The feature race at Leopardstown on Thursday 24 August sees a highly-regarded Aidan O’Brien colt return after a lay-off – and our NAP selection is fancied to spoil the party.

Away from York’s Ebor Festival, this Listed contest over 1m6f at Leopardstown is, for me at least, the most fascinating spectacle on Thursday.

Alexandroupolis, one of the major talking horses going into the current Flat season, makes his return from a 144-day break for the maestro Aidan O’Brien.

The latter has already warned punters that his three-year-old son of Camelot, who is clearly held in the highest regard, will “improve drastically” for the run, which is enough to put me off in this company.

Perhaps it’d be a better idea to invest in the 16/1 about him winning the Betfred St Leger at Doncaster on September 19 on the back of his trainer’s words.

The one I fancy for the Vinnie Roe Stakes on Thursday is Ger Lyons’ hat-trick seeking WALTHAM.

Sporting those famous Juddmonte silks, this son of the late Roaring Lion has so far bolted up in a couple of similar events at the track and looked emphatic in doing so.

He beat the 86-rated Picture Of A City, who had Esquiline (88) a further 3½L behind, by a widening six lengths that day, giving the impression we’re looking at a horse right out of the top drawer.

The selection looks ground versatile having won on Good and Soft already, and as already alluded to he has a major fitness edge over his main market rival.

Of the other six, I wouldn’t rule out Dermot Weld’s Harbour Wind who steps up markedly in trip following a wildly-impressive 7L success in the mud at Navan last month, but I’d frankly be surprised if the rest were up to beating the top two in the betting.