over 1m4f and Earlswood for Johnny Murtagh looks the most likely winner.

The three year old colt did not show too much as a juvenile, but seemed to come alive on his three year old debut when landing a 16 runner maiden at Navan over a mile.

He was then taken to Chester a few months later for the Listed Dee Stakes and on his first try at 10.5f he was a solid third behind some nice horses.

Coming on for that event at The Curragh he landed a Group Three race over the same course and distance and then stepped up to 1m4f and finished a superb fourth in the Group One Irish Derby.

Dropping back to a Group Three last time out he was a smart winner of the Royal Whip Stakes and his overall looks the best to go off.

The final event of the afternoon at Leopardstown is the seven furlong Sovereign Path Handicap and the ex John & Thady Gosden trained Riot could be well handicapped in this field.

The Qatar Racing owned four year old son of Kingman has switched yards to Johnny Murtagh now and in these types of races could flourish.

Having been running to a fair level in Britain he signed off with the Gosden's by finishing a good third at Royal Ascot in the 28 runner Buckingham Palace Stakes.

He has been seen once since coming over to Ireland and saw him finish a good third at Dundalk over six furlongs and that would have set him up perfectly for this event.

He runs in this event off the same mark as his run at Royal Ascot and if getting some luck in running should go close.