Scandinavia can underline Ascot credentials at Leopardstown
Scandinavia and Ryan Moore win for trainer Aidan O'Brien in Navan. Pic: Healy Racing
Scandinavia should prove himself on course for next month’s Ascot Gold Cup by justifying odds-on favouritism in the Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes in Leopardstown tonight.
The traditional Group 3 contest has been used by Aidan O’Brien as a tried and trusted stepping-stone to the Gold Cup – Yeats (2007), Fame And Glory (2011), Order Of St.George (2016) and Kyprios (2022 and 2024) have all bagged the ‘Saval Beg’ en route to Gold Cup glory.
And Scandinavia, helped by his seasonal debut success in Navan, should continue the trend tonight as he takes another step on the ladder to, potentially, becoming the season’s champion stayer.
Well beaten in the Queen’s Vase in Ascot last June, Scandinavia, a striking son of Justify, went through the rest of the season unbeaten, landing the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket’s July meeting before outpointing solid stable-companion Illinois in the Goodwood Cup, an exceptional performance by a three-year-old.
On the basis of his Group 1 breakthrough in Goodwood, Scandinavia started favourite for the Betfred St.Leger in Doncaster in September. And he delivered again, digging deep to see off Rahiebb by a neck.
Scandinavia made his four-year-old debut in the ‘Vintage Crop’ in Navan last month, a traditional launchpad for Ballydoyle stayers.
Sent off 11/10 favourite, he always looked in control and, ultimately, stayed on dourly to beat Dallas Star (reopposes tonight) by a length and a half, with another of his rivals here, Leinster, in fourth.
Rated 117, Scandinavia must shoulder a 5lb penalty and concede weight to his five rivals here. But he should produce another typically workmanlike display to land the odds.
The Jessica Harrington-trained Suspicious Mindz, a five-race maiden, is napped to open his account in the Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Placed twice as a juvenile, this Bated Breath gelding chased home Tashakour on his seasonal debut in Cork, with Coasting back in fifth.
That form was boosted when the third Nil Bua Gan Dua scored in Roscommon on Monday and, officially rated 87, Shane Foley’s mount sets a decent standard here and is preferred to the Ger Lyons-trained Daring Heart and Joseph O’Brien’s newcomer Kirkland Sioux.
Kilbeggan shares this week’s Friday evening slot. And in-form Enda Bolger, successful with three of his last six runners, might strike again with Park That in the Shanette Superior Space Handicap Chase.
Winner of a maiden hurdle on this track more than a year ago, this six-year-old finished third to Rockbrook at Naas in January, when making his handicap chase debut.
And, last time, he shaped like a future winner when runner-up to Moudan in Navan, an effort which takes on extra significance when we note that his conqueror went on to triumph again, off an 8ln. higher mark, in a valuable handicap over in Ayr.
