The Group 3 Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes takes centre stage at Leopardstown on Thursday evening with seven runners scheduled to line up in the one-mile contest. Our expert editor provided a runner-by-runner guide to the feature contest below, alongside an exclusive customer offer from bet365, which is offering £50 In Free Bets to new customers when you sign-up and bet £10.
Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes – Leopardstown (1m, 7:20pm Thursday)
Charterhouse (John Joseph Murphy, Shane Foley)
Useful gelding who was highly tried at Group level during her two-year-old campaign. Landed a minor event at Navan on her second start at three last season but failed to build on that success with some disappointing efforts back against tougher opposition toward the end of the year. Resumed winning ways over a mile in a handicap at Killarney most recently but is yet to make his mark at this sort of level and looks set to struggle once more.
Marbling (Gery Lyons, Garry Carroll)
Kingman mare who largely struggled for consistency during her four-year-old campaign last season before gaining her second career victory in a handicap at Dundalk over seven furlongs back in October. Shaped in need of her return to action at Gowran Park but got back on track with a creditable third at the Curragh on her penultimate outing. Returned to Group 3 company for just the second time when prevailing by a nose in the Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse last time out under Gary Carroll and is entitled to plenty of respect off the back of that performance.
Raadobarg (Johnny Murtagh, Ben Coen)
Former Roger Varian colt who was quick to make his mark on Irish soil earlier this season. Comfortably landed the valuable Lincolnshire handicap over a mile at the Curragh in March on his stable debut for Johnny Murtagh and followed up in a similar fashion at Tipperary less than a month later. Made no impression on his penultimate start in Listed company over at Longchamp but kept on well when chasing home Wexford Native in the Celebration Stakes when last seen at the Curragh. Could have done with a stronger gallop last time out but may get the race run to suit here and holds obvious claims.
Boundless Ocean (Jim Bolger, Kevin Manning)
Teofilo colt who sets the standard with a mark of 110. Highly tried during his juvenile campaign without getting his head in front but his form has certainly improved at three. Strong at the finish when shedding the maiden tag over ten furlongs at Leopardstown back in April and was far from disgraced when finishing third behind Hannibal Barca over that same trip at the Curragh in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes in May. Set a tall task when finishing sixth in the Irish Derby back in June but hit back with a bang when producing a smart effort when thumping five rivals over 1m1f in the Meld Stakes last time out. Drop back to a mile is somewhat of a surprise but clearly has the ability to land this and may kick on from that latest emphatic victory.
Eskimo Komet (Luke Comer, Chris Hayes)
Lightly raced son of Red Jazz who got off the mark at the second attempt at Dundalk back in March. Finished last at 150/1 on his first crack at Listed level in May but ran much better when finishing fourth back in handicap company at Naas last time out. Has plenty on his plate tackling Group 3 opposition for the very first time on Thursday and would certainly be a surprise winner.
Juncture (Ger Lyons, Colin Keane)
Remains relatively unexposed after six career starts but confirmed that she was a filly to follow when thumping her seven rivals by six lengths in a Listed event over a mile at Dundalk on her seasonal reappearance. Failed to confirm that promise when finishing down the field in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May but bounced back towards the end of the month when finishing ahead of Voice Of Angels in a valuable handicap at the Curragh. Course form figures of 1-2 entitles her to plenty of respect and she could be set to run a big race on her return from 81 days off the track.
Voice Of Angels (Joseph O’Brien, Dylan Browne McMonagle)
Dark Angel filly who recorded her second career victory with an impressive display in a minor event at Navan earlier in May. Wasn’t beaten far in seventh in Listed company over at Longchamp on her following start and certainly went down as an eye-catcher when finishing half a length behind higher-rated rivals in the Listed Rouge Stakes at Killarney last month. Didn’t enjoy the run of the race when meeting interference over seven furlongs at Galway when last seen but could be the type to get on track now back at her optimum trip and she is not discounted.
Desmond Stakes Verdict
This Group 3 contest appears to be fiercely competitive despite the lack of numbers and plenty come into this with claims in some shape or form. Johnny Murtagh landed last year’s renewal with Create Belief and will be hoping Raadobarg can repeat the trick in this year’s renewal. The four-year-old will need a strong pace to be seen to the best effect but could be up against a talented rival in the shape of Jim Bolger’s BOUNDLESS OCEAN. The Teofilo colt has run well in defeat at a variety of trips this term but certainly looked as if he was back to something like his best when destroying his five rivals in the Group 3 Meld Stakes over nine furlongs last time out. Although strong at the finish on that occasion, Jim Bolger’s colt isn’t short of pace and should be able to cope with the drop back to a mile on Thursday evening. Juncture appears to be the pick of Ger Lyon’s pair and can fight it out for third with Voice Of Angels.
- BOUNDLESS OCEAN
- Raadobarg
- Juncture
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