UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

GALILEO DAME was the pick of these on the Flat and hopefully will take well to hurdles. The Joseph O'Brien-trained filly won a Leopardstown maiden earlier this year and has been quite highly tried since, including when runner-up behind Hamish in a 1m4f Curragh Listed race. Last Kingdom won a 1m4f French bumper in August and is another interesting recruit to hurdles, along with Pepper Noir, who has gained two recent wins when upped to 1m4f at Dundalk. Wendrock was placed on both Flat outings for Lucinda Russell before fetching 82,000gns and boasts the best piece of hurdles form, when placed behind Total Look at Navan last month.
Prediction : 1st Galileo Dame 2nd Wendrock 3rd Last Kingdom

IT'S FOR ME may prove the pick of four runners from Willie Mullins' yard. The point-to-point winner was also a smart sort in bumpers and made a successful start over hurdles when beating Caldwell Potter in a 22-runner Punchestown maiden over a year ago. The French-bred is without a run since but remains a gelding of considerable potential. Lisnagar Fortune also won a Punchestown maiden hurdle in good style, while Shanbally Kid, third in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, has failed to impress with his jumping in two chase starts. There is little to choose between Galway Hurdle winner Nurburgring and Birdie Or Bust on running behind Down Memory Lane at Navan, while What's Up Darling and Western Diego are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Its For Me 2nd Lisnagar Fortune 3rd Nurburgring

DINOBLUE was a model of consistency last season, including when taking this race in decisive fashion, and should benefit from her reappearance behind Energumene at Cork. Stablemate Gaelic Warrior is the obvious threat and impressed when easily beating Found A Fifty in the Arkle at Cheltenham. However, he did disappoint at this venue last term and is probably best suited by a right-handed track. Found A Fifty has won all three outings since that Cheltenham Festival reverse and beat Solness (now 7lb worse off) by a neck over 2m at Navan last month. 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Marine Nationale had a curtailed campaign over fences last season and should progress from his reappearance at Naas last month.
Prediction : 1st Dinoblue 2nd Gaelic Warrior 3rd Found A Fifty

ROMEO COOLIO had Sea Of Sands staying on about three lengths back in third when beaten at odds-on in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last time. The Kayf Tara gelding, a smart bumper performer last season, was a wide-margin winner on his hurdling debut at Down Royal and is given another chance to show his class. Stablemate Bleu De Vassy has impressed on both hurdle starts this term, including when staying on strongly to land a Grade 3 over this trip at Navan last month. Karniquet is certainly in the 'could be anything' bracket after an easy win on his Irish debut at Tramore, while Karafon also won with some authority at Clonmel.
Prediction : 1st Romeo Coolio 2nd Bleu De Vassy 3rd Karniquet

ETHICAL DIAMOND is a useful sort on the Flat and may now open his account over hurdles switching to handicap company after a break of six months and fitted with a hood for the first time. He was bought for 320,000gns after winning a Limerick maiden and only gave best in the closing stages last time when placed in a 1m4f handicap at Royal Ascot. Enniskerry had Suprise Package three lengths behind when runner-up to UK raider Washington in a valuable handicap at Fairyhouse, while Batman Girac was highly tried last season and may benefit from this switch to a handicap. Special Cadeau has shown promise in maidens, while Pinot Gris, Lieber Nicc and Cheltenham Festival winner Lark In The Mornin are others for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Ethical Diamond 2nd Enniskerry 3rd Batman Girac

PANDA BOY can hopefully make it third-time lucky in this valuable handicap. The Martin Brassil-trained gelding won a 3m handicap hurdle at the Christmas Festival here in 2021 and has been placed in the latest two renewals of this race, including when runner-up to Meetingofthewaters (now 16lb worse off) 12 months ago. Stablemate Desertmore House had a nice prep for this over hurdles last time, while Will Do stayed well over hurdles and will benefit from this step up in trip on his handicap chase debut after just three runs over fences. Galway Plate winner Pinkerton, Nick Rockett, Perceval Legallois and Midnight Our Fred are others to consider in a wide-open event.
Prediction : 1st Panda Boy 2nd Will Do 3rd Desertmore House

ECLIPSE CHASER is out of a bumper winner who has already produced four useful winners, notably Grade 2 scorer Westerner Lady. The son of Jet Away was unlucky not to collect on his only point-to-point start when falling in the lead two out and riding arrangements suggest he's preferred to stable companion Leaky Cauldron, who won in good style between the flags for Colin Bowe last year. American Jukebox is a half-brother to American Mike and should benefit from his debut under Rules behind the selection's stablemate Full Confession at Fairyhouse last month. Karate Kid was supported on debut when staying on well behind Belle Le Grand at Fairyhouse.
Prediction : 1st Eclipse Chaser 2nd American Jukebox 3rd Leaky Cauldron