Quality action at Leopardstown on Thursday

Aidan O'Brien will be pursuing a scarcely believable ninth consecutive success in the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday, the last of the very successful Bulmers Secret Orchard Live evenings at the racecourse.

Age Of Kings flies the flag for the champion trainer, who has won the Group 3 contest 15 times in total. The Kingman colt was seen most recently finishing less than two lengths behind Shartash in the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh, where he had previously shed his maiden status.

Ryan Moore takes the mount and is bidding to take the spoils in this contest for a sixth time, which would place him just one in arrears of Kevin Manning, who sits it out this year.

While the master of Ballydoyle is no stranger to big race success at Leopardstown, he is also becoming very familiar with some of his biggest challenges in these high-class contests coming from his sons, Joseph and Donnacha.

Joseph partnered the first pair of his father's last eight on the trot in the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes when piloting Gleneagles and Deauville to victory in 2014 and 2015. Now a history-making trainer in his own right, the boss of Carriganóg Racing will saddle Roscommon maiden winner Voce Del Palio on Thursday evening. Declan McDonogh will get the leg up on Annemarie O’Brien's homebred son of Bated Breath, who was second at Leopardstown last time out.

The youngest of the O'Brien clan amongst the training ranks, Donnacha has enjoyed a fine run of late with four from his seasonal tally of nine winners coming in the past three weeks.

Curragh maiden winner Proud And Regal is a fascinating inclusion in the five-runner field.

The son of Galileo is quite aptly named, being out of the dual Group 1-winning Danehill mare Simply Perfect and O'Brien is understandably excited to see Proud And Regal make the next step.

"Proud And Regal runs in the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes," O’Brien confirmed.

"We were hoping he would improve for his first run and we were very happy with that and he's in good form since the Curragh. We think he has progressed a good bit from that first run. I think the track and trip will suit him so we’re hopeful for a good run."

Like Proud And Regal, the Ger Lyons-trained Hellsing is one-from-one after getting off the mark on debut at the Curragh, while Pearling Path is an intriguing entrant for first-season trainer John O'Donoghue, having followed up a very good maiden triumph at Fairyhouse with a brilliant runner-up finish in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Japan Racing Association commented: "We are very pleased about the Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes (G3), a testament to the friendship between the JRA and Leopardstown Racecourse to be staged again this year. It is obvious that this race is a gateway to the first class with New Approach (IRE), Cape Blanco (IRE) and Gleneagles (IRE) on the roll of honour.

"Japan and Ireland have been building a long-standing friendly relationship through horse racing, and in recent years, these ties have become particularly evident.

"The Japan Cup (G1) and the exchange race with Leopardstown called The Ireland Trophy Fuchu Himba Stakes (G2) will be held at Tokyo racecourse in autumn. We hope to make a toast welcoming Irish horses with Irish whiskey and Japanese whiskey this year and will continue to cherish the links between our two countries through horse racing."

Donnacha O’Brien won the first of Thursday's Group 3 races, the Silver Flash Stakes with Shale in 2020 and will look to emulate that success when saddling the improving La Dolce Vita on Thursday.

The daughter of Caravaggio opened her account at the fourth time of asking when beating Hans Andersen at Tipperary, a trait which is becoming familiar for the fledging trainer whose horses tend to progress rapidly as the season progresses.

"La Dolce Vita is in good form since Tipperary. I think seven furlongs will suit her. She’s a filly that should improve. She’s big so she should improve all the time throughout the year so hopefully she’ll run a good race too," O’Brien said.

A total of six fillies will go to post for the seven-furlong two-year-old fillies’ contest and among those chasing the lion’s share of E50,000 is the Jessica Harrington-trained It’s Showtime Baby, while Kevin Coleman will look for the biggest win of his training career so far when saddling course and distance winner With Love.

The field is completed by the Aidan O’Brien-trained Never Ending Story, Joseph O’Brien’s Zoinnocent and the Ger Lyons-trained Zarinsk.

CEO of Leopardstown Tim Husbands MBE commented: "We're delighted to welcome the Japan Racing Association as supporters of the Tyros Stakes and will be especially pleased to welcome representatives of the Japanese embassy to Leopardstown on the day. There’s a strong link between Japanese and Irish racing and it’s great to see four Japanese entries for the Irish Champion Stakes on Longines Champions Weekend, which emphasises that growing bond.

"I would also like to welcome back Glenvale Stud, Invesco Pensions and Donohue Marqees as valued sponsors to Leopardstown."

Chart-topping indie rock band Razorlight will perform after racing. For tickets and further information visit www.leopardstown.com.