UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

HORANTZAU D'AIRY won a three-year-old bumper in France and made a promising start over hurdles for current connections when second in a 2m4f maiden at this venue. He was absent for over a year before again filling the runner-up spot behind Firm Footings at Navan, with Walhaan five lengths back in fourth. The selection needs to settle better and brush up his jumping but gets the nod over I Am Fortunata. The Getaway gelding was a smart sort in bumpers but got off to an unfortunate start over hurdles when running out while leading just before halfway at Punchestown. Quirke's Gate merits consideration having beaten all bar the long odds-on Hunters Yarn in a 25-runner Naas maiden.
Prediction : 1st Horantzau Dairy 2nd I Am Fortunata 3rd Quirkes Gate

PURSE PRICE is a frustrating sort to follow but may get her turn here. The 2m3f Naas auction novice won by Hands Of Gold looks a key piece of form in the context of this race as the selection had Ideal Du Tabert over two lengths back in third and Della Casa Lunga still held every chance when falling at the last. A case can be made for all three in this rematch. Captains Nephew appeared to show much improved form when easily landing a Clonmel maiden on testing ground last month. He's sure to play a major role if reproducing that effort on this sounder surface. Listowel bumper winner My Gaffer is another to consider on his hurdle debut.
Prediction : 1st Purse Price 2nd Della Casa Lunga 3rd Captains Nephew

FIRSTMAN comes here in great form on the Flat at Dundalk winning twice and filling the runner-up spot on his latest two starts to earn a rating of 88. He looks thrown in on his first handicap over hurdles and the best of his three runs in maidens last year came when fourth to the long odds-on Prevaricate on this card. Razdan, runner-up in a novice at the Galway Festival last summer, is also lightly raced over hurdles and is another to keep a close eye on as he steps into handicap company for the first time. The King Of Prs showed the benefit of his seasonal reappearance when scoring at Punchestown last time and should go close despite an 8lb hike. Wild Dollar, Knocknagappagh and Ventnor are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Firstman 2nd The King Of Prs 3rd Razdan

ATACANTER caught the eye when staying on into a moderate fifth in the 23-runner 2m3f Naas maiden hurdle won by Spillane's Tower and is very interesting here in his first handicap. The Ross O'Sullivan-trained gelding is bred to appreciate a test of stamina and starts off on a reasonable mark. Irish National winner Lord Lariat reverts to hurdles for the first time in over a year and, while significantly better over fences, is certainly on an attractive mark. Stablemate Wa Wa finished well to score over 2m6f at Navan last month and is still fairly treated compared to his chase rating. Pure Sirloin got up close home over 2m4f at Navan and could progress further over this trip.
Prediction : 1st Atacanter 2nd Lord Lariat 3rd Pure Sirloin

SOLNESS made a good chase debut last month. Winner of a heavy-ground French hurdle on his career debut in February 2022, he chased home high-class hurdler Sadlier at Thurles and, being ground-versatile and suited by this distance, can win this. Hamundarson defeated subsequent Grade 1 winner Minella Cocooner to win his maiden hurdle in November 2021, and while that rival was unsuited by the day's distance, Hamundarson is capable, although is long absent and makes his chase debut. Stablemate Hiaou has useful hurdles form and is rated 130 in that sphere but also makes his chase debut and was well held in useful races when last seen in October and November. Derrylinda is a 119-rated hurdler but is probably best watched on chase debut.
Prediction : 1st Solness 2nd Hamundarson 3rd Hiaou

ARVERNE's rating has fallen in recent years and has been running well from his current mark for the past eight months. Once rated 122, he won a good-ground Kilbeggan handicap last July when rated 94 and continues to hold form. Francois won twice in France, once under Christophe Soumillon at Saint-Cloud, and debuts in a handicap chase. Rated 126 over hurdles last summer, he drops in grade from his recent Thurles run and should compete from 114. Galon De Vauzelle was beaten a short-head at Naas and last December ran well over course and distance but is a nine-race maiden over fences. The ground-versatile Presenting Point was beaten from a rating of 93 over hurdles last month but is a three-time winner in this sphere. Hoke Colburn is ground-versatile and won in November but was reported to have burst blood vessels at Fairyhouse in December. 14-year-old Wee Small Hours was 7lb out of the handicap when winning at Down Royal and is 11lb out today and while admirable, runs in a better race.
Prediction : 1st Arverne 2nd Francois 3rd Galon De Vauzelle

A chance is taken with A LA CARTE, which is well bred and a good 7lb claimer rides, By the sire of L'Homme Presse, she is a half-sister to four French winners and it can be assumed her work has been good as she faces older mares for a relatively early debut and represents a yard which does well in bumpers. Arctic Fly is also well-bred and represents Willie Mullins. Out of a maiden half-sister to County Hurdle winner and Champion Hurdle runner-up Arctic Fire, her brother Honky Tonk finished third on bumper debut for Mullins last November. Harvest Time is a notable runner, being a half-sister to the yard's Grade 3 winner Daylight Katie, while Nina Walsh won bumpers on two of Sugar Cookie's capable half-siblings and she could run well on debut. Katherine showed ability last year but is long absent, while Slim Marvel fell in a point-to-point and is diverted to a bumper.
Prediction : 1st A La Carte 2nd Arctic Fly 3rd Sugar Cookie