Horse racing tips: Leopardstown, Limerick and Down Royal – Eamonn Hames’ top betting preview for Tuesday, December 26
Eamonn Hames guides you through Tuesday's racing from Leopardstown, Limerick and Down Royal
LEOPARDSTOWN
1.15
OWNER J P McManus already has an iron grip on this season’s Triumph Hurdle market, but the pecking order could be set to change after ESPOIR D’ALLEN cruises home in today’s Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.
Gavin Cromwell’s unbeaten gelding looked the part when hacking up in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse and this Grade 2 contest should really be a formality.
His nearest rival Mitchouka is a promising type himself, but was hammered by the selection the last day and there seems no reason to expect any different here.
Mastermind won well at Gowran Park and the French import Farclas could be anything on debut for Gordon Elliott, however neither make any appeal against the favourite.
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1.50
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This handicap hurdle is as tricky a puzzle as it has been in any of it’s previous renewals, but this five-year-old could be the one to shine.
He has run with great credit in maidens against hotpots from the top yards and is sure to benefit from the stronger gallop in this bigger field.
He jumps well, looks to be on a favourable mark and can score here in handicap company for the first time.
Russian Roulette brings plenty of experience, Clondaw Farmer is forgiven his comeback run and Champagne Pat deserves a big pot after his recent efforts.
Kilkasser Boy showed up well for a long way in a hot Thurles maiden and Golden Jewel will be popular after the ease of his Fairyhouse win, but it is Sir Carno that is feared most.
The Gordon Elliott-trained four-year-old may not have shown much, but he’s been running in tough company and there could be plenty left up his sleeve for handicaps.
2.25
TRAINER Willie Mullins usually has one lined up for this and that looks to be the case this year with the exciting FOOTPAD.
It’s not an original thought to go for the short-priced favourite, but this five-year-old is more than equal to the standard set by Douvan and Min in recent renewals.
Footpad had the class and speed to finish fourth in the Champion Hurdle, but also the stamina to take third over three miles at Punchestown.
He jumped as if he was on springs when bolting up on his debut at Navan - suggesting that he had transferred his talents to the larger obstacles and would take very high rank as a novice.
He should have far too much pace for his rivals here and an impressive performance will have the bookies cutting him for the Arkle.
Gordon Elliott’s Death Duty is a surprise runner given that Elliott wanted to run him at Limerick.
Davy Russell pushed for the six-year-old to run here and we will get to see whether he was right or not.
He looked to have plenty of pace when winning the Drinmore, but pace over two and a half miles is a lot different to pace over two miles.
He may well have the speed required, but he won’t get anything easy. Footpad will be at full speed from the go, setting the sort of fractions that a proven Champion Hurdle runner can set.
Death Duty can lie up with the best of them - but for the whole two miles?
This is set to be a fascinating head-to-head, but one that favours the naturally speedier Footpad.
Templegate's TV tips
1.20 Kempton - REIGNING SUPREME: 'Won twice from three starts over hurdles last season and he looks well weighted'
1.55 Kempton - ELEGANT ESCAPE: 'I’ve a feeling he's progressing faster than his rivals and he put in a fine round of jumping last time'
2.10 Wetherby - BAYWING: 'Loves testing ground and his chase win last February over today’s course and distance is good form'
2.30 Kempton - BUVEUR D'AIR: 'Should have little trouble rattling off his eighth straight win'
3.05 Kempton - THISTLECRACK: 'If he’s back to the form of 12 months ago he will be the one to beat'
2.55
A competitive handicap on the face of it, but one that should go to J P McManus’ LANDOFHOPEANDGLORY.
There aren’t many Graded horses you find running off a mark of 133 in a handicap, but this is one of them.
Joseph O’Brien’s four-year-old was a Group horse on the Flat, won and placed in Graded races as a juvenile hurdler and has already won a Grade 3 over fences this year.
He has improved for each and every start this season, jumped the best he ever has when winning at Roscommon and the patience of his connections can be rewarded today.
Lake Takapuna and Dysios won this in 2016 and 2015 respectively, but both are lacking recent form over fences.
Minella Till Dawn has yet to take to his fences, but he has the engine to get competitive if putting it all together and Thirsty Work is an intriguing third string for J P McManus.
LIMERICK
2.10
TOP prospect AL BOUM PHOTO made a sparkling debut when romping home at Navan.
That beginners chase has been won by some fair sorts down the years, indicating that Closutton think a lot of him.
The five-year-old stays well, so he should relish this step up in trip and he should take the world of beating getting 3lb off his main danger.
Tombstone looked like the Tombstone that was sent off favourite for the Coral Cup when winning at Navan the last day, but he has became difficult to predict.
If that Tombstone turns up we could have a race on our hands, but it doesn’t help his cause that he also concedes weight to all his rivals.
Arbre De Vie is useful and Dounikos jumped like a buck at Gowran Park, but this looks a match between Tombstone and the selection.
MOST READ
DOWN ROYAL
12.10 Sutton Manor
12.40 Western Goose
1.10 Sizing Coal
1.45 Love And Wishes
2.15 Stooshie
2.50 Folly Dat
3.25 Dorydalis
LEOPARDSTOWN
12.15 Debuchet
12.45 Canardier (nb)
1.15 Espoir D'allen
1.50 Celebrity Status (nap)
2.20 Footpad
2.55 Landofhopeandglory
3.30 Blackbow
LIMERICK
12.35 Star Maker
1.05 Destin D'ajonc
1.40 Angel's On Fire
2.10 Al Boum Photo
2.45 Pat's Oscar
3.20 Tongie
3.55 Western Victory