15:30 Leopardstown

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2014:5515:30

Lep Inn Flat Race

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 3m 59.20s

Ballyneety

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: J P O'Brien

7/1

Milan gelding who cost €65,000 as a three-year-old. Some winning form in his pedigree, including bumpers, and needs considering for top connections.

Form:

Blackbow²⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

5/4

Stowaway gelding and point-to-point winner in March who has since joined this top trainer for £150,000. Has to hold strong claims on debut under rules.

Form: 1-

Boot Camp^h1⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Ms L O'Neill⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott

9/2

Good effort to finish second in a Thurles bumper in October. Has shown a tendency to race keenly so encouraging to see a hood has been fitted on stable debut.

Form: 6-2

Clever As A Fox⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D L Queally⁽³⁾| T: A Fleming

25/1

Didn't show too much when sixth on debut at Down Royal last month. Probably has too much to find with the more promising among these.

Form: 6

Fortune Street²⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Katie Walsh| T: P Nolan

9/1

Seventh in a hot bumper at Punchestown in April but behind Gallant John Joe that day and needs to reverse form with that re-opposing rival.

Form: 7-

Forty One Winks^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: A Mullins

25/1

Well-beaten on debut at Fairyhouse last time out when beaten 54L. Wears a first time tongue-strap and is best watched here.

Form: 0

Gold Speed^h⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr L Bleahen⁽⁷⁾| T: A Murray

14/1

Beaten only by the promising Felix Desjy on debut under rules in a Punchestown bumper back in October. Could build on that, but Derek O'Connor now rides newcomer Ballyneety.

Form: F-2

Perito Moreno⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr S F O'Keeffe⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E Doyle

33/1

Ran a respectable race in third on debt at Navan last month. That form wouldn't be enough for him to win here, but he has the potential to improve on that effort.

Form: 3

Pilot Station³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr C Fahy⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy

25/1

Failed to complete in three point-to-points (fell twice, unseated once), and that can't be seen as an encouraging record ahead of this debut under rules.

Form: F-UF

The Holy One³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Miss K Harrington⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Harrington

5/1

Point-to-point winner who ran a nice race in second on debut under rules at Punchestown last month. May be able to improve on that effort here.

Form: 1-2

The Shunter³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: N T Prendergast⁽⁷⁾| T: J O Clifford

25/1

Third on debut at Punchestown last month when showing signs of inexperience. Capable of going close in a bumper but may find this one too tough.

Form: 3

Non-Runners

Gallant John Joe²⁴⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 4

T: O McKiernan J: R Deegan

The Princetonian¹⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: Mrs J Harrington J: Unknown Jockey

Forecasts

Blackbow (5/4), Boot Camp (9/2), The Holy One (5/1), Ballyneety (7/1), Gallant John Joe (8/1), Fortune Street (9/1), Gold Speed (14/1), The Princetonian (20/1), Pilot Station (25/1), Forty One Winks (25/1), Clever As A Fox (25/1), The Shunter (25/1), Perito Moreno (33/1)

Blackbow is a point-to-point winner who holds obvious claims on his first start for Willie Mullins having cost £150,000 since, but preference is for GALLANT JOHN JOE. This son of Presenting wasn't beaten far on debut at Punchestown last time despite showing signs of his inexperience, and the form of that race is working out very well indeed, with a subsequent Graded winner and an easy bumper winner ahead of him and a subsequent Listed winner behind. He can land the spoils here with newcomer Ballyneety also of interest on paper.