Leopardstown 28 December 2016

Going: Yielding
 
 
Mostly sunny

Forecast: Mostly sunny
Temperature: 4.5° - 9.3°
Rainfall: none
Wind: 9.4 mph S

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

12:15 Leopardstown (IRE) (4YO only)

At The Races Maiden Hurdle

2m 4f 35y

Winner €7,995 - 17 ran

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

MONTALBANO was placed in a Listed contest when last seen at Auteuil in France and this smart performer in both codes makes his debut for the currently all-conquering Rich Ricci whose horses are in flying form at present. Black Key was a stayer on the Flat for Hughie Morrison and is open to improvement now stepped up in distance after finishing fourth on hurdles debut at Navan, while Cap York and Its All Guesswork complete the shortlist.

2

12:50 Leopardstown (IRE) (4YO plus)

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)

3m

Winner €15,682 - 25 ran

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

The most interesting contender lining up has to be Presenting Percy as he represents the same connections that landed the Pertemps Final with Mall Dini earlier this year and should improve for the step up in distance but preference goes to BILLY'S HOPE. Jessica Harrington's string have been fairly quiet recently but this daughter of King's Theatre has some solid form in the book having placed behind Airlie Beach at Gowran in September and improved for the step up in distance when winning at Thurles last time. Mahler Ten has to be respected on handicap debut, while others to consider include Sea Light and Rathpatrick.

3

13:20 Leopardstown (IRE) (4YO plus)

Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase

2m 3f

Winner €8,610 - 11 ran

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

A beginners chase that has gone to some smart individuals over the years including Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere and dual Gold Cup runner-up Djakadam. The latter's trainer is represented by Grade 1 winning hurdler BLEU ET ROUGE, who looked a top prospect when beating Tombstone here in the Deloitte in February but things didn't go his way after that as he fell in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham before looking one-paced behind Buveur D'Air over 2m at Aintree. This intermediate trip is ideal to start him off and it looks notable that Barry Geraghty chooses him over another Grade 1 winner in Don't Touch It, who has to improve on a below par chasing debut when third behind Bellshill at Gowran. Gangster will appreciate the step up in distance, while Acapella Bourgeois achieved a clear round at Fairyhouse and is open to improvement.

4

13:50 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (4YO plus)

Squared Financial Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)

3m

Winner €50,150 - 8 ran

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

Vroum Vroum Mag lost her unbeaten record for Willie Mullins when denied by a short head by Apple's Jade in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Although she is renowned for her versatility at various distances, this is her toughest test at this distance she has faced so far and she will need to be at her best to beat SNOW FALCON, who was travelling well when falling three out in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in a race won by Unowhatimeanharry and has a lot in his favour. Kotkikova is a fascinating contender having been a champion in her native France, while Shaneshill will benefit from a return to 3m having found 2m4f too sharp on his last two starts.

5

14:25 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (4YO plus)

Irish Daily Star Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle

2m

Winner €10,763 - 11 ran

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

Tony Martin has landed the last two renewals of this contest and TUDOR CITY looks set to launch a bold bid to maintain his record. The four-year-old won on the level in October and was just outstayed at Cheltenham last time out when well backed. He went up 1lb for that performance but Donagh Meyler takes off 3lb this time and he can get the better of Ben Dundee, who has some decent form but might need further than this given time. Bull Ride and Charlie Stout complete the shortlist.

6

15:00 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (5YO plus)

Lexus Chase (Grade 1)

3m

Winner €88,501 - 13 ran

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

Don Poli landed this last year with a battling display but he hasn't been in the same form since and was mightily disappointing on his seasonal reappearance and stable debut for Gordon Elliott. Zabana should be suited by the decent ground on offer and won well at Gowran last month, but that form doesn't look as strong as DJAKADAM's, who has been second in two Cheltenham Gold Cup contests and won well on his reappearance recently against race-fit rivals. Valseur Lido could come into his own this season now with Henry De Bromhead, while Jonjo O' Neill's pair of Taquin Du Seuil and More Of That probably won't be good enough to land this prize.

7

15:35 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (4YO to 6YO)

Midland Legal Solicitors Flat Race

2m

Winner €5,843 - 8 ran

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

CARTER MCKAY was snapped up by Willie Mullins after impressively winning his point-to-point in the spring and Rich Ricci's charge is rumoured to have been impressing with his work on the Closutton gallops. There is a chance that he will shoot to the top of the Cheltenham Bumper betting with victory here and he is fancied to make a winning debut in a contest that has gone to the likes of Gurteen and Up For Review in recent years. Noel Meade is always respected in such events and Moyross needs to be monitored for market support, while Raise A Tail is interesting on his first start since April 2015.

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