UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

Dual French bumper winner KOKTAIL DIVIN has shown nice ability in two Irish hurdle runs and contests a lesser maiden than when finishing third in January. While beaten 24 lengths at Fairyhouse, that was a fast-run race and he was beaten by high-class types, but now faces a lesser task reverting to 2m4f. Similarly, Zillow has been beaten by Kopek Des Bordes and Kawaboomga during Christmas and was then well held by promising Karbau last month. He is also a dual French winner and should give the selection a race. Champion jockey Jack Kennedy returns to ride the reappearing good-ground performer Arabian Diamond, which shouldn't be too far away.
Prediction : 1st Koktail Divin 2nd Zillow 3rd Arabian Diamond

QUALIMITA is unlikely to live up to expectations having cost 500,000 euro following a point-to-point win but has, nonetheless, shown ability and ran well here last month. Listed-placed in one bumper run last season, she has shown consistent hurdles form this term and a reproduction of her Listed handicap third at the Dublin Racing Festival might prove enough to win here. Miss Mini Bee has seven lengths to find with the selection on December form and she in turn finished ahead of Full Of Life at Punchestown in January. Barnahash Primrose was slowly away when running no race on her Christmas comeback and while smart in bumpers, is lightly-raced and needs to recapture old form.
Prediction : 1st Qualimita 2nd Miss Mini Bee 3rd Barnahash Primrose

A chance is taken with PENELOPE'S CHARM, whose recent form reads badly but she debuts in handicaps wearing first-time cheekpieces and can better her current rating. Admittedly a very in-and-out performer, the selection attained a Listed bumper-placing last March and finished out her race reasonably well when defeating plenty rivals at Clonmel last month. Today's extra furlong can help and this is a very winnable handicap. Mount Shenshan has obvious claims having won at Clonmel last month, although he is 5lb higher and without her rider's 7lb claim today. Ex-Willie Mullins-trained Marie's March drops markedly in grade from her Fairyhouse maiden hurdle run and can compete on her handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Penelopes Charm 2nd Mount Shenshan 3rd Maries March

MONEY HEIST has had training setbacks in his career but is a useful chaser who reverts to hurdling from a favourable rating. His three previous wins have come over shorter distances but, nonetheless, he stays well. While well beaten on his previous hurdles start in November 2023, that was a comeback run and, today, he is rated 18lb lower in this sphere than over fences. John Storey and Sammy Smart each has recent winning form at this level and stay well but nonetheless each faces a tougher task, upped in the weights. The Miracle Man was held in second place when exiting at the final flight at Navan last month and has solid place claims.
Prediction : 1st Money Heist 2nd John Storey 3rd Sammy Smart

MAJESTIC FORCE may be able to bounce back after a disappointing effort on her last outing, in early January when the yard was under a bit of a cloud. The Workforce mare weakened tamely then behind Fun Fun Fun at Naas. She had run a big race previously when going down by half a length to Spindleberry at Cork and that form looks very strong with the winner taking a Listed event recently in impressive fashion. Golden Joy ran with promise when fifth on his chase debut at Thurles and with improvement he could prove a danger. Lisnagar Fortune has been well beaten on both outing over fences but it wouldn't be a surprise if he could get closer now.
Prediction : 1st Majestic Force 2nd Golden Joy 3rd Lisnagar Fortune

A WAVE OF THE SEA ran a cracker at Navan back in December and may be able to score now off just a pound higher mark. The Born To Sea gelding has had a little break since and the form of that race has worked out well. The third horse has been placed a couple of times since while the fifth, Don't Talk, has won his last two. Clonbury Bridge comes here in winning form and looks the danger. The Presenting gelding was value for a bit more than his winning margin at Fairyhouse last time and a 4lb rise doesn't look harsh. Philip Rothwell has his team in fine form and Prince Zaltar is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st A Wave Of The Sea 2nd Clonbury Bridge 3rd Prince Zaltar

SUGAR COOKIE has to defy a lengthy absence but that wouldn't be a major worry coming from the Willie Mullins yard. The French-bred filly makes her first start for the champion trainer having chased home a smart sort in the Mullins-trained Arctic Fly on her debut in this same race two years ago. Champagne Venture was no match for stunning winner Aqua Force at Gowran last time but it was still a solid effort to fill the runner-up spot and she should be thereabouts again here having been placed in her last two. Jem's Lilly ran well on her debut, when second at Punchestown, and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Sugar Cookie 2nd Champagne Venture 3rd Jems Lilly