UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

SOMMESKY added to a Limerick bumper win when successful in a 2m3f maiden hurdle also at Limerick over the Christmas period. The selection found Grade 1 company too hot behind Final Demand here last month, and confidence can be taken from the fact that the de Bromhead yard is in much better form now. Great Attitude landed a gamble on debut at Fairyhouse last weekend and has plenty of scope for improvement, while Gowran Park maiden winner Coral River is closely matched with that rival on a line through Kish Bank. Honesty Policy enters calculations on his decisive Navan maiden win, while Champagne Jury and Rockymountainbleu are others to consider in a competitive event.
Prediction : 1st Sommesky 2nd Great Attitude 3rd Honesty Policy

HARBOUR HIGHWAY is not the most consistent of performers but holds strong claims if producing his best. The point-to-point winner had Net Boy 13 lengths behind in fourth when landing a Navan bumper last year and was sent off a well-backed favourite when hampered at a crucial stage in the 25-runner Fairyhouse maiden hurdle won by Ballygunner Castle. Quint Major was also a bumper winner last year at Clonmel and having shown promise behind the selection's stablemate McLaurey in a Limerick maiden hurdle, was probably unsuited by heavy ground last time at Punchestown. Polemon has won three times on the Flat and showed promise in two hurdle starts.
Prediction : 1st Harbour Highway 2nd Quint Major 3rd Polemon

THEDEVILSCOACHMAN gets a tentative vote in a race where there are question marks over most of the field. The Noel Meade-trained gelding is without a win in nearly two years but has shaped well on his latest two starts, although this drop in trip is a concern. He had Meet And Greet 16 lengths behind when runner-up to Maxxum in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan last time, and is preferred to Aspire Tower who made a winning return at Punchestown in October but has been let down by his jumping on both outings since. Pied Piper is the pick on official ratings but hasn't been seen since taking a heavy fall in that aforementioned Punchestown race won by Aspire Tower.
Prediction : 1st Thedevilscoachman 2nd Aspire Tower 3rd Pied Piper

SAFFRONANDBLUE won twice on the Flat last spring including over an extended 1m2f at Sligo and any market support would be significant as he tackles handicap company for the first time over hurdles. The Martin Brassil-trained gelding hasn't been disgraced in three maiden outings and could be on a reasonable mark. Down Around has put together three solid efforts over 2m4f this winter notably winning at Thurles, although this step back in trip may not be in his favour. The Nagger Reidy opened his account over 2m2f at the Listowel Festival but hasn't added to that tally despite being well supported on all three outings since. Royal Time and Oakley are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Saffronandblue 2nd Down Around 3rd The Nagger Reidy

CRESCENT MOON was beaten almost 52 lengths on a recent run in a better race but had previously shown much stronger form and was an eye-catcher on handicap debut in January. The form of her Naas bumper runner-up effort last April reads very well and while never in contention at Gowran recently, remains well handicapped from 106. Today's ground and distance is also in her favour. Liberated Light finished behind the selection at Cork in January and is 4lb better off while Jolie Jewel is quirky but has been running well. Pralognan is a useful good-ground Flat performer but was well enough held at Down Royal.
Prediction : 1st Crescent Moon 2nd Liberated Light 3rd Jolie Jewel

NAS NA RIOGH is 3lb out of the handicap but nonetheless appears nicely treated on his handicap debut. Built for chasing and a former point-to-point winner, he showed useful hurdles form last season and is rated 129 in that sphere. He was well held in three chase outings to date but those latest two runs were over inadequate distances and he will benefit from reverting to this distance on suitably drying ground. Five of the runners from the recent course-and-distance chase reoppose, with best-placed third Monbeg Park holding obvious claims despite being in the handicapper's grip. Tyre Kicker ran well at Windsor in January and should also compete under a light weight.
Prediction : 1st Nas Na Riogh 2nd Monbeg Park 3rd Tyre Kicker

Dour stayer BRANDT is the pick stepping up in distance. Initially tried over shorter trips in the UK, his recent ratings climb has been mirrored by him going up in distance and while beaten by One Horse Army at Fairyhouse last month, raced quite prominently then and is now 5lb better off. Progressive One Horse Army also stays very well and should again compete. Brucejack was beaten by a subsequent winner at Punchestown and had previously shown form at this level, while the in-form Union Station is difficult to assess but is a fascinating runner stepping up a mile in distance.
Prediction : 1st Brandt 2nd One Horse Army 3rd Brucejack

ONEINTHEWELL has a fine pedigree and debuts for a yard which does very well in bumpers. The selection's dam was bumper-placed but, far more notably, is a half-sister to Altior, graded-placed Princess Leya and four other winners. His trainer has a good line with recent bumper form and it is encouraging that Oneinthewell makes his debut aged four under Patrick Mullins. There are no form lines tying together previous winners Eternal Echo and Carrigmoorna Beech and while both won slowly-run bumpers on debut, they showed nice ability and remain open to vast improvement.
Prediction : 1st Oneinthewell 2nd Eternal Echo 3rd Carrigmoorna Beech