16:35 Leopardstown

Saturday 1 February 2025

All13:1513:5014:2514:5515:3016:0516:35

Paddy Power Play Card (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 5.30s

Colcannon^h1⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D O'Connor| T: N Meade| D

9/2

Career best when winning 9-runner bumper at Galway (16.4f, good to soft, 8/11) 98 days ago. Hood on 1st time. Others have achieved a bit more but he's worthy of respect.

Form: 3D32-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Coolberrin Hill³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr E P O'Brien| T: N G Hynds

100/1

Made it third time lucky in points in May. Third of 9 in bumper (40/1) at this course (20f, good) on 36 days ago.

Form: 33-13

Friary Road⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Josh Williamson| T: T M Walsh| D

40/1

2 wins from 4 runs this season. Latest win at Punchestown in October. 10/1, last of 5 in bumper at Navan (16f, good to soft) 48 days ago, not looking straightforward.

Form: 5115

Good Deal³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Eoghan Finegan| T: P Magee| D

50/1

Off a year, 20/1, won 9-runner bumper at Fairyhouse (16.5f, soft) 31 days ago, always holding on. This is a whole lot tougher.

Form: 53-1

Green Splendour³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| CD

4/1

Debut form worked out well and he won 11-runner C&D bumper (11/4) 37 days ago for new yard. They did the double in this event with Facile Vega 3 seasons back and he clearly demands respect.

Form: 4-1

He Can't Dance⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr H C Swan| T: G Elliott| D

3/1

£300,000 Jukebox Jury gelding from good family who won a point and then justified cramped odds without too much fuss in Navan bumper 8 weeks ago, making the running and readily going clear. More to come.

Form: 1-1

I Started A Joke³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr F Maguire| T: C Byrnes

11/4

Just fourth in a point but lots to like about his Limerck (8/1) victory 5 weeks ago with him having looked a bit raw still, edging out a subsequent winner of Gordon Elliott's. Can improve. Player.

Form: 4-1

Koktail Brut³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G Elliott| BF| D

14/1

Expensive recruit after landing a point and he struck in good style in Fairyhouse bumper in December. That form took some knocks though, not least when he was well beaten at short odds in messy race here (Sortudo second) at Christmas despite being well placed.

Form: 1-14

Sortudo³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Miss J Townend| T: W P Mullins| D

13/2

Second in point and easy winner in bumper at Tramore in November. Didn't settle in messy race here over Christmas and suspect he can do better. Must be considered.

Form: 2-12

Non-Runners

Classical Creek⁴⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: G Elliott J: Mr D G Lavery

Forecasts

I Started A Joke (11/4), He Can't Dance (3/1), Green Splendour (4/1), Colcannon (9/2), Sortudo (13/2), Classical Creek (8/1), Koktail Brut (14/1), Friary Road (40/1), Good Deal (50/1), Coolberrin Hill (100/1)

Usually a bumper that produces stars and HE CAN'T DANCE could be the way to go after his runaway success at Navan. Willie Mullins sends out Green Splendour, who won the C&D bumper Facile Vega did before taking this in 2022, and he has obvious claims. I Started A Joke looked to be learning on the job when scoring at Limerick and has to be considered also with Sortudo.