Leopardstown Racing Tips

A competitive handicap chase to start the card but TUNE THE CHELLO could prove to be a class above her rivals here and is probably the best handicapped horse in the lineup. Henry De Bromheads mare has form figures of 212U over fences and although she was beaten when badly hampered and unseating at Listowel in September, she was keeping on and that was a much stronger race than this. She has been given time to recover from that effort and looks to have been found a good opportunity to exploit her current mark.

An extremely strong maiden hurdle and with both Journey with Me and Kilcruit having claims for the big novice hurdle targets it could prove to be a key piece of form to follow. However, MINELLA CROONER has been quietly going about his business and has been very impressive in his bumper wins at Sligo and Punchestown. He has shown plenty of ability for Gordon Elliott and could be some solid each-way value to cause the upset.

This looks to be a strong renewal of this race, but DYSART DIAMOND holds several of her rivals based on her win at Punchestown last month. She looks to have fewer quirks than most of her opponents do and with Willie Mullins team in such fine form, she could be the solid option to run her race.

This is a wide-open contest and whilst Run Wild Fred and Ontheropes have significant experience and big handicap wins under their belts, there are plenty of unexposed rivals with solid hurdle form to take them on with. ASHDALE BOB had continued to run well without getting his head in front, but he is likely to be a much bigger price than he should be as a result and a repeat of his 3^rd placed finish behind Farouk D’Alene at the start of the month could be enough to see him hit the frame at a decent price.

SHARJAH has won the last 3 renewals of this race and is impossible to oppose on form. He won the Morgiana at Punchestown with some authority last time and is effectively 9lbs well in with the rest of the field on these terms, so it is hard to see how he doesn’t add a 4^th win to his impressive CV.

Loads of potentially well treated Novices in this Handicap hurdle but POUR PAVORE has already won twice in handicap hurdles since returning from a break in October. He has been raised 11lbs for his last win at Clonmel in November, but the form of that race has worked out quite well in the meantime and he saw out the trip so well that he may be able to defy that rise and complete the hat-trick.

This looks to be a match race on paper with preference being for THE NICE GUY and Smooth Player. Willie Mullins 6-year-old is a latecomer to the track but rewarded his connections faith by winning impressively on his debut at Fairyhouse in November. He is bred to be a good bumper horse given his Sire’s (Fame and Glory) record in this sphere and should show his class to make it 2 from 2.