Leopardstown | Horse Racing Free Tips

Frankel’s Hans Andersen Back On Top

Just a notch below the top at two, TDN Rising Star Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Shadow Hunter {Ire}, by Arcano {Ire}) enjoyed the ideal confidence boost on his return in a depleted renewal of Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2,000 Guineas Trial S. on Sunday. Second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August and fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. back at that venue when last seen the following month, the 8-13 favourite was held up early by Ryan Moore as fellow Ballydoyle runner Carracci (Quality Road) supplied the pace. Sent forward early in the straight, the Westerberg colour-bearer took over a furlong out and stayed on strongly to score by 2 1/2 lengths from Bold Discovery (Bolt D'Oro), with Caracci three lengths back in third.

“Seven was plenty short enough for him last year and although we always felt he'd be happy at a mile we had others to slot in to those races so kept him too short,” Aidan O'Brien explained after welcoming his ninth winner of this prep. “It was my fault–he should have gone up to a mile and we think he'll get further than a mile this year. The plan is the French or Irish Guineas and maybe a French Derby.”

Pedigree Notes
Hans Andersen, who earned his TDN Rising Star tag when beating the subsequent National S. winner Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) at The Curragh in July, is the second foal out of the Listed Roses S. scorer and G3 Cornwallis S.-placed Shadow Hunter. She is a granddaughter of Cliveden Stud's stakes-placed Enemy Action (Forty Niner), a half-sister to the G2 Champagne S. and G2 Richmond S.-winning sire Daggers Drawn (Diesis {GB}) who produced the G3 Fred Darling S. runner-up and G1 1000 Guineas third Super Sleuth (Ire) (Selkirk). Also from the family of the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Indian Haven (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}), the G1 Gran Criterium scorer Count Dubois (GB) (Zafonic) and the G1 St Leger runner-up Kite Wood (Ire) by Frankel's sire Galileo (Ire), Shadow Hunter has a 2-year-old full-brother to Hans Andersen named Alonzo (GB).

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
BALLYLINCH STUD RED ROCKS 2,000 GUINEAS TRIAL S.-G3, €55,000, Leopardstown, 4-2, 3yo, c/g, 7f 18yT, 1:38.03, hy.
1–HANS ANDERSEN (GB), 131, c, 3, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Shadow Hunter (Ire) (SW & GSP-Eng), by Arcano (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sweet Irish (GB), by Shamardal
3rd Dam: Enemy Action, by Forty Niner
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GROUP WIN. TDN Rising Star. (450,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Westerberg,Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith; B-Sun Bloodstock SARL (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €33,000. Lifetime Record: GSP-Ire, 5-2-2-0, $82,326. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bold Discovery, 131, c, 3, Bolt D'Oro–Caribbean Babe, by Arch. ($50,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Marc Chan; B-Chc Inc. (KY); T-Jessica Harrington. €11,000.
3–Carracci, 131, c, 3, Quality Road–Butterflies (Ire), by Galileo (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP TYPE. O-M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs.J Magnier/Westerberg; B-Orpendale/Wynatt/Chelston (KY); T-Aidan O'Brien. €5,500.
Margins: 2HF, 3, 2HF. Odds: 0.62, 2.25, 5.00.
Also Ran: Empty Metaphor (Ire), Eyeeye (GB). Scratched: Sea Chariot (GB), Signatory (Ire).

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Marsha’s First Foal Debuts At Leopardstown

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday's Observations features a daughter of crack sprinter Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).

2.00 Leopardstown, Mdn, €12,000, 3yo, f, 8fT
TENDER KISS (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal out of the outstanding sprinter Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who not only garnered the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye and G1 Nunthorpe S. but also set a record when selling to M V Magnier for 6 million gns at the 2017 Tatts December Sale. Aidan O'Brien pitches the January-foaled bay, who sports the Westerberg silks, into tough company on debut with Ryan Moore opting for the stable's experienced Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the daughter of the triple Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

2.45 Doncaster, Novice, £8,000, 3yo, 7f 6yT
THEORYOFEVERYTHING (GB) (Frankel {GB}) debuts for Prince Faisal and the Gosdens, with the February-foaled grey being a son of the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. heroine Persuasive (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Purchased for 325,000gns at the 2021 Book 1 Sale, he has 14 rivals to deal with in this contest which was split into two divisions 12 months ago and saw the high-class Maljoom (Ire) (Caravaggio) prevail on his debut.

