group race in Ireland this evening

lots of racing today with 8 meetings (including an Arab meeting at Newbury, on which most bookmakers will not be taking bets), but pride of place goes to the Irish meeting at Leopardstown this evening, featuring the Group Three Desmond Stakes over a mile at 20.25 CET. Although there are 10 runners lining up, this looks a two horse race, with Gordon Lord Byron (Tom Hogan/ Johnny Murtagh) and Darwin (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien) clear top-rated and well clear on all known form. Gordon Lord Byron is a genuine Group One performer, winning the Foret last season, and recently third at Deauville to the super-smart Moonlight Cloud, but he is best at 7 furlongs and this distance may find him out. He has already met Darwin, who beat him easily enough at the Curragh last month, although now worse off at the weights. Darwin, who was trained last year in the US by Todd Pletcher, has only run 4 times and has clear potential for improvement, and we expect him to win.


Betting forecast:
1. Race: Three D Alexander - Trikala - Vallado
2. Race: Cottrell - Sophies Echo - So Devoted
3. Race: Polished Rock - Carried - Irish Bulletin
4. Race: Urban Moon - Kingfisher - Orchestra
5. Race: Darwin - Gordon Lord Byron - Custom Cut
6. Race: Rock Critic - Eastern Rules - Maundy Money
7. Race: Acting Talent - Il Palazzo - Nymph