Leopardstown, Thursday 20 August 2026 — Tips & Previews

Leopardstown, Thursday 20 August 2026 — Tips & Previews

Good to firm ground at Leopardstown sets up a cracking evening card, and the surface will sort out the field quickly in every race. Seven races, a Listed contest to lead off, two maiden and handicap puzzles to follow. Here is where the value lies.

6:30 — Bet With Tote On Racing & Sports Irish EBF Vinnie Roe Stakes (Listed, 1m6f)

Dermot Weld’s record at Leopardstown speaks for itself over the long haul, and Abbotsford at 3/1 is the obvious starting point. Back-to-back good efforts in the form figures, a win last time out, and Chris Hayes booked, this horse arrives in the form of his life. The 133 lb burden is the same as everyone else in the field, so that levels out. At 3/1 he is a solid favourite’s price.

The horse that really catches the eye at a bigger price is Wyman at 3/1 with Boyle Sports, trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley. Back-to-back wins coming in, experience over the 1m6f trip and today’s going, and a mark of 3/1 puts him level with Abbotsford in the betting. Harrington’s yard has ticked over at 2 from 31 in the last fortnight, which is modest, but the horse’s form line of 55-311 tells its own story: he has hit a serious purple patch at exactly the right moment.

Selection: Wyman (3/1, Boyle Sports / LiveScore Bet). Shane Foley knows this track cold. The form is hot, the trip suits, the ground suits. He gets the vote over Abbotsford in what should be a tight finish.

5:27 — Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden (7f, 16 runners)

Sixteen two-year-olds in a maiden is always a lottery, but with no form to separate most of these, backing the yards who are firing becomes the sharpest tool available. Joseph Patrick O’Brien sends out Togetherwearefree, an unraced filly with Declan McDonogh in the saddle at 11/2 across the boards. The yard has had 6 winners from 59 runners in the last 14 days, which is a healthy clip for this time of year, and McDonogh is a strong booking for a horse being introduced without a form line.

The Green Helmet at 4/1 has the benefit of two previous outings, posting a 7 and a 3, and that course experience over the big field of debutants counts for something. Andrew Slattery training and riding is an unusual combination, but the 4/1 price reflects market confidence.

Selection: Togetherwearefree Each-Way (11/2, Boyle Sports / Betfred / LiveScore Bet). Sixteen runners, three places, an O’Brien yard on a decent run, and McDonogh booked. In a wide-open maiden this size, 11/2 each-way is a genuine play. The Green Helmet is worth a saver at 4/1 for those who want exposed form.

8:00 — Dublin To Bahrain Fillies Handicap (1m, 8 runners)

Eight runners, and this looks sharper than the odds suggest for one runner in particular. Bella Colombia comes in carrying 125 lb, the lowest weight in the race, and the form figures of 352311 are outstanding. Back-to-back wins on the board, she has run over the mile and today’s going, and Ben Coen takes the ride for Willie McCreery, whose yard has posted 2 winners from 19 runners in the last fortnight. She sits at 11/2 with Boyle Sports and Betfred, with 5/1 available at LiveScore Bet.

The comment data dismisses her on ratings, but back-to-back wins in handicap company with the lightest weight in the field is a classic pattern for a horse on the upgrade. Handicappers often catch progressive mares a bit late when they hit a purple patch.

Pink Oxalis tops the ratings at 9/1, and a rating of 96 demands respect, but she is winless in recent starts and that matters in a race where at least two rivals arrive with momentum.

Glory To Be at 6/1 with Boyle Sports is the main danger: a winner two starts back, placed three starts back, and experience over the trip and ground. Grassick’s yard has been ticking along at 1 from 3 over the past fortnight, which is a small sample but a positive one.

Selection: Bella Colombia (5/1, LiveScore Bet). Lowest weight, best recent form, trip and going ticked. The each-way terms in an eight-runner field only pay three places, so this is a win bet at the better price.

Today’s NAP

Bella Colombia — Dublin To Bahrain Fillies Handicap (20:00, Leopardstown)
Odds: 5/1 — LiveScore Bet (others: 11/2 Boyle Sports, 11/2 Betfred)

Back-to-back wins heading into this, the lightest weight in the field at 125 lb, and a form line of 352311 that screams a horse on the upgrade. Ben Coen is a quality booking, the mile suits, and good to firm is exactly what McCreery’s mare wants. Handicappers can be slow to catch progressive fillies when momentum is on their side, and right now this one has plenty of it. The 5/1 available at LiveScore Bet is the play.