UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

JADE DE GRUGY comfortably won a 1m4f French bumper in October 2022 and was purchased later that month for 230,000 euro by current connections. The Doctor Dino filly is out of an unraced half-sister to Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy. Riding arrangements suggest Gold In The Rivers, who cost 220,000 euro at the Derby Sale last year and is a Walk In The Park half-brother to six winners, is preferred of Gordon Elliott's pair while Queen Of Seduction won twice on the Flat including on testing ground at Gowran and is another interesting recruit to hurdles. Butcher Hollow, second to Jigoro in a 26-runner maiden at Navan, merits respect while Rosalys, Cobra Queen and Joyeux Vivo are others with some hurdle experience to consider.
Prediction : 1st Jade De Grugy 2nd Butcher Hollow 3rd Gold In The Rivers

MUSIC OF TARA won a point for Colin Bowe and has been consistent if somewhat frustrating for present connections with a list of placed efforts including when third in this race last year. She shaped well over an inadequate two miles on her reappearance at Navan last month and that should leave her spot on for this. Ahead of The Posse hasn't shown too much over fences this season but beat all bar favourite Neveradullmoment on his last hurdle start at the Galway Festival, while West Away impressed over this trip at Cork last time but has gone up 11lb. Almuhit, who won twice on the Flat and also showed promise over hurdles for Denis Hogan, is one to note in the market on his first start for Emmet Mullins while Heliko Conti and Ludus are others for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Music Of Tara 2nd Ahead Of The Posse 3rd Heliko Conti

Willie Mullins has a couple of strong contenders in Fact To File and MINELLA COCOONER with slight preference for the latter even though he reappears here after a 13 months absence. The selection was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles at this venue and jumped well on his chasing debut when runner-up to stablemate Classic Getaway at Gowran. Point-to-point winner Fact To File was a high class performer in bumpers last season and made a bright start when sent chasing last month finishing runner-up to American Mike with Spirit Of Legend well adrift in fourth. Zanahiyr was the pick of these over hurdles winning five times and also placed twice in the Champion Hurdle and is obviously a big threat to all if taking to fences.
Prediction : 1st Minella Cocooner 2nd Fact To File 3rd Zanahiyr

IRISH POINT was a smart novice last season when placed a couple of times in Grade 1s before making the breakthrough at the top level upped to 2m4f at Aintree. He made a successful reappearance over 2m1f at Down Royal last month and it will be fascinating to see how he copes with this stamina test. Home By The Lee bids to repeat his win in this race 12 months ago and again comes here having run in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan last month when a creditable third to Bob Olinger trying to give away plenty of weight. Asterion Forlonge enters the equation on his close second to Klassical Dream in The Champion Stayers at Punchestown last spring and should benefit from a recent outing over fences, while Buddy One has progressed really well in handicaps this term.
Prediction : 1st Irish Point 2nd Home By The Lee 3rd Asterion Forlonge

A cracking edition which features another renewal of rivalry between FASTORSLOW and Galopin Des Champs. Martin Brassil's progressive chaser was a big price when defeating last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner at Punchestown in April but proved that was no fluke when again having roughly two lengths to spare over Wille Mullins' charge in last month's John Durkan Chase at the Kildare venue. Both horses will be suited by stepping back up to this trip from 2m4f and there has been talk from the Mullins camp that Galopin Des Champs will be ridden more positively on this occasion, but Fastorslow is chosen to come out on top again. Gerri Colombe got up close home to thwart Envoi Allen in a thriller at Down Royal and his connections will be hoping that all the forecast rain arrives for this dour stayer. Rachel Blackmore switches from Envoi Allen to ride last year's Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard who is a previous winner of this race but disappointed when last seen at Aintree in the spring.
Prediction : 1st Fastorslow 2nd Galopin Des Champs 3rd Gerri Colombe

Off bottom weight WEST IS AWAKE makes some appeal for Eddie Cawley who was amongst the winners here on Tuesday. The Fame And Glory gelding was an easy winner over 3m at Fairyhouse in October and had Nine Graces a place behind when running on well for second over 2m4f at the same venue last time. He's sure to be suited by going back up in distance. Lucky Zebo has won four of his last five starts, including three handicap hurdles. Last seen when winning over 2m4f at Gowran in September, he's gone up another 12lb for that but it will be interesting to see if going 3m can unlock more improvement. Gaoth Chuil was a fine second in the Brown Lad at Naas and this course winner is another stepping up in trip from 2m4f. Last year's winner Maxxum has a much stiffer task at the weights this time and Gordon Elliott's best chance may be with Absolute Notions who was runner-up in a Grade 1 novice here last term.
Prediction : 1st West Is Awake 2nd Lucky Zebo 3rd Gaoth Chuil

SOUNDS VICTORIUS is related to three winners including In The Rough who was a six-time winner for Jonjo O'Neill. The son of Champs Elysees cost 36,000 Euros at last year's Land Rover Sale. With Patrick Mullins in Limerick to ride in a Grade 1 chase, Jody Townend takes the mount. The betting will be interesting in light of the Mullins' yard having a couple of fancied bumper horses defeated on St Stephen's Day. Patter Merchant won a point-to-point at Dromahane last month and is a leading contender for top connections. He's a brother to bumper/2m hurdle winner Bowenscourt and is out of bumper-winning mare. Jordann looks the other one to focus on with Derek O'Connor in the plate. Another Land Rover Sale graduate, he cost 110,000 Euros and is out of a French 1m4f AQPS Flat winner.
Prediction : 1st Sounds Victorius 2nd Patter Merchant 3rd Jordann