Leopardstown 06 February 2016

Going: Soft
 
 
Moderate showers

Forecast: Moderate showers
Temperature: 2.8° - 9.4°
Rainfall: 3.06mm
Wind: 21.5 mph SW

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

12:55 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (4YO only)

Gain Spring Juvenile Hurdle (grade 1)

2m

Winner €50,150 - 8 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

A race that will have a massive impact upon the Triumph Hurdle market with ante-post favourite IVANOVICH GORBATOV bidding to confirm the promise he showed when making a winning debut here over Christmas. He had Let's Dance and Lagostovegas behind him that day and it is hard to see either of those reversing the form with the son of Montjeu. Jer's Girl was a narrow second in the Grade 2 here back in December and she arguably brings the strongest form to the table, while it would not be a big surprise to see Rashaan put in an improved effort today. Allblak Des Places and Footpad are others who cannot be discounted.

2

13:25 Leopardstown (IRE) (4YO plus)

Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Mares Handicap Hurdle

2m 2f

Winner €12,915 - 11 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

Elusive Ivy showed a good attitude when winning at Punchestown last month and a 5lb rise in the ratings looks fair enough. The other last time out winner in the field, Pride Of The Braid, makes her handicap debut on a workable mark, based on that success here recently. That being said, they could struggle to follow up those victories with GOOD AS GOLD in the race today. The top weight was a very respectable fifth in the Coral.IE Hurdle hear last month and she starts here on the same mark. Barnahash Rose and The Living Beauty are others who feature on the shortlist.

3

13:55 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (5YO plus)

Deloitte Novice Hurdle (grade 1)

2m 2f

Winner €53,100 - 5 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

A high-class event which provides an interesting clash between BELLSHILL and Tombstone. The preference goes to the former because he has yet to taste defeat over hurdles and has looked to be a very exciting prospect in those starts. Tombstone was only narrowly defeated in the Grade 1 here over the festive period and the first-time hood should bring about some improvement. However, he will need to as stable vibes suggest the Mullins team rank Bellshill above Long Dog. It would be foolish to dismiss Petit Mouchoir, who was not far behind Tombstone last time, but the others need to improve to feature.

4

14:30 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (5YO plus)

Flogas Novice Chase (Grade 1)

2m 5f 60y

Winner €50,150 - 6 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

A very tricky event with all of the principles closely matched on form. The marginal preference goes to PONT ALEXANDRE, who has looked like being suited by an aggressive ride over this sort of trip in his two starts over fences this season. He has jumped well on both of those occasions and is likely to have improved again from his last run, as it was just his second starts since March 2013. His biggest danger is likely to come from his stablemate Outlander, although the form of his two wins over the larger obstacles is not that good. Zabana was a highly progressive hurdler last season and jumped impeccably well on his chasing debut here in December. He has been subsequently well backed for the JLT at Cheltenham at his supporters will want to see him go well today. Monksland is another who has to be noted, as he puts the No More Heroes form to the test.

5

15:05 Leopardstown (IRE) (4YO plus)

1888 Restaurant Handicap Hurdle

2m

Winner €14,760 - 15 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

All You Need may not have seen out the 2m4f trip at Navan in December and she followed that up with a victory on her debut over fences a month later. It is interesting that she reverts to the smaller obstacles today and she looks to be on a workable mark. Joshua Lane has not hit the heights he promised as a bumper horse, he was third in the Cheltenham bumper in 2014, but there was much more promise in his last performance. The other JP McManus runner, Blazer, was very disappointing over fences last time but clearly has ability. However, the one to side with is VERCINGETORIX, who is a very frustrating sort but rarely runs a bad race and has dropped to mark off which he should be very competitive.

6

15:40 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (5YO plus)

Irish Gold Cup (grade 1)

3m 60y

Winner €84,750 - 10 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

ROAD TO RICHES enjoyed a superb 2014-15, landing the JNwine Champion Chase and Lexus before finishing third in the Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cups. He looked as good as ever when making all to land the Clonmel Oil Chase on his seasonal return, and with Noel Meade recently reporting him to be over the issue (unsatisfactory blood test) which ruled him out of the Lexus over Christmas, a race in which First Lieutenant (second) had the beating of Foxrock (third), On His Own (fourth), Sir Des Champs (fifth) and Carlingford Lough (sixth), he's expected to prove a tough nut to crack. The last named won this contest from Foxrock 12 months ago but has been below his best of late, while Valseur Lido was well held when falling in the King George and even his own connections have admitted they'd be surprised if he could usurp Road To Riches this afternoon.

7

16:15 Leopardstown (IRE) (5YO plus)

Leopardstown Inn Hunters Chase

3m 60y

Winner €6,150 - 11 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

ON THE FRINGE thrashed his rivals in the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham last season and confirmed his status as top dog in this sphere when following up at Aintree and Punchestown thereafter. There is the danger he may be ring rusty first time out but if he's match fit he should land this and gain compensation for his two second placings in the last two renewals of this contest. With Salsify (won this in 2012 and 2013 but fourth 12 months ago) also having an absence to overcome, former Alan King inmate Two Rockers, who is match fit and improving for his current stable, appears the main danger.

8

16:45 Leopardstown (IRE) (5YO to 7YO)

Leopardstown Club Membership (pro/am) Flat Race

2m

Winner €5,535 - 10 ran

No.
Form
Horse
Age / Wt / OR
Jockey / Trainer
Form Snapshot

SOME NECK shaped with plenty of promise when second to Gurteen over C&D on debut and that rival has franked the form in style by finishing second to Min over hurdles at Punchestown and winning a bumper (here) and a maiden hurdle (at Navan) subsequently. Willie Mullins' charge is expected to come on for his debut run and shades the vote ahead of Sunni May, who makes some appeal on his debut second at Fairyhouse and Kagney, who debuts under Rules after showing promise in the point-to-point scene.

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