UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

KOPEK DES BORDES looked a useful sort when drawing clear in the closing stages for an impressive debut victory in a valuable bumper at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting and gets the vote to make a successful transition to hurdles. Whinney Hill stepped forward from a run at Punchestown in October when scoring in good style the following month at Navan, while Yeshil also represents powerful connections and made a pleasing start when beating all bar Sermandzarak in the Goffs Defender Bumper at the Punchestown Festival. Don't Tell Jack showed some promise on his hurdles debut at Navan, while Zillow and Auntie Lacey are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Kopek Des Bordes 2nd Whinney Hill 3rd Yeshil

REDEMPTION DAY is a top-class bumper performer and makes a belated switch to hurdles. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding made a successful debut here three years ago and following an absence of 20 months, returned last season to record a further two victories, including landing the Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival with William Munny over 10 lengths behind in third. Point-to-point winner Workahead had Joueur Masque about 10 lengths behind when third in the 25-runner Navan maiden won by the selection's odds-on stablemate Jasmin De Vaux, while Polemon was placed in a Thurles maiden that has been working out quite well. Goldinthemountains and Jacob's Ladder are both useful bumper winners.
Prediction : 1st Redemption Day 2nd Workahead 3rd William Munny

WILLY DE HOUELLE had Punchestown winner Its Bilbo about eight lengths behind when successful on debut in France and was backed as if defeat was out of the question on his first start for current connections in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse. The selection was headed in the closing stages by the reopposing Naturally Nimble but may now reverse the placings on these better terms and now going left-handed. The other three runners from Closutton have also enjoyed success in France, including Murcia in a Listed race at Auteuil, while Hello Neighbour has won both outings on the Flat and is an interesting recruit to the jumping game.
Prediction : 1st Willy De Houelle 2nd Naturally Nimble 3rd Hello Neighbour

ARCH ENEMY has proved a great servant to current connections, winning five times on the Flat including at this venue, and took advantage of an attractive mark over hurdles when successful at Fairyhouse last time. An 8lb rise may not be enough to prevent a quick follow up, with Jack Kearney's claim a bonus. Miss Maxfort had subsequent Navan handicap winner Love Me 11 lengths behind in third when taking a Wexford maiden on just her second start and both fillies have plenty of scope for improvement. Lygon Lad beat all bar the progressive Brave Troop on his handicap debut at Navan and remains on a competitive mark.
Prediction : 1st Arch Enemy 2nd Miss Maxfort 3rd Lygon Lad

BETTER DAYS AHEAD was a smart sort over hurdles last term, winning the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and he made a winning start over fences at Navan last month. The Milan gelding showed a tendency to jump left in the straight but finished strongly to beat Slade Steel over 2m4f. The selection had Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle winner Stellar Story behind when third in a 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle at Punchestown last spring. Croke Park scored on his chasing debut over 3m at Fairyhouse and again made all when gamely holding on in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at the same venue. Stellar Story was probably unsuited by the slow pace when narrowly beating two stablemates in a Grade 2 over this trip at Punchestown last time.
Prediction : 1st Better Days Ahead 2nd Croke Park 3rd Stellar Story

BROOMFIELD BIJOU has gained all three wins at around this distance including when switched to fences at Wexford this summer. The Philip Dempsey-trained mare again showed promise when runner-up to Jasko Des Dames at Punchestown and probably found 2m4f too far at Fairyhouse last time. Last year's winner The Folkes Tiara had The King Of Prs and Railway Hurricane close behind when scoring over this trip at Fairyhouse last time and there shouldn't be much to choose between the trio again, while Final Orders and Grange Walk are also both past winners of this.
Prediction : 1st Broomfield Bijou 2nd The Folkes Tiara 3rd The King Of Prs

WALKS IN JUNE won a Dawstown point-to-point in good style for Colin Bowe in May. The form of that race has been boosted since and it will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market on debut under Rules for Henry de Bromhead. Ma Jacks Hill also won between the flags in the spring and was sent off at odds-on when headed close home in the Fairyhouse bumper won by stablemate William Butler. Green Splendour made a promising debut last season when fourth to Regent's Stroll in a valuable Newbury bumper that has been working out well since, and he's another to bear in mind.
Prediction : 1st Walks In June 2nd Ma Jacks Hill 3rd Green Splendour