Our man in Ireland previews the feature action from Leopardstown today and highlights his two recommended bets.
Racing betting tips: Friday December 29
1pt win Gaillard Du Mesnil in 1.45 Leopardstown at 13/8 (General)
1pt win Spirit Of Legend in 2.55 Leopardstown at 9/2 (General)
Primary goal for Sharjah, but hard to be confident
Sharjah goes for five in a row in the Matheson Hurdle on the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival today, and no horse has ever done that before.
Willie Mullins’ horse is already in exalted company, as only Istabraq and Hurricane Fly have won four, and you can argue that Sharjah’s feat is even more impressive, as he has won four in a row, while those two hurdling greats took five years to win their four. A fifth would be something else. Literally.
It’s not going to be easy for him though because, in State Man he faces a young hurdler on the up, a stable companion, the County Hurdle winner from last season, a Grade 1 winner at Punchestown in April and winner of the Morgiana Hurdle on his debut this season. And in Vauban he faces an even younger hurdler on the up, another stable companion, winner of the championship juvenile hurdle races at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals, and less than half Sharjah’s age.
Sharjah has four lengths to find on State Man on their Morgiana Hurdle running, but it is not an unbridgeable gap. He should be better today with that run under his belt, his first run since this race last year, this is his race, and you can be sure that this has been his primary target since the end of last season. It’s probably a race for watching though.
Mesnil one to follow
The Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase is also a race for watching, but there could be a betting angle to it too, because you can argue that GAILLARD DU MESNIL should be favourite in front of Three Stripe Life.
Three Stripe Life is obviously a hugely exciting prospect. Gordon Elliott’s horse kept the best of company last season as a novice hurdler, he finished second behind Sir Gerhard in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February and in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and he bagged his Grade 1 win in the Mersey Hurdle at Aintree in April.
He was good too in winning his beginners’ chase at Naas last month, his jumping was good and he won well, and you can easily allow him his performance in the Drinmore Chase last time, as he made a bad mistake at the eighth fence and his saddle slipped. It is significant that he was sent off at a shorter price for the Drinmore than his stable companion Mighty Potter, who ran out an impressive winner.
But Gaillard Du Mesnil also has a deep body of form. It is remarkable that Willie Mullins’ horse hasn’t won yet over fences but, a dual Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler, he finished third behind L’Homme Presse in the Brown Advisory Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and he finished third in the Irish Grand National in April off a handicap mark of 154.
He ran well too to finish third in that Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse on his debut this season over a trip that was surely short of his best. Settled towards the rear of the field early on that day in a race in which the pace held up well, he made good progress through his field, and he emerged as the only real challenger to Mighty Potter at the second last fence. He had no answer to the winner’s pace in the end, but he kept on well to finish a clear second, well clear of the talented Banbridge.
He should come on for that run, his first since April, and he should appreciate the step up to three miles today. He goes well at the track, he has won twice in three runs at Leopardstown, and he could put up another big performance today.
Lots to like about Legend
Amirite could run well at a decent price, he did well to get as close as he did in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Chase at Punchestown last time, and he is generally a good jumper. He could be the one who will get closest to the big two.
Amirite’s trainer Henry de Bromhead has a big chance of landing the novices’ handicap hurdle later on the day with SPIRIT OF LEGEND.
Chris Jones’s horse did well to reel in breakaway front-runner Kilbree Warrior in a maiden hurdle at Navan on his hurdling debut last month.
He travelled well through his race in the main body of the field, and he showed a really willing attitude on the run-in to get up and catch the leader. And Oliver McKiernan’s mare enhanced that form when she made all to win her maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse by 16 lengths last Wednesday.
Spirit Of Legend should progress from that run, his hurdling debut and just his second race under Rules, and a handicap rating of 125 for this, his handicap debut, is more than workable.
For more of Donn's work visit www.donnmcclean.com.
- Published 1120 GMT on 29/12/2022
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