Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action.
12:45 Leopardstown
Botani (best priced at 33/1) outran odds of 50/1 to finish 5th in this race last season and the form of that race is working out extremely well. The winner Heaven Help Us went on to win the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham festival, the second Global Equity finished 2nd in two listed hurdles since, the third Telmesomethinggirl won the mares novice hurdle at the Cheltenham festival on her next start and even the fourth Lady Breffni won a valuable handicap at Fairyhouse.
Botani raced off a mark of 121 last season and is only 3lbs higher in this race and she should outrun her odds with five places available.
13:20 Leopardstown
Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown sprung a surprise yesterday in the Irish Gold Cup with Conflated and I am hoping that Fury Road (best priced at 10/1) can upset the favourite Galopin Des Champs. The eight-year-old bounced back from a couple of below par efforts last season to run with credit on all of his three starts over fences. He finished 2nd over 2m5f on his chasing debut before finishing 3rd in the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase on his next start.
Fury Road got off the mark over fences last time when fitted with first-time cheekpieces in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase over 3 miles at this course. He is only rated 2lbs lower than the favourite on hurdles form and I expect Fury Road to run well.
15:35 Leopardstown
The favourite Sir Gerhard sets the standard on his bumper form but I prefer the each way claims of Three Stripe Life (best priced at 6/1) instead. The six-year-old ran well to finish 4th in the Champion Bumper last season before making a winning hurdling debut on his reappearance at Fairyhouse.
Three Stripe Life was unlucky to finish 2nd behind stablemate Mighty Potter in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle last time over this course and distance and I expect him to go one better in this race.
