Horse Racing Tips
Leopardstown Tips Today: Best Bets On Thursday 6th August 2026
As well as putting on the Carnival De Leop, one of the most vibrant nights of summer racing in Ireland, Leopardstown will also be hosting two Group 3 races on Thursday evening in the shape of the Desmond Stakes and the Ballyroan Stakes.
Our horse racing expert Steven Mullington takes a look at the entire card, bringing us a selection in every race.
4.50 – 1m Maiden
Sea The Stars-colt WALL STREET is probably the answer here to a very open looking maiden with very little form on show.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Wayne Lordan, you can be fairly confident that this youngster will be well schooled and ready to run a blinder on debut.
5.25 – 1m1f Maiden
The Dermot Weld-trained HANDANI (NAP) already has a run under his belt from last season and will hopefully be more streetwise than his rivals in this.
The gelding ran a close second to Aidan O’Brien’s Cape Code last October, and I would like to think the Exors Of The Late Aga Khan representative will be in the thick of it under top jockey Chris Hayes.
6.00 – 1m Desmond Stakes (Group 3)
David O’Meara’s British raider AUDIENCE (NB) shares top weight of 9st 9lb and is ridden by champion jockey Colin Keane.
The seven-year-old finished a very close second at Leopardstown in June and followed it up with a solid Third in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh on 19 July. This seasoned Group campaigner should appreciate the drop down in class.
6.35 – 1m4f Ballyroan Stakes (Group 3)
LAYFAYETTE is a highly experienced nine-year-old trained by Noel Meade. He won last time out and represents a solid option for punters seeking to take on the unexposed younger types.
Winner of 11 of his 50 career starts, he really is a horse to reckoned with at this level and he looks certain to finish on the podium once more.
7.10 – 7f Handicap
After the excitement of two Group 3’s its back to the bread and butter stuff, and I shall be taking an each-way punt on the Peter Fahey-trained GORDON BENNETT at a price in our horse racing betting.
The eight-year-old has performed well after an extended break before and he’s adaptable to any surface, as his efforts at Laytown have so proved.
Dylan Browne Mcmonagle is an excellent jockey booking, and with the going conditions in his favour, odds of around 16/1 look generous.
7.45 – 1m1f Handicap
With three duck eggs to his name this season, you would understandably pass over DANCING STEVE on form figures alone, but if you dig deeper you will find that he is no forlorn hope in this contest. His latest run at Ballinrobe was solid and he was there with a fighting chance two furlongs from home.
Jack Kearney takes a further 3lbs off his already low weight and his Highland Reel pedigree really stands out to me, especially over this distance.
8.20 – 1m7f Handicap
These amateur races are often swerved by the betting public but if I was forced to side with a runner in it, then MISS GITANA would be my pick.
Serena Brotherton has farmed these type of races over the years, and her mount today showed plenty of encouragement at Leopardstown a fortnight ago.
Currently the second favourite in our sports betting, the five-year-old is worth a betting interest.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
