UK Horse Racing Tips: Leopardstown

GREY JUDE is consistent, has kept useful company so far, and ran well when conceding 2lb to Raise You Up at Naas last month. He likes this distance and has form on testing ground. Vitorio Piel was a debut Punchestown Festival bumper winner last May and while it is disappointing that he hasn't won over hurdles since, he had a veterinary excuse after his hurdling debut. He might ideally prefer further, but should get involved. Chichester Park was well held in a Thurles handicap, but has solid place claims on previous form.
Prediction : 1st Grey Jude 2nd Vitorio Piel 3rd Chichester Park

PETIT SECRET has a big layoff to overcome, but was smart in 2023 and contests an ordinary maiden on his reappearance. A well-bred half-brother to four black-type performers, he showed promise before falling at the second-last in a point-to-point and, at Fairyhouse in December 2023, beat subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Bleu De Vassy and high-class stayer Ma Shantou in a bumper. Ex-Flat performer Playtime has reasonable recent form but is vulnerable to a smart type, while Ehteyat's Thurles placing in January reads very well.
Prediction : 1st Petit Secret 2nd Playtime 3rd Ehteyat

EL FABIOLO was top-class in his day and although he was well held in the Irish Champion Hurdle, he drops in grade and should take all the beating. Conqueror of Jonbon in the 2023 Arkle at Cheltenham, poor jumping proved costly in his later chasing career but he returned in December to score at Punchestown. Eight-time winner Maxxum retains plenty of ability, but would prefer a stiffer test of stamina. Soir De Garde has nice ability, but hasn't raced since scoring on his jumping debut at Tramore last April and faces a tough task on his reappearance.
Prediction : 1st El Fabiolo 2nd Maxxum 3rd Soir De Garde

KRABAT is an 11-year-old who has yet to win over timber, but is ideally suited by testing ground and has been running well recently. Although he has been beaten in 23 previous hurdle attempts, he has been placed in 10 of those and scored over fences at Limerick in December. He is rated 7lb lower in this sphere and ran well at Gowran last month. Chiefs Kingdom is a 16-race maiden and while he ran well at Leopardstown over Christmas, he would prefer better ground. Harpy Eagle is another maiden and his best placings have also come on a sound surface, but he wasn't beaten too far at Punchestown last month.
Prediction : 1st Krabat 2nd Chiefs Kingdom 3rd Harpy Eagle

THE WALLPARK showed much more over fences last time and may be up to landing this competitive handicap. The eight-year-old was a high-class hurdler, finishing third in last year's Stayers' Hurdle, but his form over fences wasn't great until he chased home Oscars Brother in Grade 2 company at Navan. He looks attractive here off a mark of 142. Gorgeous Tom has run well in a couple of outings this season and is an obvious danger. His fourth in the Coral Gold Cup was solid and he races off 2lb lower now. Fishery Lane was no match for stablemate Salvator Mundi at Thurles, but could play a bigger role now in handicap company.
Prediction : 1st The Wallpark 2nd Gorgeous Tom 3rd Fishery Lane

ONETHREEFIVENOTOUT may be worth a shot after a little break. The Milan gelding had his jumping issues late last year, but looks on a competitive mark if he can overcome that. He was a staying-on second on his first outing for Gordon Elliott at Down Royal in November and was a well-backed favourite when last seen at Navan in mid-December. Promontory was no match for Rokathir at Navan last month but it was a nice run in second and, off only 1lb higher, he could play a big role. So They Tell Me and Gringo D'aubrelle, who were third and fourth at Navan, are others who have to be considered.
Prediction : 1st Onethreefivenotout 2nd Promontory 3rd So They Tell Me

Patrick Mullins has a good strike-rate when teaming up with trainer Tom Cooper and he is an eyecatching booking for newcomer MENTO. This Karaktar gelding is a half-brother to a couple of winners in France and is out of a half-sister to Italian Grade 1-winning chaser Present Bleu. Gordon Elliott saddles Fascinating Rock filly Cinating. She is a half-sister to several winners, including Group 3 runner-up Jaega. Another interesting newcomer is the Poet's Word gelding Way With Words. Philip Dempsey's charge is out of six-time Dundalk winner Sheisdiesel.
Prediction : 1st Mento 2nd Cinating 3rd Way With Words