Check out Rory Delargy and David Massey's thoughts ahead of today's racing, including the top-quality fare from Leopardstown.
Racing betting tips: Monday February 2
1pt win Santo Sospir in 13:15 Leopardstown at 6/1 (William Hill) - min 11/2
0.5pts e.w. Lecky Watson in 15:30 Leopardstown at 40/1 (bet365 1/5 1,2,3,4) - take no lower
0.5pts e.w. Bobalot in 16:27 Southwell at 10/1 (bet365, BetMGM 1/5 1,2,3) - min 9/1
With Leopardstown staging the second day of the DRF on Monday, it makes little sense to look at the modest fare on offer in the UK, and it’s a rare pleasure to study a top-class racecard taking place on a Monday.
13:15 Leopardstown
Stamina will be at a premium in the Nathaniel Lacy with testing ground, and Kazansky makes plenty of appeal having won over 2m7f at Limerick over Christmas.
Unlucky to be brought down on hurdles debut (would have won), he’s made no mistake since, scoring on both starts, and impressed when reeling in County Final at Limerick having been set plenty to do.
That proved his stamina and his proficiency in the mud, and his stable was a short-head away from a treble on Sunday’s card, so there are no concerns on that score.
However, with fresh eyes this morning and on the prevailing ground, SANTO SOSPIR looks the bet.
Proven on heavy ground and improving with each start, his easy defeat of Baby Katr at Clonmel last time marked him out as one that would very much appreciate this big step up in trip. He looks a smart prospect.
13:50 Leopardstown
My first thoughts here were that Mange Tout was surprisingly good value given she beat odds-on favourite Narciso Has in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse in November and is now 4lb better off. The runner-up has improved since, but I thought that Mange Tout was also entitled to improve for that run. She was helped by having a hood refitted after scrambling home without the headgear at Down Royal.
Here’s the run, though. As a weights-and-measures punter, it’s hard to oppose Mage Tout at the prices, but if you’re a believer in stable whispers, then you will be all over Narciso Has. Since Rory arrived in Dublin on Friday, he's run into several people with a connection to the Willie Mullins stable and they are, to a man, extremely confident of victory based on the way Narciso Has has blossomed since Fairyhouse, and he certainly took a step forward when beating Adrienne again over C&D last month.
Prices have revised themselves since opening and the current 2/1 Mange Tout is short enough, but the prices may well revert to what they were when they first came out. At around 3/1 we'd be happy to back Mange Tout and, given the vibes, we think that may well be available come the off.
15:30 Leopardstown
The dream result for most people would be for Galopin des Champs to emulate Florida Pearl in winning this race for a fourth time, and I’ll be cheering as loud as the next man if he does. I thought he looked just about as good as ever when second to Affordale Fury in the Savill’s Chase, with the lack of a prep run the difference between winning and losing, and he has every chance of making a bit of history.
That said, he’s not the only one I’d like to see win, and I’ve always been of the view that LECKY WATSON would make into a top-class chaser.
That view was vindicated when he won the Brown Advisory (Broadway) Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham last March, and I wasn’t disheartened by his unplaced run here at Christmas, with the ground quick enough for this mudlark, who was also poorly placed on the inside at a time when those who raced wider had a definite advantage.
In truth, it’s the place part of my each-way bet that I’m keenest on, but with testing ground suiting him really well, and several of his rivals not sure to appreciate a slog, I’m hopeful that he can provide a big shock.
16:27 Southwell
It's back to the bread-and-butter stuff for me after a tremendous weekend in Musselburgh and I've written plenty of the Southwell card up on sister column Away With The Spotlight that you'll also find on this esteemed website, but the one that looks a bet at the morning prices is the consistent BOBALOT, who ran another very solid race in defeat at Fontwell last time, only giving best in the very closing stages having looked a bit threat turning in.
With three places on offer with a few firms, and in a race with a few you might not necessarily trust to run their races, he looks good value in what promises yo be quite testing conditions for Southwell.
Preview posted at 09:22 GMT on 01/02/26
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