Our Juvenile Watch columnist, Ross Millar, shares his thoughts on the big juvenile contests at Doncaster, Leopardstown and The Curragh.

Click here if you want to read Ross's previous columns this year.

31Serious Challenge (IRE)(42)K. J. Manning | J. S. Bolger, Ireland1 4 :4 0  Leopardstown 13/2

The quality of the juvenile crop at Ballydoyle has been the subject of debate on social media. For my money, they look well up to the standard you would expect from such a powerhouse.

However, I’m not sure that Auguste Rodin, preferred by Ryan Moore to Tower Of London, is as high up the pecking order as the betting here suggests.

His line of form against the Jim Bolger-trained, Young Ireland, is revealing. He’s beaten him twice - both times by about two lengths – but his stablemates, Hans Andersen and Aesop’s Fables have both managed to beat the same horse by significantly larger margins. As a result I’m happy to take him on at the prices.

Jim Bolger has a good line on the ability of Auguste Rodin, via Young Ireland, and I fancy his Serious Challenge to overturn the favourite.

His sire, Fracas, is known more for his exploits as a National Hunt sire than as a sire of two-year olds but Bolger has never been afraid to swim against the tide.

Longines Irish Champions Weekend 2022: Enjoy every race live on Racing TV!

Fracas’s best piece of form came when winning the 2005 Derrinstown Derby Trial, on soft ground. Serious Challenge has already demonstrated his liking for soft ground when delivering a gritty performance to win his maiden at Galway last time.

That win came over half-a-furlong further than this mile trip so I fully expect the experienced Kevin Manning to attempt to turn this into a real examination of stamina. He will surely go for home early and try and run the speed out of Auguste Rodin.

The unique thinking of Jim Bolger can be rewarded by his unusually bred charge bagging this prize.

Given the strength in depth Charlie Appleby has at his disposal, it’s perhaps understandable that Silver Knott has been installed as favourite.

His win last time was yet another step forward but he once again showed a worrying tendency to hang in the closing stages.

Admittedly it was less dramatic than on his previous starts, when he hung noticeably to his left, but the soft underfoot conditions are going to mean this 7f contest becomes a war of attrition and concern over his attitude make him easy enough to pass over.

I much prefer the Andrew Balding-trained Chaldean.

He showed tremendous heart to win the Acomb at York last time, having set strong fractions. He was headed after appeared to briefly idle but rallied well inside the final furlong, demonstrating an immensely likeable attitude.

He has a roundish action, which suggests he should be more at home on this softer surface. In his post-race interview his jockey, Ryan Moore, suggested stepping up to a mile would be a good move, but a straight 7f on this soft ground should deliver a suitably tough test of stamina. The battle he had last time will also not be lost on him and will also stand him in good stead.

Furthermore, Chaldean has already beaten Silver Knott, when winning his maiden at Newbury. He had the advantage of race experience it was still a commanding victory.

Frankie Dettori has enjoyed a far more productive season than at one stage looked likely. He can add further Group Two glory on this striking son of Frankel.

I’m always keen to take on favourites but Meditate has looked top drawer in everything she has done.

She will have to cope with likely softer ground than she has raced on so far but it’s worth remembering that her debut win came on a yielding surface.

She was possibly visually less impressive last time - looked to idle in the closing stages having led from the start - but it’s very possible that she is relaxing with experience.

Her dam, Pembina, has a pedigree full of stamina-laden performers so if it turns very soft, making it a severe test of stamina, I wouldn’t be unduly worried.

She can take her record to five wins from five starts and further bolster the growing reputation of her sire No Nay Never.

3.35 CURRAGH: THE VINCENT O”BRIEN NATIONAL STAKES

43Tower of London (IRE)(51)W. M. Lordan | Aidan O'Brien, Ireland1 4 :4 0  Leopardstown 5/2

Ballydoyle once again look to have a strong hand with Aesop’s Fables and Hans Andersen representing them. The former is hot favourite after his emphatic defeat of the latter at The Curragh last time.

At a far bigger price, I think it’s worth giving the Johnny Murtagh-trained Shartash another chance.

He looked smart on his penultimate start here over 6f, as he flew home to defeat the prolific Blackbeard.

Shartash was well beaten by Little Big Bear on his last start but to his credit he did stay on well, suggesting this step up to 7f will suit. Indeed, his dam, Shamreen, showed her best form when winning a Group Two over ten furlongs.

The Ballydoyle machine might be hard to beat but at an each-way price I’m confident Shartash can put up a bold showing.

Racing TV's coverage of Leopardstown on Saturday will be free to view between 2.15pm and 5.15pm.

Select any odd to add a bet

Enter a stake to place a bet

Bets are accepted in accordance with the bookmaker's rules and terms and conditions