RACING/Leopardstown Preview: After running soundly in both the Newmarket and Curragh Guineas, Democratic Deficit drops in distance and grade for this evening's Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown.
The Jim Bolger-trained colt has just four opponents in the Group Three contest over seven furlongs including the older horses, Zarad and Simple Exchange.
However, it's another classic operator in the filly Sanserif who looks the main danger to the likely favourite having run sixth, beaten just a length and a half in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Democratic Deficit was third the day before that behind Dubawi and Oratorio, a Group One placing that escaped him at Newmarket when badly hampered by the same Godolphin horse.
That first Guineas is important in this evening's context because it proved again that fast going is no problem to the colt and despite watering on the course over the last couple of days the surface should still be very much on the quick side.
That will be right up the street of the former Meld Stakes winner, Latino Magic, who tackles the mile and a quarter Silver Stakes along with other Listed regulars like Solskjaer, Sublimity and Napper Tandy. Dermot Weld's Merger represents the three-year-old colts but it's the filly Chelsea Rose who will be watched hard to see if she can build on an almost perfect juvenile career.
Chelsea Rose's Moyglare success came at the expense of the Epsom Oaks third Pictavia and the Irish Guineas winner, Saoire, form that will be very hard to beat if she is able to repeat it.
However, it will be a hard ask against older horses first time out and Latino Magic could be a value bet. Robbie Osborne's horse can't have it fast enough and should now be at a peak after a good run here last week behind Lord Admiral.
Jaguar On The Run is a lowly rated Ballydoyle runner but one that should relish the conditions and is well worth another chance in the seven-furlong handicap. Kieren Fallon's mount was a hot favourite to win a handicap at Cork on his last start but was afterwards found to be lame.
The Storm Cat filly, Oh How Lovely, is the Ballydoyle newcomer in the opener but Summer Scent's experience can swing the decision her way.
