Tony Keenan returns with one each-way selection on the card at Leopardstown this afternoon.
Irish racing tips: Sunday October 19
0.5pts e.w. Mr Rango in each-way in 4.00 Leopardstown at 14/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral 1/5 1,2,3,4)
Aidan O’Brien had himself a day at Leopardstown yesterday with six of the seven winners, building on an already excellent record with his Irish runners during October. The slow ground and strong winds then seemed to play to the strengths of his stamina-laden types, and more of the same can be expected with conditions today with more rain having arrived overnight.
The going is currently soft, soft to heavy in places with further rainfall given this morning.
Shaool has a bit to find with some higher rated rivals in the Trigo Stakes at 3:26 but I am not sure all of them can run to their marks and she looks well-suited by conditions. After winning here in June on an evening when the ground turned testing, she was repeatedly better than the form in defeat before winning the Northfields in taking style at the Irish Champions Festival.
That race was run at a strong pace and emphasised stamina, producing a good Timeform timefigure, and has received a couple of boosts in recent days from Retracement and Crown Of Oaks, while her trainer Johnny Murtagh does well with improving sorts and is having his best season yet in terms of winners. Her price has shortened since declarations, however.
Another interesting runner is Sharanga for Dermot Weld. He might be the biggest ‘habit trainer’ around, this meeting in general and this race in particular long being preferred targets. Since 1997, he has won this race eight times from 24 runners, and while Sharanga has a lot to find, the trainer angle is strong.
The Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire Stakes at 2:25 is more difficult. Mutasarref has an excellent record here and ran well over course and distance last time but had the benefit of an outer track bias then and may not want the ground too testing.
Fingerpaint was unlucky at Tipperary in the Fairy Bridge when badly hampered at the top of the straight, doing well to finish third in the circumstances, but was taken out on soft earlier in the year while last year’s winner Norwalk Havoc would have a chance if it became a slog.
Even Serengeti, whose 2025 was a car crash prior to winning at Naas last Saturday, has claims but this race had me going around in circles and the Bahrain Turf Club October Handicap (4:35) is similar.
Retracement won during the week but had an ideal setup then as he got a lead from a rival that curled up late, and his attitude remains suspect while Railwayview Lady is at least a three-year-old on the up. She backed up a surprise maiden win with a fine handicap debut last time, conceding first run to a rival that has won again since.
Lips Freedom ran well when fifth in the race last year and his recent return from a break wasn’t devoid of promise, but this is one that can be left alone.
More appealing is the Christmas Festival Tickets On Sale Now Handicap at 4:00 where MR RANGO looks overpriced.
He was a force in better races in the early part of the 2024 season, including an impressive win over course and distance off 79, but missed some time afterwards and went out of form.
There have been more positive signs lately, most notably last time over a mile at the Curragh when he had a wide trip and travelled well before getting outpaced two furlongs out and was forced into a pocket before keeping on again late.
It looks like he would benefit from a stiffer test and/or stronger handling, and he gets both today as he steps up in distance and a senior rider takes over while this is the weakest race he has run in for quite some time off a falling mark.
There is also the small matter of the BOYLE Sports JT McNamara Munster National Handicap Chase at 4:15 at Limerick but the available prices largely matched my own, so the focus will remain on flat racing for one more week anyway.
Preview posted at 0850 on 19/10/25
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