UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

KAID D'AUTHIE showed promise on debut behind Majborough in France last year and was backed as if defeat was out of the question on his first run since, when making the running until falling about halfway at Navan earlier this month. It will be interesting to see how strong stablemate Kalix Delabarriere is in the market having landed the odds in a Ballinrobe bumper that has worked out well, while Koktail Divin stays well and impressed when winning twice on the Flat in France. Sermandzarak also rates a serious threat having won the valuable Goffs Defender Bumper at the Punchestown Festival and he beat all bar Butch Cassidy on his hurdle debut over 2m3f at the same venue.
Prediction : 1st Kaid Dauthie 2nd Sermandzarak 3rd Kalix Delabarriere

PORTARLINGTON has proved a great acquisition for current connections completing a hat-trick and was particularly impressive over this trip at Fairyhouse last time, with Ladiam over 12 lengths behind in third. Stay Gold caught the eye when finishing well on his handicap debut over 2m3f at Punchestown, while Giant Haystacks and point-to-point winner Lady Rose Hackett have also shown promise and have scope for further improvement. His Nibs steps up in trip on his handicap debut, while Aurea Fortuna, Jolie Jewel and Arch Enemy are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Portarlington 2nd Stay Gold 3rd Lady Rose Hackett

Willie Mullins holds a strong hand and riding arrangements suggest QUAI DE BOURBON is the pick of his three runners. The selection won three times over hurdles last season and was also placed on his only other start in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival. Chapeau De Soleil has always been held in high regard and also won three times over hurdles last term, including landing a valuable handicap at the Punchestown Festival. An Tobar was impressive in winning his point-to-point and was placed in a Grade 1 over hurdles, while Captain Cody was a Grade 2 hurdle winner last season but didn't impress with his jumping when switching to fences at Tipperary last month.
Prediction : 1st Quai De Bourbon 2nd An Tobar 3rd Chapeau De Soleil

HOME BY THE LEE won this race two years ago and recorded a ninth career win when making a successful reappearance at Navan last month. The Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding can be prone to hitting a flat spot in his races but recorded a smooth victory when beating Bob Olinger in that 2m4f Grade 2 event and is suited by this extra 4f. Hewick, who is best suited by good ground, and Noble Yeats are the pick of these over fences. The former won the King George at Kempton last Christmas and now reverts to hurdles after running a cracker when narrowly denied by Envoi Allen at Down Royal last month, while Grand National winner Noble Yeats may just need the run.
Prediction : 1st Home By The Lee 2nd Bob Olinger 3rd Hewick

Dual Gold Cup victor GALOPIN DES CHAMPS can regain the winning thread for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. Although beaten on his seasonal reappearance in the John Durkan Chase last month, the eight-year-old ran a huge race in the circumstances. Forced to make the running, the Timos gelding made a brave bid over a trip short of his best. Back over three-miles here, it will take a smart performance to lower his colours. Durkan winner Fact To File leapt to the head of the Gold Cup betting after taking the aforementioned race in impressive fashion. However, he faces a real test now, taking on the reigning champion on what is one of his favourite tracks. Grand National winner I Am Maximus is one that shouldn't be underestimated.
Prediction : 1st Galopin Des Champs 2nd Fact To File 3rd I Am Maximus

Lightly raced over flights, the Noel Meade-trained GOLDEN TEMPLE can complete a hat-trick. A winner of his latest two National Hunt starts at Downpatrick and Roscommon respectively, the four-year-old really caught the eye with a huge run over an inadequate trip on the level at Dundalk recently. Sure to have been lined up for this particular contest, he can continue his progression. Win Some Lose Some gave the impression that he would be suited to stepping up to three-miles when staying on to finish fifth in Listed class at Naas last time. King Alexander has to be of interest on his first start for Willie Mullins. A four-time winner when trained in Britain, the six-year-old has the potential to play a big part.
Prediction : 1st Golden Temple 2nd Win Some Lose Some 3rd King Alexander

Dromahane third GLOBAL SUBMISSION can make a winning debut under rules. A notable Irish runner for Walters Plant Hire Ltd, the Henry de Bromhead-trained four-year-old is a horse of huge potential. The winner of that aforementioned point-to-point franked the form when striking on his racecourse debut for Willie Mullins. The latter runs Soir De Garde here. Runner-up on his initial outing at Punchestown last month, that form was also boosted when the easy winner followed up on his next start. Portrush point-to-point winner Kovanis has to be respected on his first appearance for Gordon Elliott.
Prediction : 1st Global Submission 2nd Soir De Garde 3rd Kovanis