Sparan Nua can return to winning ways at Leopardstown
Sparan Nua made it three wins from three starts in the Munster Oaks at Cork. Pic: Healy Racing
Sparan Nua can get back to winning ways in the Group 3 Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes, the twin feature race on Thursday’s Leopardstown card.
The Jim Bolger-trained Dawn Approach filly defied market expectations when bolting up at odds of 25-1 on debut at Naas in May before following up at Gowran Park just 11 days later.
She was then pitched in Group 3 company for her third start, the Munster Oaks at Cork, where she took the step up in class in her stride to make it three wins from three starts.
On the back of that run, Sparan Nua was supplemented for the Irish Oaks at a cost of €50,000, a decision that was vindicated by her running a big race to finish third behind impressive winner Johanna Walsh.
While no match for the winner, Sparan Nua would probably have finished second had she enjoyed better luck in running.
One possible negative for her prospects on Thursday is that this assignment represents a significant drop in trip but her debut success came over a mile while her Gowran win came over nine furlongs so she clearly has pace as well as stamina, a potent mixture she can use to her advantage.
The Ballyroan Stakes, the other Group 3 on the seven race card, looks a good opportunity for Ethical Diamond to get off the mark for 2026.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old excelled on the Flat last year, winning the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot, the Ebor at York, and, most remarkably, the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.
Ethical Diamond’s winning sequence came to a halt when fifth in the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March and he was again down the field in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out.
However, the task facing him here looks far less taxing and he ought to get the job done in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Elsewhere on the card, Hard Promises can make it third time lucky by winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
Third on debut at Cork in May, the Andrew Oliver-trained Pinatubo colt again found two too good at Navan last time out. However, Summer Is Tomorrow, runner-up to South Island at Navan, has since enhanced the form by bolting up at Gowran Park last month.
That bodes well for Hard Promises’ prospects here and he should go very close.
Thursday’s jumps fare comes from Sligo with the most appealing bet on a largely unappealing card coming in the sixth race on the card, the Mulhern Leonard Chartered Accountants Maiden Hurdle, where Cut The Rope can land the spoils for Eddie and Patrick Harty.
4.50 Francillon
5.25 Hard Promises (NB)
6.00 Sparan Nua (Nap)
6.35 Ethical Diamond
7.10 Launch Time
7.45 Jasmine Affanalis
8.20 He Who Dares
4.50 Wall Street
5.25 Handani
6.00 Audience
6.35 Endorsement
7.10 Pete's Dream
7.45 Sinbad My Dad
8.20 Chutzpal
4.40 Raydamann
5.15 Circus Hill
5.45 Hillhead Runner
6.20 Il Pirata
6.55 Cut The Rope
7.30 Jupiter Du Gite
8.05 Peat Sounds
4.40 God Of Thunder
5.15 Sea Feliz
5.45 Manoir De Mirande
6.20 Frontier Rose
6.55 Minella Moon Shine
7.30 You Make Me Smile
8.05 Tanga Mugi
