UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

LOT OF JOY got turned over on her jumping debut at Cork but bumped into a smart rival then and can get the job done now. She was beaten by Inothewayurthinkin early last month and that rival has franked the form by claiming a decent little novice contest since. Lot of Joy, third in the Irish Cesarewitch and a former Swedish Leger winner, stayed well on the Flat and should appreciate stepping up to two-and-a-half miles now. Stablemate Ho My Lord, a winner on his sole start in France, looks one to note in the market on his Irish debut. Deep Cave is another who chased home a nice sort on his hurdling debut having finished second to Absolute Notions at Punchestown last month. That rival went on to finish third in Grade 2 company so the form looks solid. Firm Footings was no match for Grangeclare West on his hurdling debut at Navan but the Galway bumper winner is another that has to come into calculations here.
Prediction : 1st Lot of Joy 2nd Deep Cave 3rd Firm Footings

UNANSWERED was a cosy winner over in Cheltenham last month and still remains fairly unexposed over hurdles. The Intello gelding quickened away in good style late on then and there could still be a bit to work with despite rising to a mark of 113. He encounters softer ground now but did run well on the Flat at the Curragh in testing conditions. Luimneach is another who could be capable of a bit of further improvement after his maiden hurdle win at Limerick last time and is one for the shortlist as well. Sam's Choice has some fairly solid maiden form and could make a bid despite having to shoulder top-weight on his handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Unanswered 2nd Luimneach 3rd Sams Choice

Gordon Elliott has a great record of extracting improvement from horses picked up from other yards and MAXXUM looks another case in point. The Westerner gelding was denied on his first start for Cullentra but made no mistake the second time when winning very easily at Navan. The handicapper gave him a 17lb hike for that success but it may not be enough to stop him following up, such was his ease of victory. Elliott likes to use experienced amateur Rob James in these competitive handicaps and his 7lb claim looks a big asset on Eric Bloodaxe. The Saint des Saints gelding made a winning start for the yard with a good performance at Fairyhouse last month and could be the main danger to his stablemate. Two miles was too short for Falcon Eight at Punchestown last time and back up to a staying trip now he could be an each-way bet.
Prediction : 1st Maxxum 2nd Eric Bloodaxe 3rd Falcon Eight

FLOORING PORTER can confirm his status as the leading staying hurdler of recent years. The dual Cheltenham Festival winner won this race two years ago and was probably a shade unlucky 12 months ago when old rival Klassical Dream poached a significant lead at the start with the pair finishing over 20 lengths clear of the remainder. The absence of Klassical Dream makes life easier and the selection should benefit from his reappearance giving away weight over an inadequate 2m4f at Navan where Home By The Lee collared Bob Olinger on the run-in. Ashdale Bob, Sire Du Berlais, Zanahiyr and Commander Of Fleet all competed in that Navan event and need to progress.
Prediction : 1st Flooring Porter 2nd Bob Olinger 3rd Sire Du Berlais

The outcome hinges on whether last season's wide-margin Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard is back to his best after a disappointing run at Haydock which was the first time he's ever finished out of the first three. Henry de Bromhead's star won this two years ago and was touched off by Galvin in last year's renewal. If he's over whatever was ailing him last time, his form is on another level. However, given the doubts raised by his reappearance run, he is taken on with CONFLATED who shaped like he needed the run when third to King George flop Envoi Allen at Down Royal. Jack Kennedy's mount won the Irish Gold Cup here in February and proved that wasn't a fluke when running well at Cheltenham and Aintree later in the spring. Down Royal runner-up Kemboy is another former winner in the line-up but is rising eleven and better each-way value may lie with Paddy Power runner-up French Dynamite and Fury Road who was a Grade 1 novice winner over C&D a year ago.
Prediction : 1st Conflated 2nd A Plus Tard 3rd French Dynamite

Moral winners don't butter any parsnips but the heavily-backed I AM MAXIMUS certainly fell into that category when beaten a short-head over this trip at Fairyhouse. Twice a winner left-handed for Nicky Henderson and fourth in the Ballymore, the Authorized gelding will enjoy going this way round having given away many lengths by jumping out to his left in that narrow defeat on his stable and chase debut. He can confirm form with Largy Debut who was six lengths behind him in third and headgear can help to keep him focused on the job. Gentlemansgame beat Monday's Kempton winner Balco Coastal in a point-to-point two years ago and made the first three on three occasions in Grade One contests over hurdles. He merits plenty of respect on his debut over racecourse fences. Grand Roi is another ex-Henderson inmate who was a useful hurdler. His second to Grade One runner-up Adamantly Chosen on chase debut at Listowel wasn't a bad effort but he's coming here off the back of a fall at Fairyhouse.
Prediction : 1st I Am Maximus 2nd Gentlemansgame 3rd Largy Debut

No doubt Tony Bloom had to shell out a fair amount of Euros to acquire ILE ATLANTIQUE after the Coastal Path gelding showed plenty of promise when finishing third in a hurdle race at Auteuil in April. The four-year-old can make the first return on that investment by making a winning start in Ireland . Willie Mullins also runs Castlebawn North, a half-brother to Castlebawn West who won the Paddy Power Chase on this card two years ago, but it's seldom enough that Patrick Mullins picks the wrong one when he has a choice to make. No Time To Wait, an expensive three-year-old, fell in both point-to-points but was in second when coming down two out on the second occasion at Monksgrange. His dam won a bumper for Michael McElhone and went on to do well over jumps for Dan Skelton. Feronily, sold for a comparatively modest £45,000 after winning a Rathcannon point-to-point by ten lengths last month for Ellemarie Holden, is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Ile Atlantique 2nd No Time To Wait 3rd Feronily