Johnny Ward's Saturday tips at Leopardstown: "A lively contender at 33-1"

No day comes remotely close for Leopardstown on the Flat, and the first leg of Irish Champions Weekend never but captivates.Nine races will not feel like a drag, and those punters who have travelled over from Britain ahead of the Curragh may feel apt to take in the dog derby in the capital tonight: I promise you will not be disappointed.Well, maybe you will be disappointed but it's my idea of the dream weekend of racing in the city in which I live. Winners would help.The Irish dominate Doncaster but it is indicative of the era that Derby winners now run in the Leger because it is almost immaterial to their stallion prospects, which tend to be curiously limited given the prestige of the Epsom Classic.Enjoy an epic.

I am annoyed that this youngster is now favourite (she wasn't when we recorded Thursday's On The Wire - watch below), and she surely deserves to be favourite. 

She looked awesome at Naas on debut, and I thought Billy Lee was full of confidence when talking to Fran Berry on Racing TV on Thursdsay at Laytown. 

My other selection in this race is Miss Cashman Hooke at a big price. Natalia Lupini won this race three years ago, and her charge is by Starspangledbanner, who has had an incredible year, and out of a Galileo-bred mare, so it's a pedigree most people could only imagine. 

She blew the start at Naas, was nicely handled by Billy Lee, and still finished close up, with the form working out fine. At 66-1, it's far from out of the question she progresses enough over this trip to finish placed.

I'm keen to take on Darkness Falls here, and Jesus Green is a lively each-way contender at the 33-1 on offer. 

It looked a high-class maiden he finished second in here on debut, giving him crucial course form at a tricky track, and he's a near-certainty to improve.

Has come from nowhere to be a lively candidate for this. 

Floored the well-touted Cannes at Leopardstown when still looking really raw in front (first go at a staying trip) last time out, and the key Classic contenders this year look an ordinary bunch, so this race is crying out for a new contender to defeat them.

He is the same price (7-4) as he was at York when had to beat Ombudsman (which he did, despite the race being a mess). 

I envisage this contest showing him to be as good as he is, and I think he should be good enough to get the job done with two stablemates among the field. 

A race that has so much going for it in terms of horses and riders - I can't wait! 

In the Ingabelle Stakes here last year, she finished fourth, and all contenders ahead of her are now rated at least 102. 

Surely this has been the plan for her and, with Oisin Murphy booked, and her rating down to 89, a good each-way case can be made at 25-1. 

Last year was very much about her three-year-old campaign, said Eddie Harty less than a year ago.