Leopardstown Results Sun, 20th Apr, 2008

Heritage Stakes (Listed) of €50,000.00 4-y-o plus 1m.

1st - €32,550.00, 2nd - €10,000.00, 3rd - €5,000.00, 4th - €2,000.00 8 Ran

A good pillar to post victory here by Tian Shan who is now set to return to Leopardstown in two weeks time in a step up to Group 3 company reported winning trainer Dermot Weld. "He is a progressive colt who we bought for #45,000 at Doncaster and the logical step would be to come back for the Amethyst Stakes."

That is two from two starts here now for the winner since joining from France and he could well step up to be competitive at that level once he has an ease in the ground similar to today.

Alarazi tracked the leaders under Michael Kinane and finished late in the day to only be denied by three parts of a length. It was a second consecutive occasion in which he had to settle for the runner up spot as he finished late last week also behind the decent Red Moloney.

First time blinkers probably helped but he still didn't appear to the most straight forward of rides, yet in saying that there is undoubtedly a good listed contest in his armour.

Followmyfootsteps was always up there and having two good runs in both the Irish and French 2000 Guineas he would have been on the top of many lists going into this race but the 330 day layoff surely had a big stay in his failing to quicken and he should come on for the run. He may even not be out of place going further.

Namaya landed a premier handicap last season and this was arguably his best effort since then. Certainly a hard one to place with his high handicap mark but this was a decent effort.