Leopardstown will suit Constitution River In this latest edition of Ryan Moore's World Pool blog the rider looks ahead to his mounts on the opening day of Irish Champions Festival at Leopardstown and the English St leger at Doncaster. All races at Leopardstown today and the St Leger at Doncaster are World Pool races. Leopardstown | Race 1: Listed Ingabelle Stakes I ride IBELIEVEICANFLY in the Listed Ingabelle Stakes. She’s a nice filly who broke her maiden impressively. She stepped into Group company last time and now drops back in class here. Seven furlongs could be slightly on the sharp side for her, but she is in good form and hopefully she can run well. It’s a competitive race, but she has plenty going for her. Leopardstown | Race 2: 3yo+ Handicap DORSET has been highly tried this season and drops into a handicap for the first time. He’s not obviously well handicapped off a mark of 100 but he is a Group winner and could bounce back down in grade. Leopardstown | Race 3: G1 HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes In the HKJC World Pool Golden Fleece Stakes, I’m aboard DARKNESS FALLS. He has had two runs so far and has done everything right. He ran a nice race on debut at Leopardstown before winning impressively over a mile at the Curragh. He is a straightforward colt and one that I’m really looking forward to riding. It’s the first time this race has been a Group 1, so it’s a very strong field, with plenty of the main contenders trained by Aidan and Joseph [O’Brien]. Shakespeare is a lovely horse for Aidan. He’s very well bred and was impressive last time, while Aix La Chapelle should be suited by the step up to nine furlongs. He’s a brother to Henri Matisse and is by Justify. Joseph runs three nice horses in the race, while Nola Soul, the Chesham winner, also goes for Fozzy Stack. Charlie Appleby sends over Quest For Stars, who is unbeaten and was most recently successful in a Listed race at Salisbury. The second that day went on to finish second in a Group 2 at Doncaster on Thursday, so that form looks good. It’s a highly competitive race. Leopardstown | Race 4: G3 World Pool Bet With The Tote Kilternan Stakes PIAZZA SAN MARCO will have to take a step forward on the form he’s shown this season so far but he was a bit better at Leopardstown up in trip last time. He’ll have to improve again to be involved here though. Sons and Lovers looks to have a good chance. I’ve ridden him before, so I know him well. Purview has improved this season and is unbeaten, so looks to be the one to beat. Leopardstown | Race 5: G1 Matron Stakes I ride PRECISE in the G1 Matron Stakes. She’s been running well this season and ran a good race in the Prix Jacques Le Marois last time against older horses. She still has work to do to turn the form around with Blue Bolt from the Falmouth and the Prix Rothschild, but she got closer to her in France and is still improving. I’m looking forward to getting back aboard her. Blue Bolt is the right favourite. She has been in great form this year and remains unbeaten. True Love can’t be ruled out. She’s a Guineas winner at Leopardstown, while Fallen Angel has won this race before. She usually runs her race here and the conditions should suit her. Leopardstown | Race 6: G2 Solonaway Stakes After a Group 3 over course and distance last time, ISAAC NEWTON comes here in good form and he has a good chance. It looks a competitive race. Quddwah has some very strong form, including when finishing second to Ombudsman in the Dubai Turf. He’s a very capable horse, although this will be his first run of the season. Leopardstown | Race 7: G1 Irish Champion Stakes We’re looking to get CONSTITUTION RIVER back on track in the Irish Champion Stakes. York didn’t go to plan, but we think Leopardstown will suit him better. He must reverse the form with Item and Almaqam, and I think he can do that, although we respect them both. It’s a very competitive race. Six of the eight runners have won Group 1 races, A Boy Named Suzie is Group 1-placed and Wimbledon Hawkeye is a multiple Group 2 winner. Doncaster | Race 5: G1 St Leger Stakes The St Leger is the final Classic of the season and is a World Pool race for the first time. Aidan runs four in the race, including Derby winner Christmas Day. He put in a great staying performance that day and has run well in his last two starts. He’ll appreciate any rain that is around at Doncaster. Pierre Bonnard ran a very good race in the Great Voltigeur. He’s also a Group 1-winning two-year-old and is a horse that we have always thought a lot of, so it would be no surprise to see him get his head in front here. We also thought a lot of Amelia Earhart, but she has been slightly disappointing this season and will need to bounce back to be involved. Action is winless this season but could run better than his odds suggest. Enceladus is a progressive horse for Joseph [O’Brien]. He won a competitive handicap at Royal Ascot before following up at Glorious Goodwood. He must step up again against horses like Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard to be victorious, but he is progressing nicely and deserves his chance.
