UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

SAINT SAM appears to have found a good opportunity to add to his four career wins. The six-year-old gelding has reverted to hurdles this season making all in decisive fashion at Punchestown on New Year's Eve before racing too keenly and making a number of mistakes when fifth to Blazing Khal in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan. This drop back in trip should suit. Fils d'Oudairies was runner-up twice for Nicky Henderson at big Festival meetings last spring and again finished second in a valuable handicap at Listowel last autumn before jumping poorly over fences here last month. Gatsby Grey beat all bar Mighty Potter in a Grade 1 at Punchestown last year but his limitations have been exposed in handicaps this term and he has plenty to do at the weights.
Prediction : 1st Saint Sam 2nd Fils Doudairies 3rd Gatsby Grey

PARMENION was bought for 230,000 at Arqana after winning his only start on the Flat in France but has been beaten twice at odds-on for current connections in maiden hurdles. He filled third spot behind High Definition here at Christmas before coming up against another smart sort in Found A Fifty at Fairyhouse. He can gain compensation here if staying the extra half-mile. Lets Go Champ was also an expensive purchase after winning a point-to-point but was absent for nearly four years before filling third behind the selection's stablemate Tactical Move at Punchestown in January. Present Soldier has a similar profile having cost £300,000 after winning a point-to-point and kept on into fourth behind another Mullins maiden hurdle winner, Seabank Bistro, at Naas.
Prediction : 1st Parmenion 2nd Lets Go Champ 3rd Present Soldier

JUMPING JET gets the vote. The daughter of Getaway won a Gowran Park bumper in runaway fashion on debut for Barry Fitzgerald two years ago and has been consistent but a shade disappointing in just four hurdle outings since. She kept on nicely behind dead-heaters Princess Zoe and Ladybank over this trip at Punchestown in January before finding 2m6f a bit far last time. Emily Roebling has been a frustrating sort to follow since winning a point-to-point back in 2020 but has strong claims on the pick of her form including when third to the selection's stablemate Shecouldbeanything at the Limerick Christmas meeting. Down The Park has joined Barry Connell since making a promising debut in a Fairyhouse bumper while Littel Flour and Bop Bop Bobbin are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Jumping Jet 2nd Emily Roebling 3rd Down The Park

GAOTH CHUIL easily won a Tipperary bumper last summer and has handled a softer surface over hurdles winning a Tramore maiden. She didn't enjoy a clear run when third to Green Glory over C&D at Christmas and ran better than her finishing position would suggest, leading into the straight and blundering at the last, in a valuable mares' handicap here at the Dublin Racing Festival. Indie Belle was beaten a neck by Cute Cherry in this race last year and recent form points towards another big run. She won a chase at Tramore before Christmas and has three solid efforts since in handicap hurdles. Time To Rocco enters calculations on her third to Robyndeglory at Fairyhouse last month, while Bynx and Lizlucky also bring recent placed form to the table. Any market move for Mary Cassatt would be interesting.
Prediction : 1st Gaoth Chuil 2nd Indie Belle 3rd Time To Rocco

IRISH BLAZE won a 25-runner maiden hurdle at Navan early last year and the point-to-point winner has switched to fences in recent months. His second to Limerick Lace at Down Royal was well advertised last weekend and the seven-year-old was still in contention when unseating rider at the last in Gowran Park last month. Tyre Kicker has really progressed since stepped up in trip winning a three-mile handicap hurdle at Punchestown last May and his latest two starts when switched to fences. His chase mark has gone up 19lb as a result and this represents a dramatic drop back in distance. Mattie's Mountain was runner-up twice over this trip at the Listowel Festival last autumn, while this sounder surface should also suit Brideswell Lad.
Prediction : 1st Irish Blaze 2nd Tyre Kicker 3rd Brideswell Lad

BIRCHDALE won the valuable Leopardstown Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival last year and put in another solid effort when bidding for a repeat victory last month, finishing fourth behind The Goffer. Aidan Kelly again claims 7lb while owner JP McManus also holds claims with Ilikedwayurthinkin who was well-backed when unseating rider before halfway last time and is now fitted with blinkers. Panda Boy has shown a liking for this venue winning a Pertemps Qualifier over hurdles and ran a cracker on just his fourth outing over fences when beaten less than a length in the ultra competitive Paddy Power Chase at Christmas. This step back in trip is a slight concern. Jerandme hasn't raced over fences since second to Discordantly in this event 12 months ago but should be spot on after a recent outing on the Flat.
Prediction : 1st Birchdale 2nd Jerandme 3rd Panda Boy

THE YELLOW CLAY gets the vote in an event where betting trends should provide some vital clues. Gordon Elliott has saddled six bumper winners in the past month including four-year-old races with Samui and Speculatrix. Sattam has the advantage of previous experience and wasn't helped by a stumble entering the straight when fourth to Cut The Rope at Naas, with Miss Gherkin well held in eighth. Balally Park was bought by Tom Cooper for 115,000 at the Goffs Land Rover Sale and is closely related to Riders Onthe Storm. The Tralee trainer produced D Art D Art to win a similar event in these colours on the Thyestes Chase card at Gowran Park. Base Of Fire is a half-brother to a number of bumper winners including Glan.
Prediction : 1st The Yellow Clay 2nd Sattam 3rd Balally Park