Niall Cronin’s Racing Tips – Leopardstown Sunday

Sunday is Leopardstown’s turn to host a Derby Trial with the Derrinstown renowned as Ireland’s leading trial and Aidan O’Brien is due to saddle four of the eight-runner race.

Stick To The Fillies
When the Derrinstown was initially priced up it was Idaho who was the market leader but with Ryan Moore aboard Shogun that may prompt a plunge on him. However, the jockey bookings could of course be simply down to the fact that Moore is all but certain to ride US Army Ranger at Epsom and maybe Heffernan is sticking with Idaho who could be his mount in the big one next month.

Richard Hannon has won two Derby trials this week and sends Ventura Storm to Leopardstown. This looks set to be a very intriguing race but a tough one to unravel and not one to get overly involved in. Idaho would get the nod but only a tentative selection and instead the 1,000 Guineas makes more appeal for a bet.

Now It’s Time For McCreery
Now Or Never was the selection from this corner for last month’s 1,000 Guineas Trial but she had to settle for second best behind the talented Jet Setting on testing ground. The ground is sure to be very different at Leopardstown on this occasion and we could be set for a form reversal.

Willie McCreery’s Radiantly was fourth on that occasion, five lengths behind Jet Setting.

But with a run under her belt and back on a nicer surface, Radiantly is picked to come out on top here.

In the Weld Park Stakes last season on her final start, Radiantly was fourth only going down by a length to Coolmore and the hope is that the run and the change in ground can bring about enough improvement for Radiantly to come out on top for a trainer in form.

Wayne The Go To Man
Wayne Lordan is booked to ride Radiantly for McCreery and the leading rider has a good book of rides at Leopardstown tomorrow. The Cork native is also booked on Mzuri who is the horse I chose in the Irish Field Nap competition this week.

Mzuri lines up at 4.10pm in the 18-runner John R Fitzpatrick Agricultural Contractor Handicap and by the very nature of the race it is ultra competitive and you could make cases for many but Mzuri is a filly who is very consistent and can finally open her account at the 10th time of asking.

With just 8st4lbs on her back, Mzuri is in receipt of weight all around.

Her last run at Gowran Park can be ignored as she just might appreciate a more galloping track like Leopardstown.

Prior to Gowran Park, Sheila Lavery’s charge had run a blinder on the all-weather at Dundalk behind Jamesie and hopefully she can lose the bridesmaid tag on this occasion.

Recommended Bets:
Radiantly 3.00 Leopardstown
Idaho 3.35 Leopardstown
Mzuri 4.10 Leopardstown

*Prices correct at time of publication.