Group Three Ballylinch Stud 1000 Guineas Trial Leopardstown Guide 2023

99-rated runner for Mrs John Harrington who arrives here on the back of finishing second in a group three over 6f at Curragh last August. She hasn’t spent any time out of the top three in her career so far, finishing third of 24 at Naas and first of nine at Curragh prior to her last outing, both over 5f.

A decent sprinter who suits the trip and looks well weighted to do well here at this level again.

One of the more experienced runners in this contest, La Dolce Vita has been running at this level on her last four outings after winning the Glenvale Stud Race at Tipperary last June over 7f. She was third in a group three over this C&D before finishes of sixth, seventh and fifth at Tipperary and Curragh (twice) since that run.

Looks unlikely to strike here on that form but does have experience at this sort of level.

Three-year-old filly for Kieran Cotter who won her last outing at Newmarket last October, beating Queen Olly by a length and a half to claim success amongst class one company. That was her first win since her debut at Curragh in May last year having finished in the top four on every occasion before that win at Newmarket throughout 2022.

Can be in with a shout if continuing that form after being off the track for 156 days.

Three-year-old for Joseph O’Brien who has been off the track for over 200 days, following her eighth-place finish in the Fillies’ Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at Curragh in September. That had followed what was a very promising run at the same course in August, finishing third behind Olivia Maralda and winner Meditate at 12/1.

She won on her only outing here over this course and should be in with a chance if excusing that last run and being back down in class here should help her too.

Three-year-old filly for Aidan O’Brien who made her debut last year at Curragh, finishing sixth of 18. Landed victory at the third time of asking at Naas over 5f before entering group three company, finishing seventh and fifth on those two outings at Curragh over 6f and 7f.

Looks a bit unlikely that she will be able to win this on the back of those runs but this filly should be respected, coming from O’Brien’s yard.

The first of Aidan O’Brien’s runners in this contest is Never Ending Story, who hasn’t finished outside the top four on all six occasions in her career so far. She won here at this level at this course last July over 7f, beating Zoinnocent by half a length before finishing third of seven at Deauville in August.

Her most recent run in group one company was at Curragh, where she came fourth of 11 before a solid third of 12 at ParisLongchamp last time out in October.

Returns after a fair break to tackle this contest and has to be in with a shout dropping back down to a level where she has tasted success before.

Three-year-old filly who arrives here in decent form, winning her latest outing over 7f at this course in September last year, beating Library by two and a half lengths to claim class on success. That followed a Fillies’ Group Three run where she finished fourth after a group two fourth-place finish at Curragh in June.

She has a bit of experience in this sort of company that should serve her well here and currently holds market favouritism, although this contest may be an open one with several in with chances.

Aidan O’Brien sends three for this race and Dame Kiri is the second of those runners, and she won convincingly last time out at Naas over 5f, beating Mere Accountant by a massive margin of ten lengths. That was her first win on the flat, after coming fourth in a group three over 1m at Curragh in August last year.

That last victory suggests a shorter distance favours her, and she also finished third of eight on debut at this course over this trip last year, so she should be on to watch and not dismiss following that emphatic success last time out.

Joseph O’Brien sends two for this race and Madly Truly is the second of those runners as well as Thornbrook. She has finished second at this course on debut over 7f before following that with a win at Naas over this distance last time out in August last year, beating Sibyl Charm by a head at 11/10 favourite.

Comes from a good yard and is weighted to do well here at 93 but a couple of other runners have been in and around this company which may make it tougher. Her first two runs have provided a lot of promise, though.

Three-year-old filly for David Geary who won her last race at Curragh over this trip in October last year, beating Azazat by half a length to claim victory in 14-runner maiden after finishing fourth and fifth on her first two runs at Curragh again and Limerick in June.

Difficult to make a case for her in this sort of company as she makes her first step amongst more experienced grouped horses. Would be a big surprise if she pulled it off.

Tarawa enters grouped company for the first time, after two runs on the flat at Cork and this C&D last time out. At Cork, she finished fifth of seven at 7/2 behind the likes of Be Happy and Foniska before stepping up to win over 7f here in October, ahead of Bold As Love by just over two lengths.

Steps into grouped company here following that success and the experience of this track will do her the world of good, but it may not be enough to win in this company. However, she is unexposed at this level and there should be much more improvement with all these runners being three-year-olds.

Paddy Twomey filly who has spent 230 days off the track after her winning debut over 7f at Roscommon in August last year at 5/4 favourite. She beat Goa Gajah by half a length, who has gone on to finish second and third on his last two outings on the flat at Cork and Naas since.

Difficult to predict her chances on her first run for a while and it being her first foray into grouped company, but this looks an open contest.

96-rated filly for Jim Bolger who hasn’t managed to make her mark at this level, despite a decent run when fifth of 11 six lengths behind winner Cairo here in the Group Three Killavullan Stakes over 7f in October.

Winner on debut at Cork back in September before stepping up to this sort of level, where she hasn’t managed to break into the top three and this is not easy after being off 169 days.

Donnacha O’Brien’s second filly in this race is Not Even Close, who arrives here off the back of one career run at Dundalk last September, where she held of Perseids by a neck to win on debut at 4/1.

Has been off the track 191 days since that success which makes it difficult to weigh up her chances of victory in this company.