Horse Racing Tips: Derby contender in Ballysax features in Sunday 22/1 double

• Harrington could have a say in opener

• O'Brien's Ocean Of Dreams scored by 6L on debut

• Both should handle the heavy conditions today

• Serial Winners Fund: Rachael adds £20k to the pot during 2024 Cheltenham Festival

Leopardstown - 13:15: Back Versatile

An important day at Leopardstown this afternoon with the Classic Trials taking place although the ground will be as testing as it gets.

The opening 13:15 Maiden over 1m sees Jessica Harrington's Versatile away from the top of the market at 9/25.50, and shaped well enough on his debut towards the back end of the season as a juvenile at the Curragh.

Versatile finished fourth behind an Aidan O'Brien youngster with the benefit of experience and actually travelled better than the winner at the halfway point. Versatile's raw effort showed in the closing stages as he ran around a bit and also received a bump or two as the runners closed up at the end.

He seemed to act on the testing ground on that occasion and he steps up to 1m this afternoon from 7f.

The 3yo cost 235K and has a 1m4f winner in his pedigree, and I do like Shane Foley at Leopardstown as he seems to have his horses in that golden position off just off the race rail when turning for home.

Leopardstown - 15:30: Back Ocean Of Dreams

Aidan O'Brien's stranglehold on the Ballysax has come up short in the last two seasons with Alexandroupolis and Denmark beaten last year at 4/51.80 and 11/43.75, and Piz Badile's win in 2022 beat a trio of Ballydoyle runners.

Illinois could be the big Derby hope this year for AOB and he's 10/111.91 today to start his campaign off in the perfect manner here, however, his stablemate Ocean Of Dreams might be worth a dart here considering he has drifted out from 2/13.00 this morning on the Sportsbook.

He was very impressive winning a 1m Maiden at Leopardstown on his sole start in October and flew home by 6L to rout a field.

His rider Seamie Heffernan said he took two taps and was gone.

In terms of the clock that day, his final three sectionals were all by far the quickest in the race, and his 13.12 seconds penultimate furlong was perhaps the most impressive considering it was heavy ground.

In fact, with him handling the ground well on that run and testing today, he has to be a play. Whether he is up to the class of Illinois we will see but he looks a good staying prospect who will relish the 1m2f today.

Now read Daryl Carter's tips for Sunday