Leopardstown 29 December 2022

Going: Soft (Yielding in places)
 
 
Light rain

Forecast: Light rain
Temperature: 4.2° - 6.7°
Rainfall: 2.93mm
Wind: 15.8 mph SW

All Racecards within one PDF

Instructions

1

12:00 Leopardstown (IRE) (4YO plus)

Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase (0-123)

2m 5f

Winner €12,000 - 16 ran

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

HANDSWORTH, a dual winner over 2m4f last term, is a likeable type and ran a blinder when chasing home a very talented rival at Aintree last month. Granted he was getting nearly two stone but the horse that beat him is now rated 155 and he faces nothing of that calibre here. The ground may have been too testing for Archies Charm last time at Gowran but he previously had Arctic Ambition well back in third when running recent winner Final Orders to half a length at Down Royal. Brian Hamilton has only once run him left-handed in sixteen starts, though, which has to be a concern. Arctic Ambition went on to win at Thurles next time before an unlucky mishap over hurdles at Tramore. He's up 9lb for his latest chasing victory but is probably still on a decent mark. Temptationinmilan has been most consistent since winning at Listowel but now finds himself a cumulative 7lb higher for his last three runner-up finishes.

2

12:35 Leopardstown (IRE) (5YO plus)

Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle

2m 4f

Winner €9,000 - 12 ran

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

TAG MAN achieved a good level of form in bumpers including a victory in a competitive contest at the Punchestown festival. He made an encouraging start over hurdles when fourth to the subsequent Grade One-placed Ashroe Diamond at Naas and, having finished second to a good horse in a 3m point-to-point, promises to be suited by this step up in trip. Good Land won a Wexford bumper in good style before not getting far on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse. Barry Connell recently referenced him as his best chance of the week at Leopardstown and he has to be respected. Paul Townend has chosen hurdling debutant Madmansgame, a bumper winner at Navan last term and now fitted with a tongue-tie, ahead of Embassy Gardens who was miles clear of the rest when second to a subsequent winner in a maiden at Cork.

3

13:10 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (4YO plus)

BeattheBank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle (Grade 3)

2m 4f

Winner €24,000 - 6 ran

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

Runner-up in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, QUEENS BROOK needed her seasonal debut at Limerick and was much better when winning at Punchestown last month. This sort of distance is ideal for her and she can defy a 3lb penalty in a contest lacking depth. Shewearsitwell is best in at the weights but needed every yard of the trip when coming from well off the pace to win a three-mile handicap at Punchestown. She did win over this trip at a lower level of competition at Killarney in May but looks vulnerable dropping back to it now given her style of running last time. All the others have plenty to find on the book and maybe Copper Nation, who was having her first run for six months when third to the selection at Punchestown, can fare the best of that quartet.

4

13:45 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (4YO plus)

Neville Hotels Novice Chase (Grade 1)

3m

Winner €60,000 - 7 ran

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

GAILLARD DU MESNIL's first victory over fences might just come at Grade 1 level. He won twice at the highest level over hurdles and has compiled quite a CV over fences. Last season, he finished third in a Grade 3 novices' chase at Punchestown, and in a pair of Grade 1 novices' chases at Leopardstown and Cheltenham. He then signed off with another third in the Irish Grand National. His seasonal reappearance second in a Grade 1 behind the top-class Mighty Potter at Fairyhouse this month was a more than solid effort. Gordon Elliott's Three Stripe Life is another Grade 1 winner over flights. He was impressive on chasing debut at Naas before being pulled up in the aforementioned Grade 1 at Fairyhouse where he made a mistake causing his rider to lose his irons. A tongue-strap is fitted. His stablemate, Frontal Assault, was runner-up in last season's Irish Grand National and will be eyeing prize money.

5

14:20 Leopardstown (IRE) (Class 1) (4YO plus)

Matheson Hurdle (Grade 1)

2m

Winner €90,000 - 5 ran

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

A cracking race in which Willie Mullins holds a very strong hand. Sharjah is bidding to become the first five-time winner of this Grade 1 having landed the previous four renewals under Patrick Mullins. It doesn't pay to oppose the likeable nine-year-old gelding, but it appears a tough task for him to beat his stablemate, STATE MAN. This five-year-old is really cutting a swathe through the hurdling ranks in winning the Grade 3 County Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival before emphatically landing the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. He resumed his career in style in beating Sharjah by four lengths in the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last month. Mullins also saddles Vauban and the Triumph Hurdle winner is an intriguing runner on seasonal debut. He has won his last three contests at the highest level yet is only third in the betting, at the time of writing, which shows the depth in this race.

6

14:55 Leopardstown (IRE) (4YO plus)

I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle (80-130)

2m 4f

Winner €15,000 - 12 ran

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

SPIRIT OF LEGEND won a maiden hurdle over this trip in Navan and the runner-up has since franked the form. He is very lightly raced and there could be much more in his locker. Green Glory has shown signs of ability on a few occasions and could be of interest off a mark off 111 on his handicap debut, while Aidan Coleman is a notable booking for The Gradual Slope. He lacks a recent run, but won decisively when last seen at Kilbeggan in the summer. Tramore maiden hurdle winner Gaoth Chuil is another to consider.

7

15:25 Leopardstown (IRE) (4YO plus)

Plusvital Flat Race

2m

Winner €12,000 - 9 ran

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

Gordon Elliott's CALDWELL POTTER, a brother of Mighty Potter no less, blew the field apart when winning his bumper at Punchestown last month. He has a considerable engine. Willie Mullins gave Special Cadeau a favourable mention in a stable tour. He is out of a 1,000 Guineas winner and won a bumper at Huntingdon in November last year for his previous trainer. Rockstown Girl began her career with a wide-margin victory at Roscommon in July. She was subsequently third in a Listed mares' bumper at Gowran Park in September. The runner-up boosted the form by landing a Listed mares' bumper in Navan. Elliott's Cato Capone was promoted to first when narrowly beaten by Mullins' Lecky Watson off level weights in Punchestown last month. Cato Capone is 7lb better off today due to John Gleeson's claim. Elliott's King Of Kingsfield has won a point-to-point and a bumper and adds further spice to this field. Shuil Valentine isn't out of it.

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