Recent entries in Horse Racing
Leopardstown Christmas Festival Tips, Day 2, Sunday 27th December
Johnny Ward / 26 December 2009 Free Bet View Market
"Backing a horse out of the weights in such a competitive handicap as the feature Paddy Power Steeplechase would seem somewhat bizarre but I am struggling to get away from Glenquest."
TWO GRADE ONES and a very lucrative handicap should entice a good crowd to Leopardstown on Sunday.
Backing a horse out of the weights in such a competitive handicap as the feature Paddy Power Steeplechase would seem somewhat bizarre but I am struggling to get away from Glenquest. He has a fixed penalty after a smooth win at Navan, no weight on his back and a progressive profile which many of his foes lack. Terence O'Brien's charge looks a fair shout at 18, and I would also suggest a place lay of Lochan Lacha. Tony Martin's charge scrambled home over hurdles last time but basically seems an out-and-out stayer and the ground may well be too quick for him; this track is not one which emphasises stamina either.
The main Grade One, the the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Steeplechase, is not the easiest race to solve. Will Golden Silver be as effective on ground that is not as deep as what he generally runs on? Davy Russell described it as "yielding" on Saturday - and if it is anything like that, Forpadydeplasterer may get away with it at around 3.8. Quite what he achieved against Twist Magic remains to be seen - and the time of the race was nothing special - but he looks sure to run well in a race in which they all have a chance on ratings. Watson Lake and Mansony are getting on in years. Both the former and Carthalawn cannot beat Golden Silver on Cork running, but it will be interesting to see what sort of gallop they go; the faster the better for Fordpadydeplasterer. He is probably our main Champion Chase hope, with Big Zeb over-rated - and that is when he stays up. Tranquil Sea seems too short at 2.9 over a trip that is shy of what is arguably his optimum and he is a lay at that sort of price. He is also making a big step from handicap company to the best of our two-milers.
The opening race sees Big Game Hunter make his jumps debut. Mouse Morris would not have many quite useful flat horses joining him and the son of Sadler's Wells is clearly one to monitor in the market. These juvenile hurdles - as shown on Saturday - can be unpredictable affairs, with horses often jumping unnaturally and moreover running too freely, as Alaivan did.
Prince Of Fire is put forward as the nap vote in the second race. Charlie Swan's horse clearly is flattered by his proximity last time to both Sweeps Hill and Some Present; however, the hope is that the layers might dismiss its substance because of the sprint finish that ensued that day after a farcical first half-mile. Prince Of Fire still showed abundant promise then and should be hard to beat for Charlie Swan if he progresses from it. Some Present has finished second on two more occasions since then. He is not straightforward but clearly has plenty of ability and has fair credentials in the novices' hurdle, in which he renews rivalry with Sweeps Hill. I would contend than Fionnegas probably wants further, while the likes of Baron D'el and Hollo Ladies are hardly good enough. Luska Lad falls into the same category and Judge Roy Bean was disappointing the last time.
The three-mile handicap hurdle can go to Mythical Prince, who was desperately unlucky against Operation Houdini at Navan. A token vote in the bumper goes to Willie Mullins' Some Target; not many can be fancied in this race and Mullins deserves some fortune after the frustrating day he had on Saturday with no runners at either Irish track
