Who To Follow At Leopardstown On Saturday - 02/04/22

Harry Haskell | @HarryHaskell4

Fri 01 Apr 2022 09.20

Leopardstown 13:00

10(6)

Point Gellibrand

J: Shane Crosse

T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien

N/A

Age: 3

Weight: 9-8

OR: N/A

Days: 224

Point Gellibrand goes in the opener here, in what looks a good maiden on paper, he could prove some value for the win and we can kick off the card with a winner.

Point Gellibrand, looks to have a good chance in the opener for trainer Joseph O'Brien - who at time of writing is operating at a 25% strike rate. Point Gellibrand is a son of Camelot and a half brother to dual group winner at 1m2f, Pretty Tiger.

He only ran twice at 2, both over 7f which on pedigree is inadequate, so he should improve for the extra furlong today.

He was a good second on debut to the promising, unbeaten, Atomic Jones who won the G2 Champion Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown over a mile. Point Gellibrand just failed to get up and finished a short head second.

With the form franked on debut, it's best to put a line through his run next time out, on soft ground in the G2 Futurity Stakes (7F) at the Curragh though he did plug on, he never looked dangerous.

He looks a high class, well bred colt who's ran to a good level in only two runs.

On good ground with this step up in trip, for a trainer in form, he looks a massive player in the opener.

Form: 25View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
13/08/22	CUR	10	Gd	9-0	6
14/07/22	LEO	10	Gd	9-8	1
06/05/22	COR	10	Gd	9-8	2
02/04/22	LEO	8	Gd	9-8	3
21/08/21	CUR	7	Sft	9-5	5

It's no secret that the Ballydoyle outfit is one of the strongest organisations in the world, Aidan O'Brien is arguably the best trainer on planet Earth.

He's just getting going this season, having 4 winners from 9 runners (at time of writing) thus far which puts him at a 44% strike rate.

With valuable races to be won, and eye wateringly well bred horses re-appearing, this meeting could well put Aidan O'Brien on the front foot early, with the Guineas now not too far away.

It's worth watching some of his horses like Contarelli Chapel (Caravaggio x Chenchikova) tackling the 7f 1000 Guineas Trial (G3) with a view to the spring classics.

Last year's record breaking Champion Jockey, Colin Keane appears to be going from strength to strength, season upon season.

Having notched up multiple group winners last season he'll look to get the ball rolling again immediately with Listed, and group races up for grabs.

He has a good book of rides including two strong favourites in Dr Zempf, and Sacred Bridge.

In and around the 13% strike rate this year thus far, Colin will be eager to get more winners on the board today, and he has a superb chance of doing so.