Inverleigh looks decent value at 4/1 with Betfair to land the spoils in the feature race at Leopardstown on Thursday, the Group 3 Ballycorus Stakes run over 7f (19:40).
The Ger Lyons trained colt showed smart form as a juvenile, winning in good style on debut over 6f at this venue when comfortably beating Burmese Waltz by 1 3/4 lengths before going on to be placed in Listed contests at Fairyhouse and Dundalk.
Those runs suggested there would be better to come from the son of Excelebration as a three-year, old and that view was confirmed when he made a winning return to action in a 10-runner Listed contest over an extended 5f at Navan in April.
After dwelling at the start, Inverleigh was held-up at the rear until make stealthy headway into second two from home.
He was then produced to take up the running at the furlong marker and stayed on strongly to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths from The Irish Rover. It was a very taking display.
Clear on adjusted ratings
Although only eighth of 10 to So Perfect last time out in a Group 3 over 6f at Naas, Inverleigh ran better than the 8 1/4 lengths he was eventually beat, as he got badly hampered a furlong and a half from home before keeping on nicely under a hands and heels ride.
That run suggested he was well worth stepping back up to the 7f trip of this, a distance he finished third over on his final start as a two-year-old.
Inverleigh also receives a handy 10lb from the top rated in the line-up Flight Risk, so on adjusted official ratings comes out 4lb clear of that rival – so he looks the one to be on at the odds on offer.
Flight Risk looks the obvious danger having ended a long barren spell when easily landing a Listed contest over a mile here seven days ago by 3 1/2 lengths.
It remains to be seen, however, whether he can back that up turned out so quickly and that makes the Jim Bolger trained exposed eight-year-old look worth taking on at odds of 7/4 with Coral.
In-form Onlyhuman the one to be
In the 1m 2f Fitzers Catering Rated Race (19:10), Onlyhuman looks a worthy 6/4 favourite with Bethard to notch a third career success.
This six-year-old is a useful sort who hails from the yard of top dual purpose handler Jessica Harrington, who has been back amongst the winners of late.
The son of Invincible Spirit comes into the race at the top of his game having finished an excellent second of 12 to Latchet in a decent handicap over course and distance on seasonal reappearance, before going one better to land a competitive 15-runner affair at Limerick.
Onlyhuman also ran a blinder in defeat last time out when going down all guns blazing and beaten just half-a-length at Navan.
The form of those races read very well in relation to this and, on official adjusted ratings, Onlyhuman has 5lb and upwards in hand on his 10 rivals.
It makes him the one they all have to beat, and another plus is he’s versatile as regards ground – so there is simply nothing not to like about his chances in this.
Red Striker, a former Sir Michael Stoue inmate, showed a good attitude when making a winning start for Ger Lyons when gamely holding on to land a 10-runner handicap at Cork last month and has the potential to do better still.
Should Onlyhuman fail to live up to expectations, then the four-year-old son of Sea The Stars – who can be backed at 11/4 with Betfred – looks the most likely one to take advantage.
Archer’s Up weighted to strike
Archer’s Up looks worth siding with at 11/2 with BetVictor to cash-on on what looks a lenient mark in the 1m 7f Korea Racing Authority Handicap (20:10).
This six-year-old, who hails from the yard of the shrewd Gavin Cromwell, broke his duck over the obstacles when landing a 12-runner maiden hurdle at Limerick two weeks ago by two lengths off an official rating of 116.
He now switches back to the level off a lowly rating of just 60, a massive 11lb lower than when landing a claimer at Dundalk in April of last year.
It makes Archer’s Up look potentially thrown-in at the weights, especially in relation to his hurdles rating. He could be 10lb ahead of the assessor and unlike the majority of his rivals is clearly in good heart.
So, with Gary Carroll in the saddle, Archer’s Up looks to hold all the aces in this 17-runner affair.
Mastermind, who can be backed at 7/2 with Paddy Power, has run well to be placed on both his starts last season and looks sure to make his presence felt once again.
The Noel Meade trained Harvest Bow is another with claims now stepped up in trip following an eye-catching run last time out when fifth, so appeals each-way at 12/1 with Boylesports.
