Leopardstown 8.30

 

A good competitive long distance Flat handicap on Going that will be likely to be quite testing.

 

The top of the market looks solid if not overly convincing with Pinot Gris up in trip with a penalty, Fairytale Princess is also upped quite markedly in trip having shown some promise at around 10 furlongs, the same applies to Baile Locha Riach and together with Grey Fable who showed improved form upped in trip last time but the credibility of which I'm not 100% certain, are all dangers IF they get this tough 13 furlongs on this ground. I am happy to take the chance that there are better and more proven options in the race in terms of stamina.

 

Highland King is one I looked long and hard at, it's got decent Course form and should be OK at the trip, it's changed Yards again though having been with Johnny Murtagh and Henry De Bromhead in quite quick succession and now with John McConnell , it's one of those about whom you'll be worried until it passes the line , hopefully not in front of the selections.

 

I am really sweet on PALE MOONLIGHT for Dermot Weld and I see the 3 month break as a positive, this is a scopey type and I don't think we;ve seen the best of it yet and I'll be frankly disappointed if it doesn't win this at a nice early price. A couple of others really excite me at their respective prices which I think are inflated and both ONE COOL POET who was within 5 lengths of a winner who has franked the form over course and distance off a mark of 83 here in soft conditions last summer and who runs off a mark of 71 here, and DARRABY who showed some promise on the Flat last year before Hurdling and whose mark of 72 and with some NH fitness, should both outrun their Odds and give us a really good run for our shrapnel.