Leopardstown, Thursday 11 June 2026 — Soft Ground Tips

Leopardstown, Thursday 11 June 2026 — Soft Ground Tips

Light rain is falling over Leopardstown and the ground is soft throughout. That single fact shapes this entire card. Horses who handle cut in the ground move up the shortlist sharply; those who need rattling-fast going move down just as quickly. Three races stand out as genuinely puntable, and there is a standout NAP at the bottom of the page.

7:00 — Ballycorus Stakes (Group 3, 7f)

Selection: East Hampton Each-Way — 9/2 (Boyle Sports, Betfred, LiveScore Bet)

East Hampton’s form profile is built almost entirely on soft ground at seven furlongs, and he arrives here in excellent shape after a 1.5-length second to Big Gossey in the Listed Gladness Stakes 75 days ago. That run deserves extra credit given how he was ridden from deep and still ran to within a neck of a proper Group 2 horse in Diego Velazquez over this exact trip and course last season. David Marnane has saddled him sparingly and this looks the right target.

The favourite Native Warrior has legitimate claims and a big run at Saint-Cloud in March on soft backs them up. But that surprise seventh at Naas 25 days ago, where Karl Burke’s yard is only posting a 15% strike rate in the last 14 days, leaves a question mark. At evens he carries no margin for error. East Hampton at 9/2 on ground he relishes, over the trip he relishes, is the value call.

Celestial Orbit is interesting back on soft and the Curragh Group 3 win in April showed she can go close in this grade. Keep her onside for the place at minimum. Zodiac Bear is very much one to note if you like a dark horse angle: this course and distance produced a stunning performance last year when he was on the wrong side of the track and still finished third, so there is a genuine argument he is well ahead of his mark.

5:30 — Irish EBF Fillies Maiden (2yo, 7f)

Selection: Cashel Queen — 9/4 (Boyle Sports, Betfred)

Donnacha O’Brien’s two-year-old won a Naas barrier trial last month in convincing style, sticking to her task well to see off Lily Bear, who travelled conspicuously well that day and should not be far away again. Cashel Queen now receives a 4lb pull from that rival under conditions rules, which effectively extends the winning margin from the trial. The pedigree reads well for seven furlongs and top connections rarely aim a debutante winner at a race like this without grounds for confidence.

Pisiffik Ginger, trained by Mrs John Harrington whose yard has been running at a solid clip (3/29 last 14 days), finished fourth at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago doing best work at the finish. The step up from six furlongs to seven looks a clear positive. She represents the main danger at 5/2 if Cashel Queen underperforms.

Star Glory with Colin Keane aboard got upset at the stalls on debut and never really got into it. There is clear improvement to come and the market will be worth watching before the off, but the field here is competitive enough to make her a speculative play rather than a confident one at this stage.

7:30 — Bulmers Live Apprentice Handicap (1m1f)

Selection: Abbey Actress — 15/8 (Boyle Sports, Betfred, LiveScore Bet)

Patrick McGettigan has a 16% strike rate at Leopardstown and an Achievability/Expectation figure of 1.64, meaning he consistently overperforms his market position here. That alone would make Abbey Actress worth a second look. What makes her a confident selection is the form underneath the price.

She has already beaten Coeur d’Or at this very course over 1m2f on yielding to soft ground, and the forecast soft conditions today suit her profile precisely. Her runs this season show a horse learning her job: good in handicaps at the Curragh on soft to heavy, placed over this course. The Listed assignment at Gowran was a step too far in class but that run should not be held against her in a handicap company.

The trainer JP Murtagh has sent out 5 winners from 33 runners in the last 14 days, which is a 15% strike rate and represents a yard in decent enough form. Coeur d’Or is the logical market rival and can run well, but the top weight of 140lbs and his age are mild concerns. Moyassr’s recent turf win at Fairyhouse was encouraging, but his sole run on soft was poor and this is a significant class hike in conditions that do not suit. Abbey Actress is the call.

Today’s NAP

Abbey Actress — Bulmers Live Apprentice Handicap (19:30, Leopardstown)
Odds: 15/8 — Boyle Sports (others: 15/8 Betfred, 15/8 LiveScore Bet)

Abbey Actress has form over course and distance in near-identical going conditions, has already put Coeur d’Or behind her, and gets Patrick McGettigan aboard, a jockey who consistently punches above his weight at this track with an A/E of 1.64. The JP Murtagh yard is ticking over, the soft ground is a positive, and at 15/8 there is genuine value against a field where the main dangers all carry significant question marks in these conditions.