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With evening Group action available in Ireland, Thursday’s tipping column includes a selection in the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown…
Ylang Ylang is set to take on open company for the first time in the mile Group 3 Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown, and whilst the Aidan O'Brien-trained filly cannot be faulted as a Group 1 victor, her presence gives an interesting spin to this race. The Joseph Murphy-trained Lord Massusus appears to be a long price at current odds of 10/1, returning to a mile for the first time since taking the Listed Celebration Stakes at the Curragh in late June. Winner of this race twelve months ago, the gelding is arguably seen to best effect tackling this distance – although his second in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes and the more recent Group 3 Minstrel Stakes may be evidence to the contrary on paper. Whilst he lacks the Group 1 class of his market rivals, the four-year-old is definitely favoured to finish ahead of the disappointing Mountain Bear (currently 15/2) and it would be no surprise to see him pull off a surprise in conditions which undoubtedly suit.
LORD MASSUSUS – EACH WAY OR WIN – 10/1
Switching to Great Yarmouth, trainer George Scott could continue his excellent strike rate of 29% from the last fourteen days with victory in the ten furlong In Memory Of Carl Norwood (1936-2023) "Confined" Handicap. The stable is represented by the unexposed Caballo De Mar, who sits at the joint-top of the handicap with a mark of 65, but benefits from a 5lb apprentice claim. A son of Phoenix Of Spain, the gelding showed considerable improvement for the switch to handicaps and application of first-time cheekpieces at Windsor on 22 July, finished two-lengths third behind Pledge Of Allegiance despite suffering some traffic in running – hampered at the start and short of room entering the final furlong, with jockey Callum Shepherd reporting the three-year-old was slowly away. Further progression is likely with the cheekpieces remaining on and jockey Liam Wright has been going well on longer-priced horses for Scott, picking up a win and a placing from his last eight rides.
CABALLO DE MAR – WIN – 10/3