UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

TEKAO won in impressive fashion on his only Flat start over 1m2f in France this spring and was sent off at odds-on to make a winning start over hurdles at Navan last month. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding didn't find as much as expected on the run-in when third to Comfort Zone but that form looks pretty solid, with the winner subsequently placed in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse and the runner-up going one better recently in a maiden. New Year Honours was among those well behind but he previously showed promise when runner-up to Cougar at Down Royal. Mark Walsh sticks with the selection in preference to Goodie Two Shoes, who won two of her three starts on the Flat. Ascending, successful over a mile at Goodwood for Clive Cox, and Zanndabad, a four-time winner on the Flat in France, are other interesting recruits to hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Tekao 2nd New Year Honours 3rd Ascending

DYSART DYNAMO is an exciting recruit to fences. The Westerner gelding easily won his opening four starts (two bumpers and two hurdles), including a facile success from the front in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. He was then sent off 9/4 joint-favourite along with Constitution Hill for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle but took a heavy fall when still going well three out. He ran too badly to be true (clinically abnormal post-race) the following month at the Punchestown Festival and hopefully can get a very promising career back on track here. Sea Ducor beat Galopin Des Champs over hurdles but that was more than two years ago and he's failed to add to that in a light campaign since. He needs to step up considerably on his chasing debut at Navan, where he finished behind Slip Of The Tongue, while the same remark also applies to Irascible, who was soundly beaten over fences at Thurles.
Prediction : 1st Dysart Dynamo 2nd Slip Of The Tongue 3rd Sea Ducor

CHACUN POUR SOI hasn't shown his best form on a number of trips to the UK but has been a real star for connections on the domestic front, with three of his best performances coming over this C&D, including in this race two years ago and at the Dublin Racing Festival earlier this year. He played second fiddle to Energumene last time at the Punchestown Festival, with Captain Guinness well back in fourth, and a reproduction of that form could well be good enough here. Willie Mullins has a strong back-up team, with Blue Lord, a dual Grade 1 winner as a novice including over this C&D, and the front-running Gentleman De Mee, who weakened in the closing stages of the Tingle Creek at Sandown earlier this month.
Prediction : 1st Chacun Pour Soi 2nd Blue Lord 3rd Gentleman De Mee

Quevega stamped her place in racing history as a six-time winner at the Cheltenham Festival and the same connections have another star on their hands with her son FACILE VEGA, whose glittering bumper campaign last term included Grade 1 wins at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals. He landed prohibitive odds in style when switched to hurdles at Fairyhouse earlier this month and anything bar a win here will be a major shock. His trainer Willie Mullins has declared another three runners, including Il Etait Temps, who was placed at Grade 1 level last season and opened his account with ease when reappearing at Thurles last month, while Ashroe Diamond was third to Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse. Path D'oroux was very disappointing in that Grade 1 but previously looked useful when beating Itswhatunitesus at Galway.
Prediction : 1st Facile Vega 2nd Il Etait Temps 3rd Ashroe Diamond

MARVEL FAN still held every chance when falling at the last at Fairyhouse last Easter and was having her first run since over hurdles when beating all bar New Ross at Thurles recently, with Walnut Beach only a length away in third. That run may leave her spot-on and she can add to an easy Gowran Park win last year. One Last Tango is another lightweight with solid claims and is on a hat-trick following a decisive win at Wexford. Winter Fog was placed in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham and now takes a significant drop in distance on his first start for Willie Mullins. Gold Speed was reappearing after a 17-month break when coming within a neck of causing a 50/1 shock at Navan, while Palace Rock gave plenty of encouragement when going close at Dundalk recently. The Tide Turns was a useful juvenile hurdler last term but needs to bounce back after a couple of disappointments in handicaps over the summer.
Prediction : 1st Marvel Fan 2nd One Last Tango 3rd The Tide Turns

BALLYSHANNON ROSE has each-way claims at a decent price. She won four times over hurdles, including at this trip, and took well to fences last term, landing a Grade 2 at Thurles. She probably ran a career best last time when going close in a Listed race at Clonmel, with some smart mares behind. Dangers abound in a typically open renewal including Ain't That A Shame, whose head second to The Big Dog in the Munster National at Limerick has been well advertised since. Henry de Bromhead has another live chance with Gabbys Cross, who is closely matched with the selection on form at Naas last term. Panda Boy won the Pertemps Qualifier here 12 months ago and has attracted plenty of support despite limited experience over fences, while Ciel De Neige and Donkey Years represent colours that have been carried to success in this race five times in the past decade.
Prediction : 1st Ballyshannon Rose 2nd Gabbys Cross 3rd Ciel De Neige

WILL DO wasn't beaten far on his only start in a point-to-point that has worked out well since, and the Walk In The Park gelding ran a cracker on his debut under Rules when splitting Monbeg Park and Seabank Bistro in a 2m5f Punchestown maiden hurdle last month. The winner has since been placed in Grade 3 level at Cork. Fact To File won a Belharbour point-to-point in great style earlier this year for Donnchadh Doyle and rates a big threat having since joined the champion trainer. Kalanisi Flash won two point-to-points before being bought for 40,000 pounds at Doncaster in May, while Irish Panther showed promise on his only start between the flags.
Prediction : 1st Will Do 2nd Fact To File 3rd Kalanisi Flash