Leopardstown student race day horse racing betting tips

Pearls Galore might prove best in a competitive renewal of the listed Gradguide Heritage Stakes on Student Raceday in Leopardstown.

Paddy Twomey’s five-year-old mare is a dual Group 3 winner, filled the runner-up berth twice in Group 1 company last season and might be capable of starting her season on a high, despite having to shoulder a 5lb. penalty.

Pearls Galore triumphed in both the Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse and the Fairy Bridge in Tipperary, both at Group 3 level last summer.

And she acquitted herself well when tackling top level action for the first time in the Matron at Leopardstown in September, failing by a neck to No Speak Alexander.

The daughter of Invincible Spirit was then beaten two lengths by Space Blues in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp in October and ended her season when beaten an extra length, in sixth spot, behind the same Godolphin horse in the Breeders Cup Mile in Del Mar.

Twomey has high hopes for Pearls Galore this season and today’s race looks a suitable launchpad for her campaign.

But she faces a tough task, against Johnny Murtagh’s Raadobarg, raised 9lb., to 107, for his smooth win in the recent Irish Lincoln on his Irish debut, and the Jessica Harrington-trained Cadillac, unbeaten in two starts around Leopardstown, highly-tried last season and, like Pearls Galore, carrying a 5lb. penalty.

Today’s card includes a trio of fascinating three-year-olds maidens.

And the racecourse debuts of Ballydoyle pair, Snowfall’s full-brother Newfoundland and Winter’s first foal Only, by Deep Impact, will be watched with interest.

But pick of the maiden action might be the once-raced, Joseph O’Brien-trained Above The Curve in the opening Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden.

This well-regarded American Pharoah filly ran a race full of promise on debut at this track last October, staying on well to finish third behind Villanova Queen (third in the Guineas Trial at Leopardstown last Saturday), with two of todays’ rivals, Thoughts Of June and Emily Dickinson behind.

In the one-mile fillies maiden, I’ll side with Aidan O’Brien’s Only ahead of Grian An Tsamhra, a promising third behind two smart fillies, Perfect Thunder and Toy, on her recent debut at the Curragh, and the once-raced Sierra Nevada.

And, 99-rated Boundless Ocean, might have the edge over debutant Newfoundland in the colts’ maiden.

Peter O’Hehir's tips for Leopardstown

2.30.Above The Curve (Nap)

3.05.Boundless Ocean

3.40.Haziya

4.15.Pearls Galore

4.50.Only

5.20.Mutasarref

5.50.Company Keeping

6.20.Anah

Next Best

2.30.Thoughts Of June