12.10 Tote Pays Dividends Maiden Hurdle 2m
Dancing On My Own is quite a well-bred sort, by Milan out of Morning Supreme, and he runs in the familiar Sean Mulryan silks; perhaps the developer is a fan of the Calum Scott number. This horse kicked off with a pleasing run at Cork but made quite dramatic progress from that to finish second in what looked a hot maiden at Navan.
Two recruits to new stables are very notable. Klassical Dream, ex-French, joins Willie Mullins, while Gordon Elliott has a lively sort in Vision D'honneur. He won on debut at Fontainebleau last April before being bought for €350,000 by current connections.
As a sign of the regard in which he is held, Vision D’honneur holds an entry for the Grade 1 race on Thursday and could well prove up to the task here. Entoucas is clearly a nice prospect too for JP McManus.
Selection: Dancing On My Own 9-2
12.40 Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle 2m
Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore could double up here, as Raya Time must have a big chance. He landed a gamble for Sam Curling on his only start for that shrewd young handler, subsequently sold for decent money, and he was too green to do himself due service on debut over hurdles at Down Royal. Given all that went wrong, he ran well to be beaten a small enough margin. He can dictate here.
This is a race in which three dominate the market and City Island looks most likely to go off favourite. Owned by Sean Mulryan's wife Bernadette, he has smart enough bumper form and finished first past the wire on his hurdling debut at Galway, only to get disqualified. Defy Du Mee was much better at Fairyhouse and has to be bang there on that form.
Selection: Raya Time 2-1
1.10 Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle 2m
Though he is actually worse off at the weights, Coeur Sublime can probably reverse Fairyhouse form with Chief Justice here. There was precious little between the pair then, but Coeur Sublime was far shorter in the betting. Elliott also runs Coko Beach, Smiling Eliza and Flat To The Max, the last-named not without a place chance at a huge price.
This is a hard race to bet on with plenty of imponderables such as: how good is La Sorelita? She seems to be preferred over another Willie Mullins steed, Maze Runner, who did the job pretty nicely at Cork.
La Sorelita’s profile is quite similar to that of the 2015 winner. La Sorelita’s own French victory came in a hurdle race at Clairefontaine while a certain Apples Jade had her first Irish run in this race after moving from France is noteworthy. We all know how good she became.
Selection: La Sorelita 6-1
1.45 Sky Sports Racing Novice Handicap Hurdle 2m
Quite possibly the toughest race of the day and 15 runners make it an unattractive contest if you like to bet each-way. Tony Martin won this in 2014 and 2015 and while his jumps strike rate has been poor this year he has chances with Share The Honour and Acclamatio.
Share The Honour was third to comfortable winner Warnaq at Naas last time but has a 10lb swing in the weights which should give him every chance of revenge. That said, Acclamatio is preferred. He was an easy winner on the Flat at Thurles before disappointing when favourite back over hurdles, having travelled well. He may be worth another chance, especially given the market support for him then.
Aforementioned is feasibly handicapped but this is tough given his lack of experience, while Tom Mullins has a lively runner at a big price in Tara Dylan, for all that she is pretty frustrating.
Selections: Acclamatio 10-1
2.20 Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Steeplechase 2m1f
The addition of another Grade 1 novice chase to the calendar – directly clashing with this one and taking place today at Limerick – is pretty controversial, as it dilutes this event. Getabird goes to Limerick, Willie Mullins relying on Voix Du Reve in this event, and he should run a big race.
With Us And Them another likely to be prominent, the race could be run to suit both Mengli Khan (above) and Le Richebourg, the antepost favourite preferred. Mengli Khan was a very good hurdler and, whilst some of the fences on his chase debut at Punchestown were dolled off, he jumped those that were there pretty spectacularly.
He did run out over hurdles here as a novice last season but that seems like a flash in the pan. Perhaps there would be no more popular winner than Ellie Mac, who is progressing and whose owner, the Niccolai Schuster Horse Racing Club, is doing great work to honour his memory.
Selection: Mengli Khan evens
2.55 'Bet Through The Racing Post App' Handicap Steeplechase 2m1f
Grand Partner makes plenty of appeal each-way here for regular betting-ring layer Justin Carthy. Remarkably, he has won four times at Leopardstown, and seems better at this trip than over the distance he tried in the fiercely competitive Troytown, in which he nevertheless finished fourth.
Another course winner, Tycoon Prince, has perhaps not developed into the horse he threatened to become; however, he has had some serious injury problems. Indeed, his Naas second to Saint Calvados advertises his chance here.
Sunsetstorise was disappointing over hurdles last time but could have needed that run badly and has a chance.
Selection: Grand Partner 9-1
3.30 Tote Supporting Irish Racing Flat Race 2m
Gordon Elliott's point-to-point recruit Fury Road is burdened by lots of expectation on his first run at the track. The son of Stowaway won a maiden at Dromahane back in May and the horse that chased him home that day, El Barra, was sold for €280,000 afterwards. The chances are Michael O’Leary’s runner will be the one to beat, with Gordon Elliott having some seriously hot talent in bumper combat this term.
Exit Poll first took the eye when working really well at a public gallops event at Leopardstown last year. He has run two big races, while Email Rose is interesting at a big price.
Selection: Fury Road 7-4, Email Rose 33-1
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