Leopardstown Sunday Preview - 02/04/23

The first selection of the afternoon from Leopardstown comes in the Group Three 2000 Guineas Trial over 7f and Hans Andersen for Aidan O'Brien looks an improver.

Making his debut over 7 1/2f at Tipperary last June as a juvenile, he finished second behind a nice filly for Donnacha O'Brien, giving 5lb away.

Sent to the Curragh off the back of that run he went on to beat the talented Al Riffa by close to Two lengths making virtually all of the running.

Back over the same course and distance next time out he was second in the Group Two Futurity Stakes behind talented stablemate Aesop's Fables.

Upped into Group One company again at the Curragh Al Riffa reversed the form to win the National Stakes and although looking to go close from the front, Hans Andersen petered out into fifth behind some talented runners.

Now a three year old he looks the pick of the O'Brien runners in this race with Ryan Moore taking the ride.

Moving onto the Group Three 1000 Guineas Trial and we like the look of the Dermot Weld trained and Aga Khan owned Tarawa, who has bundles of potential.

Making her debut at Cork in September when just over four lengths behind the smart Be Happy, she improved massively next time out to get off the mark over course and distance at Leopardstown.

The way she pulled away from the field when pulled out to make a challenge was extremely talented and with a lot of scope to improve this season she could be overpriced in the market.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Group Three Ballysax Stakes which is seen as a trial for the Derby and a horse we are fond of is Alexandroupolis for Aidan O'Brien.

A three year old son of Camelot who was bought for 240,000gns looked a very smart prospect on his sole two year old run in September 2022.

Over 1m 1/2f at Galway, having had to bide his time behind runners, when Wayne Lordan found a gap he powered home to beat a staying on Espionage, who is his stablemate.

Related to Group One winner Kew Gardens, he has stamina in his pedigree and the further he goes the better he will become, especially on soft ground.

He is currently 16/1 for the Derby in June and we can only see his price contracting if going well in this, but it is interested to see him against stablemate Denmark.

Ryan Moore has chosen Alexandroupolis

Next up is the 1m2f Handicap where Starry Eyed for Aidan O'Brien could be well in off a mark of 82 and there looks to be better to come in the future.

Seen three times to date making her debut at Dundalk in September in a Fillies Maiden when finish 1/2 a length third, she then went to Leopardstown over a mile and finished another close fourth in a smart event.

Sent to the Curragh in October when last seen she again bumped into some nice one settling for a place again but now in handicap company stepped up in trip to a distance that suits her pedigree more, a mark of 82 looks workable.

The penultimate event of the afternoon from Leopardstown is the Handicap over a mile and the Jessica Harrington trained Princess Raj looks ready to win again off a mark of 74.

A winner at Listowel in June off 74, she was then bumped up the handicap and struggled in a few races but last time out at Bellewstown off 76, she ran a better race to grab a place.

Effectively 5lb better off on Sunday with 10lb claimer Dylan Kidd taking weight off and dropped 2lbs from her last run, she is back to a more convenient mark.

Soft ground is a worry but if handling it she will be in the frame.

The final event of the afternoon is another Handicap over a mile and the horse that takes the eye Khattat for trainer Paul Flynn with Champion Jockey Colin Keane taking the ride.

Showing the best of his form last time out when second at Dundalk behind a gambled on next time out winner Chazzesmee, in what looks calmer waters he can go close.