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Alexandroupois Centre Stage On Sunday

Providing it survives a morning inspection, with the ground currently heavy and more rain forecast, Leopardstown's intriguing Sunday fixture will see a trio of Classic trials flooded with a big Ballydoyle presence including the exciting 'TDN Rising Star' Alexandroupolis (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Due to make his eagerly-awaited second career start in the G3 P W McGrath Memorial Ballysax S., the centre of much attention at Rosegreen oozed class when beating his talented stablemate and eventual G1 Criterium International runner-up Espionage (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the extended mile maiden at Galway in September won by the yard's Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) two years earlier.

Moore's Choice…

From the family of Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), staying is going to be Alexandroupolis's game and Ryan Moore places his confidence in him ahead of the unlucky Criterium Arqana runner-up Denmark (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Mohawk Chief (Quality Road), who captured the seven-furlong Leopardstown maiden in October won by the stable's former talented Galileo duo Cliffs Of Moher (Ire) and Star Of India (Ire). Surprisingly, this renowned Derby trial has only supplied the Blue Riband winner once since 2002 and that was Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), not among the 11 Aidan O'Brien-trained colts to prevail which include subsequent Epsom heroes Galileo (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire).

A Familiar Tale…

O'Brien and Moore combine earlier on the card with another 'TDN Rising Star' in Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Ballylinch Stud “Red Rocks” 2000 Guineas Trial S., which unlike the proceeding G3 Ballylinch Stud “Priory Belle” 1000 Guineas Trial S. is light on overall quality. Ridden too forcefully when second in the G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh in August, Hans Andersen again did too much early when fifth in the G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. behind Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). Given that he had beaten that peer in his maiden at the Currragh, more patient tactics might see him regain his spark in a weak-looking renewal of this recently-upgraded contest.

The Story Is Still Young…

If the 2000 Trial lacks strength-in-depth, that cannot be said of the following 1000 Guineas Trial which could have a bearing on the picture for the Newmarket Classic and again it is Ballydoyle who feature prominently with the G3 Silver Flash S. winner and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac third Never Ending Story (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Bearing in mind the improvement her dam Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) found from two to three, it could be that she is still some way off a peak and it would be no surprise if she can make a leap as the 2005 winner Virginia Waters (Kingmambo) did from here to Newmarket. The stable also has the 10-length Naas maiden winner Dame Kiri (Justify), while opposition to Ballydoyle includes Martin Schwartz's highly-regarded Roscommon auction series race scorer Impact Warrior (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) and John Oxley's Naas maiden winner Madly Truly (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) from the always-to-be-respected Paddy Twomey and Joseph O'Brien stables, respectively.

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GAIN The Advantage Series Set for Third Year

GAIN The Advantage Series will continue to be supported by Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and GAIN Equine Nutrition for the third consecutive year. Last year's series was won jointly by trainers Pat Martin and Kevin Coleman, who shared an overall league prize of €5,000 worth of GAIN equine products.

After two successful years, this year there will be an added race at Tramore Racecourse. The race will be restricted to horses owned by a syndicate or racing club to support and encourage the growth in this area, and like the other races in the series will benefit from a 50% increase in prize-money. Each trainer will receive points for their successes over the course of the series through a grading process designed to give equal opportunity to each trainer to win the overall prize. The number of points per win or placing at each leg will be based on the number of winners the trainer recorded throughout 2022.

“I think the series has grown in strength over the past two years because it acknowledges not only the owner with the increased prize-money, but also the trainer with the league table, the breeder and the hard-working stable staff,” Philip Gilligan, Irish Country Manager, GAIN Equine Nutrition, said.

The series will commence at Cork Racecourse on Apr. 21 and then proceed to Navan, Ballinrobe, Tramore, Tipperary, Killarney, Naas, and Fairyhouse with the final at Leopardstown.

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