Leopardstown – Sunday 6th March

It seems at the moment that no matter how hard I try, I can’t for the life of me find a rhythm to my selections at the moment. Fingers crossed, that given the fact I am in a decent position with some ante-post selections that Cheltenham can bring us out of the embers, because we could do with it. Vera Verto was a lovely winner at Navan but the two bigger priced selections, despite both being very well backed – failed to deliver when it counted. However, Leopardstown is knocking on the door for tomorrow, and hopefully that can lead to a decent day.

Starting with the opening race on the card, which is the 1.55 2m4f maiden hurdle, this race looks like an open affair between the first three in the market. Both Ballykeel and Harald Hardrad were well beaten last time out at Naas and have it to find, while Chiricahua didn’t jump with much fluency at Naas on his final start also. However, that can perhaps be forgiven and it is Chiricahua that I will be siding with on this occasion, with the option of coming here preferred to taking in a handicap. He was entered in a few festival handicaps, so they obviously hold this horse to some regard and his three starts over hurdles have all held promise, without that elusive win being found. He stays this trip well and the ground on offer will be to his liking. At a price of 11/4 – he should have a very good chance. 

The 2.30 race is one of the better races on the card and this 2m2f conditions hurdle does look like a race which former star Whiskey Sour should collect. However, he has developed into a tricky customer and a few of these have been less than reliable in recent starts, so in truth the short odds looks off-putting. Instead, I will be siding with my friend, Gallant John Joe – who returns over hurdles in this race and must have a chance looking back to his chase form and his hurdle form in years gone by. He showed up well at the Dublin Racing Festival over the big sticks and provided they are trying with the horse tomorrow, instead of just giving him a blowout – he should run a big race with conditions in his favour. At a price of 13/2 with Paddy Power, he should be backed each way. 

The 3.40 race is the first tasty handicap to get stuck into on the card and I think there are two worth siding with in the 2m4f race. First of all is the top weight in this race, Tucanae – who despite some poor form figures, has more than enough class to be very competitive in this sort of contest. Danny Hand takes off a needed seven pounds, and while she fell only a week ago – she has run a decent race at this venue before in a much better contest than this. She may need a bit of confidence boosting but coming back in class will help significantly with that, and I think with the class edge on her rivals, she should run a big race. At a price of 13/2 with Paddy Power, who are offering 4 places, she should be backed each way. 

Also a mare called Breezy Bell should be backed in this contest for the Eddie Cawley yard, as although she disappointed last time out, has some good winning form and may still be able to compete off this type of mark. Two starts back at Fairyhouse, she romped in over 2 miles to Sil Ver Klass, who has gone on to win over fences so the form looks robust. She was well ahead that day but never looked comfortable at Punchestown last month when easy to back on the day and fading out of contention. That was 2m5f on softer ground and this is a much easier 2m4f on better ground, so there should be no excuses conditions wise. At a price of 20/1, she should also be backed each way. 

The 4.15 race is the rated novice chase and this race sees the return of a horse I have been waiting for a long time to see. Fighting Fit is the name of the horse and those with elephant memories may remember that we were successful on this horse last time out at Naas. He was a handicap blot that day and he should have a good chance of following up, and has been well found in the market to go and do so. This race does not look like there is massive amounts of strength in depth and the performance this horse put in at Naas was indicative of one that had more to give. His jumping is a great positive and although he is a short price, I’ll be backing tomorrow at a price of 15/8. 

The final item on the menu is the 4.50 race, and this is the feature handicap of the afternoon over 2m5f. I really quite like one right at the bottom of the weights in this contest, with the well handicapped Donkey Years. Having won at Navan last year, Donkey Years has been very quiet so far this season until being very well backed last time out. He was very unlucky to come second that day, and he should have improved plenty for that effort. This is the sort of pot that one would have always thought was within the range of a horse of his ability, and with Mark Walsh choosing him to ride, all seems well for a big run. At a price of 8/1 with Paddy Power, who are offering 5 places – he looks a good each way bet.