Leopardstown
Sunday, 12 April 2026 · 1m · Good To Yielding · flat · €11,780
Race Assessment
Competitive 18-runner handicap at Leopardstown with several fresh horses returning from winter breaks. The market is headed by Fixation off highest draw, with Syzygy the form pick after impressive Irish Lincoln third. Several angles to consider including course form specialists and horses dropping in class.
Key Factors
- •Many horses returning from breaks requiring fitness
- •Course form advantage for previous Leopardstown winners
- •Draw bias - low draws preferred over 1m at this track
- •Good-to-yielding ground suits most but may disadvantage heavy ground specialists
Going
Good-to-yielding conditions should suit the majority, though horses like Syzygy who excelled on heavy may find this quicker surface a challenge. The drying ground favors horses with proven form on similar conditions.
Pace
Likely steady pace given the large field and lack of obvious front-runners. This should suit horses with finishing kicks, particularly those drawn low who can get cover and make late moves.
Recommendations (3)
Merlin The Wizard (GB)
eachway8/10Confidence: 7/10Showed marked improvement at Dundalk last month when second, suggesting he's found his form for new yard. The low draw from stall 1 is ideal at Leopardstown, and his recent 23-day gap is perfect for fitness. At 7.5, he offers value with 4 places available.
Suggested stake: 2.1% of bank
Beat The Devil (IRE)
eachway8/10Confidence: 7/10Race-fit after busy winter campaign and recent winner at this trip. The drop back from 1m4f should suit, and low weight of 123lbs is a big advantage. At 19.0, excellent each-way value with guaranteed fitness edge over most rivals.
Suggested stake: 1.5% of bank
Vega's Muse (GB)
eachway7/10Confidence: 6/10Course and distance winner with solid form here last year. While the 192-day break is a concern, her proven course ability and being available at bigger odds than her fair chance suggests makes her an each-way value proposition.
Suggested stake: 1.2% of bank
Runner Analysis
Pallatine Hills (IRE)
Ran well in handicaps last year off higher marks but faces fitness concerns on seasonal return without usual blinkers. Good draw compensates for the layoff question.
- + Previously competitive off higher marks
- + Favorable low draw
- - 190 days off
- - Equipment change removing blinkers
- - Trainer out of form
Anvika (IRE)
Strong course form with runner-up finish here in valuable handicap, but the step back up to 1m from sprint distances is questionable. Long absence is a concern.
- + Excellent course form
- + Previous form at this level
- - 161 days off
- - Distance may be stretching stamina
- - Best form at shorter trips
Spent All Me Money (IRE)
Showed promise when winning at Naas but failed badly next time and has been absent for over 7 months. Needs to prove fitness and form.
- + Won off lower mark for current yard
- + Headgear retained
- - 236 days off
- - Poor final run last season
- - Trainer struggling for winners
Sonoran (IRE)
Limited progress in handicaps after winning a weak maiden. The Dundalk run showed some promise but needs significant improvement at this level.
- + Trainer in decent form
- + Some promise shown at Dundalk
- - Limited handicap form
- - 137 days off
- - High draw disadvantage
Syzygy (GB)
Highly progressive last autumn with three wins, all on heavy ground. Recent Irish Lincoln third was excellent but this quicker surface is a major unknown.
- + Excellent recent form
- + Progressive profile
- + Proven at this level
- - All wins on heavy ground
- - May not handle quicker surface
- - High draw
Little Miss P (IRE)
Lightly raced maiden with some decent form in better company last summer. Opening handicap mark could be lenient but long absence is concerning.
- + Potentially well-handicapped
- + Showed ability in maidens
- - 253 days off
- - Still a maiden
- - Trainer badly out of form
Battle Borne (IRE)
Primarily an all-weather performer who has struggled on turf. Recent form is poor and the surface switch adds further doubt.
- + Recent run should aid fitness
- + Low weight
- - Poor turf form
- - Struggled in recent handicaps
- - All-weather specialist
Vega's Muse (GB)
Course winner with solid form here last year. The 192-day break is a concern but she has winning form at this track and trip combination.
- + Course and distance winner
- + Decent level of form achieved
- - 192 days off
- - Trainer struggling
- - Needs to prove fitness
Walhaan (IRE)
Veteran with course form but recent efforts suggest decline. The drop in trip may help but overall profile is unappealing at this mark.
- + Course winner
- + Recent runs should aid fitness
- - Declining form
- - High draw
- - May prefer longer trips
Va Va Vroom (IRE)
Maiden winner here as a juvenile but failed to progress in handicaps. The wide draw from stall 17 makes the task even harder.
- + Course winner as a juvenile
- + Trainer has reasonable strike rate
- - Failed to progress
- - Wide draw major negative
- - 175 days off
Fixation (IRE)
Made immediate impact for new yard with Dundalk wins but the wide draw from 18 is a major concern at Leopardstown over this trip.
- + Excellent form for new yard
- + Progressive profile
- - Widest draw major negative
- - 114 days off
- - Unproven on turf
Navagio (IRE)
Former winner on soft ground but recent hurdles form was poor and the long break adds further doubt about current ability.
