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There is Listed action to enjoy at Leopardstown on Thursday evening with the 1m1f Glencairn Stakes and the 1m4f King George V Cup.
In the 1m1f Glencairn Stakes, Moon De Vega will be looking to retain her unbeaten record for new trainer Paddy Twomey, after scoring by three-and-three quarter lengths at Gowran Park on stable debut. Her previous form in Listed company would be a concern but the four-year-old seems to have improved for her new connections.
Aidan O'Brien's Salt Lake City cannot be ignored on seasonal reappearance after demonstrating a fair amount of ability during his juvenile campaign. Second in a competitive Curragh maiden on debut, he looked a potential Black Type performer when scoring by five lengths at Navan on his third racecourse start. The heavy ground in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Stakes would not have been to his liking and a better performance is expected.
Kerkiyra has a consistent profile with two wins and six placings from ten career outings. She is proven in Black Type company, having finished third over a mile in the Group 3 Park Express Stakes on her return to action at the end of March. She won a premier handicap at the Curragh over ten furlongs last season before a second in the Listed Trigo Stakes and will be difficult to oppose.
WIN: KERKIYRA
New Variant and Tower Of London head the betting for the 1m4f King George V Cup. New Variant will be chasing a third consecutive success after scoring by an impressive ten lengths at Naas over ten furlongs. He was a good winner at Tipperary on his only run over twelve furlongs and there could be further improvement to come trying a stamina test for the second time.
Aidan O'Brien's Tower Of London was an eye-catching two-and-three-quarter length winner of a Leopardstown maiden on debut over a mile. He was disappointing in two Group runs subsequently, including when a well-beaten sixth of eight behind Sprewell in the Group 3 Derby Trial Stakes. The colt holds Group 1 entries for the remainder of the season in the Irish Derby and the Irish St Leger, which indicates he is showing plenty at home.
Amusement represents trainer Donnacha O'Brien and produced some useful juvenile performances over 7f and a mile without winning. She returned after a lengthy absence with a nose success over 1m4f in a Leopardstown handicap and seemed to thrive on the stamina test. The Galileo filly can continue to make headway.
DARK HORSE: AMUSEMENT