Irish Champions Weekend tips: Minding and Qemah to shine at Leopardstown

Macarthur can continue O’Brien monopoly in Champion Juvenile Stakes

Douglas Macarthur heads the ante post betting for next year’s Investec Derby and can provide trainer Aidan O’Brien with a seventh straight success in the Group 3 Champions Juvenile Stakes (16:00).

The colt flopped when last on his debut, but showed the benefit of that run when forging clear to score by five lengths over course and distance.

Douglas Macarthur won the race with real authority and is currently 16/1 joint-favourite with Coral for Classic glory at Epsom in 2017.

O’Brien saddled subsequent Derby winner Australia to win this in 2013 and it will be a major surprise if Douglas Macarthur does not land what looks a weak renewal with the minimum of fuss en route to much better things.

Qemah set for more Group 1 glory in Matron Stakes

In the Group 1 Matron Stakes (17:35), French raider Qemah looks a worthy favourite to make it three wins on the bounce.

The Jean Claude Rouget trained filly had some smart form to her name in three runs as a juvenile and has developed into one of the best three-year-old milers in Europe.

Qemah was simply stunning when showing a devastating turn of foot to beat Nemoralia by 1 3/4 lengths in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, and has since gone on to follow-up with a smooth 1 1/4 length success in the Group 1 Rothschild Stakes at Deauville.

The daughter of Danehill Dancer is a strong travelling sort who oozes class and has a potent turn of foot which marks her out as something special.

Qemah also hails from a yard which is enjoying a tremendous season, so everything suggests this is hers for the taking.

Irish Champions Weekend tips / Leopardstown bets

15.30: Aneen
16.00: Douglas Macarthur
16.35: Le Vagabond
17.05: Zhukova
17.35: Qemah (NB)
18.10: Awtaad
18.45: Minding (NAP)
19.20: Sikandarabad

Related

You’ll find more betting tips in the Coral news horse racing section.