Leopardstown Tips: Oriental Dancer can strut her stuff

With all the focus on Royal Ascot, it's been a quiet week for Irish racing, but they get their first taste of action at Leopardstown, where they stage the second of their Carnival de Leop meetings to kickstart the summer.

They have an eight-race card at the Foxrock track, with action from 16:45-20:20, and conditions underfoot are forecast to be 'good, good to firm in places'. I have a trio of fancies to consider for my Leopardstown tips for Thursday.

Horse Racing Odds

17:15 - Oriental Dancer @ 7/2

The Dualway Coaches Handicap over 7f is for horses rated 47-70 and it looks a tight-knit affair on paper.

Some of these have been around the block a few times - Tai Sing Yet, Airgead and Notforalongtime amongst them - and so it might be worth chancing one that is less exposed.

ORIENTAL DANCER fits that criteria for the Mick Halford & Tracey Collins operation. The Dubawi filly began her career with Richard Hannon in Britain last year and shaped well at times without getting her head in front, being competitive in handicaps at the likes of Leicester, Newmarket, Windsor and Bath.

Since linking up with this training alliance she has had four runs at Dundalk on the Polytrack in maiden/handicap company and, again, has shown promise.

This is her first start since February and returning to grass should be a plus, while her best UK form was over this 7f trip.

From a mark of 64 and with Billy Lee taking over the steering, a big effort could be incoming.

17:45 - Tokenomics @ 9/2

Handicap debutant TOKENOMICS could have a key say in this mile contest for David Marnane. A gelded son of The Grey Gatsby, his best effort to date in four runs came on penultimate start as he tackled this course and distance in maiden company and finished fourth behind a useful winner.

He went to Tipperary since and was fancied in the market for a 7f maiden but, after travelling ominously well, he didn't finish his race off well and managed only sixth of 13.

That race was run on soft to heavy ground and it might be that conditions underfoot caught him out when asked for his effort.

An opening mark of 75 is about right and as a three-year-old taking on his elders, he gets his allowance now. He has scope to improve entering handicaps and there are FOUR PLACES in this Betfred Extra Place Race.

19:20 - Tiffany Mae @ 9/2

Jessica Harrington was out of luck at Royal Ascot on Wednesday, though Birdman ran a big race in the Queen's Vase, but maybe she can get on the scoresheet much closer to home with TIFFANY MAE.

The Zoffany filly was tried at sprinting trips in two runs last year and has been improving with each start this season.

Her third start in a handicap recently was at Gowran Park and she was fourth on her first crack at a mile. She is rated 1lb lower now, goes up once more in trip - which may unlock further improvement - and her in-form rider can claim 7lb this time.

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights