Kingsbarns set to outclass five rivals
Now a four-year-old, the son of Galileo has had his problems and this will only be a fifth career start.
He won both his races as a juvenile, a maiden at Navan and then the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster in October of 2012.
Kingsbarns, however, wasn’t seen again until having to be virtually pulled up when a remote sixth of six behind The Fugue in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last September.
Undaunted, O’Brien allowed him to challenge for the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot in October and Kingsbarns ran a cracker to take third behind Olympic Glory. He has between 13lbs and 35lbs in hand of this opposition and that speaks for itself.
Seven are set to face the starter in the Bulmers’ Live At Leopardstown Summer Racedays 2014 Fillies Maiden and the five who have run are certainly no great shakes.
It could pay to concentrate on the two newcomers, O’Brien’s Palace, by Fastnet Rock, and Tommy Stack’s Waltzing Matilda, by Danehill Dancer, with preference for the latter.
If O’Brien’s Johann Strauss runs up to his mark of 111 he will surely provide the answer to the Ross Nugent Foundation Maiden for colts and geldings.
He owes his lofty rating to finishing four and a half lengths second to Roger Varian’s Kingston Hill in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
Prior to that he was a 2-7 shot when beaten into second at Naas and it remains to be seen just how accurate the handicapper’s assessment actually is.
Perhaps Jim Bolger’s Fiscal Focus, second to another Ballydoyle inmate, Adelaide, on this track in October might surprise the likely favourite. He has a whopping 25lbs to find with Johann Strauss, but is guaranteed to handle the ground.
The nap goes to John Woods’ Black Spot On in the Leopardstown Club 25 Membership Handicap, despite the fact he is 3lbs wrong at the weights.
The selection has never shown anything on the flat, but has improved plenty over flights of late, taking a maiden hurdle at Down Royal last time.
