Irish Champion Stakes

 

Irish Champion Stakes
Leopardstown 6.50
ATR

THE MAN FROM JUDDMONTE SAYS ‘AL KAZEEM’ THIS TIME

Racing in a second, but we landed a skinny winner (7/10) with England comfortably defying the two goal handicap against Moldova at Wembley last night.

Not sure about you but I found it hard to watch. Well done England and all that but it was a mis-match of a game and frankly boring in places. No surprises that the top tier at Wembley was empty.

Anyway, life gets tougher for England against Ukraine on Tuesday and it will be a much closer game in the Star Sports betting too.

The great thing about horse racing is if you run the same race again, with the same horses, on the same ground and over the same distance you often get a DIFFERENT result !!

I’m expecting the case to be proven tonight in Ireland where the first three from the Juddmonte International Stakes – Declaration Of War, Trading Leather and Al Kazeem all renew rivalry. The going will be softer than at York (good to firm) but the big question is HOW much softer.

I’ve held off the preview for as long as I can on Saturday awaiting news from Leopardstown. Rain is forecast by the track and the latest ground I have is: Good (good to yielding in places).

Of course it’s a late start time for the Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes at 6.50pm and the expectation is that the ground could be good to soft by then.

This should prove AGAINST Declaration Of War and FOR Al Kazeem who has around three lengths to make up on his York conqueror.

All the money this morning with Star Sports has been for Al Kazeem with another York winner The Fugue and Kingsbarns notably weak in the market.

Kingsbarns, off the track for nearly a year is interesting on paper. A one time Derby favourite who is unbeaten but the market signs are negative.

It may pay to stick with Al Kazeem today – and do a rain dance while your at it.

Al Kazeem to beat Trading Leather with Declaration Of War. So the 123 last time is now 321. Clear as mud.

STAR FORECAST
(stake between 0.5 and 10 points)
6 points win AL KAZEEM