The Lion In Winter expected to make successful return at Leopardstown
READY TO ROAR: The Lion In Winter will be expected to make a successful return to action in the listed Heritage Stakes on Student Day in Leopardstown. Pic: Healy Racing.
Placed in top company during a roller-coaster three-year-old campaign, The Lion In Winter will be expected to make a successful return to action in the listed Heritage Stakes on Student Day in Leopardstown.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Sea The Stars colt locked horns with some star milers in 2025 and, with another campaign in Group 1 company ahead of him, has been found an ideal opportunity to launch his four-year-old season.
The Lion In Winter has won only twice from ten starts, scoring on his debut at the Curragh as a two-year-old before landing the ‘Acomb’ at York.
He went through last season without a win but posted some excellent placed efforts along the way after his failure to stay in the Epsom Derby.
Those Group 1 placings included a second to Cicero’s Gift in the ‘QEII’, a third to Woodshauna in the Prix Jean Prat, a third to Sahlan in the ‘Moulin” and last autumn running a cracker to be third behind Notable Speech in the Breeders Cup Mile in Del Mar.
There were also a few blips along the way, including when last seen in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin in December.
Rated 117, The Lion In Winter is the clear standard setter in this listed contest and with Wayne Lordan on board, should be tough to beat.
Opposition includes stable-companions Expanded and Mississippi River and popular course specialist Mutasarref, representing Ger Lyons.
Wednesday’s action opens with a couple of fascinating maidens. And Johnny Murtagh’s Asakir, a Zarak gelding who shaped with plenty of promise on his recent debut at the Curragh, should be tough to beat in the Student Style Awards Maiden.
This fellow was doing his best work in the closing stages when finished third, beaten four and a half-length behind the 102-rated Shaihaan, who is set to step into a Derby trial in the coming weeks.
Asakir was a real eye-catcher that day and looks a type likely to take a significant step forward from that initial outing.
And if he does, Ben Coen’s mount might prove too strong for the Joseph O’Brien-trained Cannes, third behind stable-companion James J Braddock in a Curragh maiden last November on his only juvenile start.
The in-form Carriganog team also has obvious prospects with once-raced Knowinmeknowinyou, third to Amelia Earhart on debut here, in the opening filly’s maiden.
And she gets the nod over Donnacha O’Brien’s Camelot filly Eretria, outpointed by better-fancied stable-companion Emmeleia on her debut in a recent Dundalk maiden.
1.22.Knowinmeknowinyou
1.57.Asakir (Nap)
2.32.Switch From Diesel
3.07.The Lion In Winter (n.b.)
3.42.Mixed Feelings
4.17.Zipster
4.52.Vega’s Muse
5.27.Methgal
1.22.Eretria
1.57.Cannes
2.32.Diego El Queso
3.07.Mutasarref
3.42.Lady Kelly
4.17.Some Good Men Gone
4.52.I Bid You Ajou
5.27.She’s Ideal.
