Hi all,
Once Howling Milan fell, when still in the lead at the last at Newbury you just knew it wasn’t going to be our day.
Here’s hoping for better on Sunday. Leopardstown takes centre stage with two Grade 1’s the highlights of a seven-race card.
Leopardstown
1:55 – Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 3m
Gordon Elliott has won three of the last four running’s of this Grade 1 novice chase, including the last two. He saddles likely favourite Battleoverdoyen & Champagne Classic. The former has won both his two starts over fences and looks a solid mark leader. The latter has won his last two starts over fences and I don’t think there will be much between the pair. However, both could struggle against Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle winner Minello Indo. The 6-year-old made an encouraging debut over the larger obstacles when runner-up to Laurina on his chase debut at Gowran Park last month. The 2m 4f was a bit short for him and he should be seen to better effect back over 3m. He’s jumping was solid at Gowran Park and he remains an exciting novice chasing prospect. The one to beat with that seasonal return under his belt. Carefully Selected runner-up in the 2018 Cheltenham Champion bumper. Just had the two starts over hurdles last season, the best of them when finishing 3rd to 12 to Minella Indo in the Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. The 7-year-old made a successful debut over fences when winning a Fairyhouse beginners chase 29-days ago. Another who will be suited by a return to 3m but he needs to jump better than he did last time.
Verdict: This could be the race of the four days. Carefully Selected could cause a minor surprise if his jumps better than he did on his return.
1pt win – Carefully Selected – 6/1 @ Coral
2:30 – Matheson Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
Klassical Dream won last years Supreme Hurdle and was fully expected to make a winning debut in open company on his return in the Morgana Hurdle but could only finish third. Better can be expected from the 5-year-old today but he looks plenty short in the market at 5/4 given a disappointing effort in the Morgana. Darasso won a weak Grade 3 at Gowran Park when dropped to 2m in February and ended last season winning a Grade 2 novices’ chase at Navan a month later. He looked an exciting prospect for the season when winning at Navan and it’s interesting that connections allow him to make his seasonal reappearance here back over hurdles. Coeur Sublime runner-up in last season’s Triumph Hurdle made a winning return to action when winning a Grade 2 at Down Royal in November. Looks a stronger horse this season and is going the right way but if he’s to be a genuine Champion Hurdle contender he needs to win this.
Verdict: I’m expecting much better from Klassical Dream on a track that suits but at the prices Darasso looks worth chancing.
1pt win – Darasso – 13/2 @ Bet365
There are also two big field handicaps on the Leopardstown card.
12:10 – It normally pays to note any Edward Harty trained runners at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival. Since 2014 he’s had 3 winners from 10 runners 30% + 3.01. He saddles the lightly raced Uaintseenothingyet. The 8-year-old has just had the five starts over fences and has each way claims on his best form.
0.5pts each way – Uaintseenothingyet – 16/1 @ Unibet (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
3:05 – Drop the Anchor broke his maiden tag over hurdle at the seventh attempt when winning a Punchestown handicap hurdle 42-days ago. He’s up 8lb for that success but the return to 2m 4 ½ f should be in his favour, as will the soft ground.
Envious Editor showed promise in maiden hurdle company last season and made an encouraging return to action when 4th of 25 at Navan 22-days ago. The 5-year-old stays 2m 4f and makes his handicap debut of what looks a workable mark off 120.
Millen To One seemed to show improved form for the step up to 2m 3 ½ f when 4th of 13 at Clonmel two starts back. The 5-year-old wasn’t suited by the drop back to 2m when beaten favourite back at the same venue 24-days ago. Return to further should be in his favour for his handicap hurdle debut and he looks interesting off a mark of just 109. Like Envious Editor he’s capable of better now going handicapping.
Cavalry Master represents the inform Henry De Bromhead stable. The trainer won this race in 2016 and Cavalry Master comes into the race after a battling win in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last month. The 5-year-old should develop into a good chaser in time but he’s capable of winning a race like this over hurdles. Makes his handicap hurdle debut and is open to plenty of improvement for this step up to 2m 4 ½ f.
Verdict: Drop The Anchorhas the form in the book but the likes of Envious Editor, Millen To One and Cavalry Master are all open to more progress now going handicapping, especially the latter named.
1pt win – Cavalry Master – 4/1 @ Paddy Power & William Hill
1pt win – Envious Editor – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John