Leopardstown stages a top-notch seven-race card on Sunday and we’ve got three selections on the card from the Dublin track for consideration.
There is a good two-day meeting at Leopardstown this weekend as the Flat season hurtles towards an end.
The Foxrock venue has a seven-race offering on Sunday, from 13:55-17:10, with a pair of Listed races and the Bahrain Turf Club October Handicap featuring. Our three best bets on the Sunday card in Ireland are below.
Sunday’s Leopardstown Tips
- NAP: Castleheath (Leopardstown 16:00) @ SP
- Next Best: Finger Paint (Leopardstown 14:25) @ SP
- Long Shot: Birthe (Leopardstown 15:26) @ SP
Castleheath to keep things going
CASTLEHEATH has really found form of late for trainer Ciaran Murphy and comes here bidding for a hat-trick of wins on the Flat.
The Elzaam gelding dead-heated at Galway over an extended mile in July and was a 1m2f winner at the Curragh on his most recent outing last month.
He came from well back and eventually won decisively, with that form boosted since by a few of those that finished behind him.
He’s on a bit of a roll now and while the handicapper has hit him with a hike, he’ll have Sam Coen taking 7lb off in the saddle and this four-year-old may have more to give.
Keane can burn Lyons’ Fingers
Colin Keane would have been the man on board for Mutasarref for Ger Lyons but he’s now retained by Juddmonte and so is on Dermot Weld’s FINGERPAINT instead.
The Kingman filly bagged a maiden first time out over 7f here in May and has since run well in her only start in a Group 3 at Tipperary over 7½-furlongs in August.
That was a decent event for the grade and she acquitted herself quite well despite a slow start.
She gets 3lb and more from these rivals dropping slightly in class and tackling a mile for the first time and can go well with Keane on top. Mutasarref has lots of experience and could head the market but must concede 8lb to an unexposed rival.
Birthe to go well for Sheridan
Joey Sheridan has a promising weekend ahead. He rides a couple for Willie Mullins at Leopardstown on Saturday as he continues to develop a relationship with the champion jumps trainer, and on Sunday he partners BIRTHE for Joseph O’Brien in the Listed Trigo Stakes.
The Piltown trainer’s Trustyourinstinct is in the field too, with championship-chasing Dylan Browne McMonagle on board but this French import could offer some value.
The Study Of Man filly was a Listed/Group 2 winner in her native land in 2024 over this trip.
After moving to Ireland, her first run for this yard was in the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh in May after 252 days off. High-class performer Porta Fortuna won that contest.
Birthe has had just one start since, in a five-runner contest at Punchestown last month. She should be fit now and first-time cheekpieces are added. Softening ground will aid her cause and she could run a big race for Sheridan.
