UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

PAIDI'S PASSION may be able to pick up the winning thread again here. Two miles looked on the short side for the Ocovango mare at Down Royal last month and she should be better suited by this kind of trip. She had rattled off a hat-trick previously, including an impressive win over fences at Ballinrobe, and seems versatile ground-wise having won on good and heavy going. Sweet Will ran well on his first outing for Emmet Mullins at Fairyhouse last month when losing out by half a length to So Des Flos. He's a danger if repeating that effort. Lake Chad is a consistent, if slightly frustrating, sort and could be place material.
Prediction : 1st Paidis Passion 2nd Sweet Will 3rd Lake Chad

BALLYBURN looks hard to oppose on his second start over timber. The Flemensfirth gelding looked very smart when winning two bumpers last season. He had to settle for second on his jumping debut at Fairyhouse earlier in the month but chased home a well regarded sort in Firefox then and with natural improvement should collect now. Cleatus Poolaw was engaged at Limerick yesterday so it remains to be seen if he takes up this engagement. Apple's Of Bresil is a nice sort and could be the one to give the selection most to do. He was behind Ballyburn in a bumper at Punchestown in April and stepped forward nicely when third in a tight finish to Springt De La Mare at Navan on his return. Saddle Her Up ran a big race, at a big price, when second at Galway in late October and can pick up prize-money again.
Prediction : 1st Ballyburn 2nd Apples Of Bresil 3rd Saddle Her Up

RISK BELLE impressed on her return this season and looks to have improved from last season. She beat some decent geldings in good style at Fairyhouse earlier in the month and Willie Mullins stated then that the experience she gained in handicap company last season has really stood to her. Jetara comes here seeking a hat-trick after a couple of impressive wins and looks an obvious danger. The well-bred Walk In The Park mare was a comprehensive winner in Listed company last time and like the selection is fairly experienced at this stage. Hispanic Moon had plenty of runs in France before winning on her first start for Henry de Bromhead in a Listed contest at Punchestown last month. She's another that has to be on the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Risk Belle 2nd Jetara 3rd Hispanic Moon

A real test of stamina should bring out the best in CORBETTS CROSS and he can strike at the top level here. The Gamut gelding had the class to win over the minimum trip as a novice hurdler but has always shaped like a real stayer. He improved from his initial outing over fences to run out a cosy winner at Fairyhouse earlier in the month and going up again in distance will help. Grangeclare West beat the selection at Naas on their seasonal debuts and is a classy sort when right. The ground here would be a slight concern though over this trip. Flooring Porter threw away his chance when jumping badly left at Punchestown last month. He's much more at home going this way around and is fancied to turn the tables on Favori De Champdou. The former top staying hurdler obviously commands plenty of respect.
Prediction : 1st Corbetts Cross 2nd Grangeclare West 3rd Flooring Porter

Willie Mullins has a phenomenal roll of honour in this Grade 1 having landed nine of the last 11 renewals, and looks poised for another victory as he saddles three of the four runners. Last year's hero STATE MAN comes back for more and is hard to go past. He looked as good as ever on his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 1 Morgiana at Punchestown as he put his head down and readily galloped home. He has won six Grade 1 contests and the only horse to beat him at the top level is the mighty Constitution Hill. State Man's stablemate, Impaire Et Passe, is an interesting contender dropping in trip. He has two Grade 1 victories in his locker and wasn't beaten far into second over further in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse on his latest start. Echoes In Rain is a more than capable sort who is likely to be played late. She has five lengths to find with State Man who beat her into second in the Morgiana, though.
Prediction : 1st State Man 2nd Impaire Et Passe 3rd Echoes In Rain

SEQUESTERED couldn't land a blow in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham, but has prospects on his three previous performances. He won his maiden hurdle in Sligo before filling the runner-up berth behind a more than useful horse in Listowel. His victory in a Galway novice hurdle was well franked when the runner-up came out and won a good handicap in Clonmel. Waterford Whispers competes off a mark of 123 after victories in a Galway maiden hurdle and a rated novice hurdle in Fairyhouse. Trip and ground will be ideal for him. Yeats Star is another hat-trick seeker and tries this trip for the first time. He notably stretched clear by 13 lengths over an extended 2m1f at Downpatrick in October. Mount Sinai and Petit King are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Sequestered 2nd Waterford Whispers 3rd Yeats Star

JALON D'OUDAIRIES carried a lofty reputation to the track and more than justified it in a decent bumper at Fairyhouse. He made 420,000 guineas at the Sales after a decisive point-to-point victory and connections would have been very heartened by the way he stayed on strongly to win by five lengths in Fairyhouse. He looks to have a bright future. Willie Mullins fields three horses with his son Patrick opting for Redemption Day. This Blue Bresil gelding has plenty of ability and ran a high-class horse to a length and a-quarter when last seen finishing second in the Grade 1 bumper at the Punchestown Festival. He is a major threat. Luckinthecity put in decent late work to score in Listowel and the runner-up, Big Dee, came out and delivered in Down Royal so they both merit consideration.
Prediction : 1st Jalon Doudairies 2nd Redemption Day 3rd Luckinthecity