- + Previous winning form
- + Low draw advantage
- - Poor recent hurdles form
- - 186 days off
- - Trainer out of form
Merlin The Wizard (GB)
Showed significant improvement at Dundalk last month and the low draw gives him every chance. Recent second suggests he's found form for new yard.
- + Excellent recent form
- + Ideal draw
- + Proven at this trip
- - Regressive in recent years
- - Needs to prove turf form
Gotta Catch'em All (IRE)
21-race maiden whose best form is over longer trips. Recent Dundalk run was decent but the comeback factor adds uncertainty.
- + Ran well last time at trip
- + Relatively low weight
- - Still a maiden after 21 runs
- - 163 days off
- - Better over longer
Molto Amichi (IRE)
Consistent maiden who showed ability here last year but the 231-day absence including a hurdles fall raises fitness concerns.
- + Previous course form
- + Consistent maiden form
- - 231 days off including hurdles fall
- - High draw
- - Still a maiden
Loingseoir
Course specialist with three Curragh wins but hasn't won off this high a mark and the wide draw is problematic.
- + Excellent course record
- + Proven winner
- - Never won off this mark
- - Wide draw negative
- - 161 days off
Faoladh (IRE)
Course and distance winner with good summer turf form. Recent Dundalk run should have sharpened him up and the trainer is hitting form.
- + Course and distance winner
- + Recent run aids fitness
- + Trainer in form
- - High draw disadvantage
- - Needs to reproduce best form
Beat The Devil (IRE)
Race-fit after busy winter campaign with recent win at this trip. The drop back from 1m4f should suit and low weight is advantageous.
- + Race fitness guaranteed
- + Recent winner at trip
- + Low weight advantage
- - Only 11 days since last run
- - Yet to prove himself at this level
No Value
Progressive performer for new yard but odds of 4.33 offer no value given the widest draw disadvantage
Excellent recent form but all wins came on heavy ground - odds of 6.5 fair given surface concerns
Avoid
Primarily all-weather performer with poor turf record and struggling in recent handicaps
Runners (18)
| Pos | Draw | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | OR | Weight | Odds | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | Merlin The Wizard (GB) | Donagh O'Connor | R P Cody | 74 | 134lbs | 7.5 | 8/10 |
| 15 | 2 | Navagio (IRE) | Luke McAteer | Ciaran Murphy | 76 | 136lbs | 29.0 | 3/10 |
| 17 | 3 | Battle Borne (IRE) | Patrick McGettigan(5) | Patrick J McKenna | 71 | 131lbs | 51.0 | 3/10 |
| 1 | 4 | Vega's Muse (GB) | Keithen Kennedy(5) | Mrs John Harrington | 77 | 137lbs | 13.0 | 7/10 |
| 6 | 5 | Pallatine Hills (IRE) | Jamie Powell | Eddie & Patrick Harty | 66 | 126lbs | 10.0 | 5/10 |
| 13 | 6 | Beat The Devil (IRE) | Robert Whearty | Patrick Magee | 63 | 123lbs | 19.0 | 8/10 |
| 16 | 7 | Spent All Me Money (IRE) | Wesley Joyce(3) | Adrian Sexton | 75 | 135lbs | 51.0 | 4/10 |
| 14 | 8 | Little Miss P (IRE) | W J Lee | W McCreery | 73 | 133lbs | 15.0 | 4/10 |
| 8 | 9 | Anvika (IRE) | Robbie Colgan | Ms Sheila Lavery | 77 | 137lbs | 13.0 | 5/10 |
| 3 | 10 | Syzygy (GB) | Scott McCullagh | Daniel McLoughlin | 82 | 142lbs | 6.5 | 4/10 |
| 7 | 11 | Gotta Catch'em All (IRE) | Adam Caffrey | H Rogers | 66 | 126lbs | 15.0 | 4/10 |
| 10 | 12 | Sonoran (IRE) | Jack Kearney(3) | G M Lyons | 82 | 142lbs | 21.0 | 5/10 |
| 11 | 13 | Walhaan (IRE) | Nicola Burns(5) | Ciaran Murphy | 79 | 139lbs | 34.0 | 4/10 |
| 4 | 14 | Faoladh (IRE) | Andrew Slattery | Andrew Slattery | 68 | 128lbs | 10.0 | 7/10 |
| 9 | 15 | Molto Amichi (IRE) | Seamie Heffernan | Eoin Griffin | 75 | 135lbs | 12.0 | 3/10 |
| - | 16 | Loingseoir | N G McCullagh | M C Grassick | 73 | 133lbs | - | 0/10 |
| 12 | 17 | Va Va Vroom (IRE) | Reese Holohan(7) | Gavin Cromwell | 83 | 143lbs | 29.0 | 4/10 |
| 2 | 18 | Fixation (IRE) | Ben Coen | J P Murtagh | 79 | 139lbs | 4.3 | 2/10 |