12.10 Paddy Power 'Only 363 Days Till Christmas' 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle 2m
Willie Mullins and Joseph O’Brien have been the trainers to follow in this hot race and that could well be the case again. After Getabird’s defeat on Wednesday, Rich Ricci could do with a change of luck and Tiger Tap Tap is taken to give him one.
This recruit was successful in the second of his two French outings, beating 12 rivals over ten furlongs on soft ground at Compiegne in June. It is hard to know how good he is, but Sir Erec has to prove that he can jump, having shown excellent form on the Flat. His third to Stradivarius on his fifth start indicates the quality he brings to jumping but time and time again these high-class Flat recruits do not cut it hurdling.
At bigger odds, do not discount French recruit Andalusa, a stablemate of the selection.
Selection: Tiger Tap Tap (2-1)
12.40 Paddy Power "Live Stream All Irish Racing On Our App" Beginners Chase 2m1f
Paloma Blue's stable is in good form and some may be willing to forgive him his pretty tepid effort on his chase debut, but too many reservations remain. Given how well Henry de Bromhead schools his horses, that Chris Jones' charge was so deliberate at his fences at Navan rates a major concern.
Real Steel has yet to jump fences but at least we know that Leopardstown is no issue (nor is it for Paloma Blue). Over hurdles, Real Steel beat Daly Tiger, who runs in the Grade 1 today. Of course, he memorably fell when disputing the lead in the highly eventful Grade 1 on this card 12 months ago.
Philip Reynolds' Moon Over Germany is certainly worth considering. He was off for around two years before a fine third on his chasing debut behind Getabird, his first try for De Bromhead.
Selections: Real Steel (7-2)
1.15 Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club "Sugar Paddy" Chase 2m1f
This looks a cracking race and, with no Altior about, it gives the leading two-mile chasers in Ireland a realistic chance of winning a senior Grade 1 before the year is out.
Footpad was all-but-flawless as a novice last season, especially good in winning at Cheltenham when he was flattered after sitting off a crazy pace. He got injured and fell on his return at Naas, so he may be worth taking on here at the prices, and he is taking on proper senior chasers.
Great Field also fell on his return, at Cork, but he is a much bigger price now than his stablemate. He is really exuberant and races on his nerves, his five unbeaten chase runs prior to Cork bringing him to a mark of 164, just 2lb below that of Footpad.
The winner at Cork, Castlegrace Paddy, will probably fall short but looks set to run really well all the same, while Ballyoisin is also well worth his place at this level.
Selection: Great Field (4-1)
1.50 Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle 2m
This is a classy event, if perhaps lacking a star, with recent Royal Bond winner Quick Grabim not taking his chance and the likes of Tornado Flyer also staying at home.
Noel Meade’s Daly Tiger makes plenty of appeal. He exhibited an excellent attitude when winning on his hurdling return at Punchestown, giving the impression then under Sean Flanagan that he would be seen to better effect if ridden with restraint in a classier race such as this.
Perhaps he has most to fear from Sancta Simona, the filly who has only been beaten once for Willie Mullins. She was very good in winning at Down Royal in November, but that was against the mares and she has a lot to deal with here.
Triplicate has been progressive. No match for Quick Grabim at Fairyhouse, he nevertheless continues to run well.
Selections: Daly Tiger (4-1)
2.25 Paddy Power "Enough of your Nonsense" Handicap Hurdle 2m
This race is next to impossible to predict and Twobeelucky is a shot in the dark on his seasonal return under Hugh Morgan, who also has a big ride in the feature handicap chase. His claim brings the top weight down a burden of 10st 3lbs, and this one quickly developed into a smart hurdler last year, having finished second on all five starts on the Flat for Mark Johnston. He has a touch of class, advertised by his second to Le Richebourg in a novice hurdle.
Cut The Mustard has some sort of chance under Ruby Walsh, her handicap debut at Fairyhouse representing a fine run considering her inexperience, but this is without doubt a small-stakes event.
Selection: Twobeelucky (20-1)
3.00 Paddy Power Chase (Extended Handicap) 3m 1/2f
These top-level handicap chases are generally not good betting mediums and the best wager here might be on JP McManus to win the race – but with which of the 12 he has declared is harder to say. Certainly interesting is classy second-season novice Any Second Now, who promised plenty as a hurdler, but it is hard to know if he will get this trip.
De Name Escapes Me is preferred. He creeps into this thanks to the penalty he incurred for a pretty snug win over Solomn Grundy at Navan earlier this month. That was the last-named's first start for Henry de Bromhead, so there may be more to come from him, but this is a hell of a test for 7lb claimer Hugh Morgan.
Pairofbrowneyes could be the best of Willie Mullins' runners. He was well-fancied in the Irish National only to fall early on in Fairyhouse and it does not seem to make much sense that he is so much bigger a price now in a similar class of race, but that may be down to the fact that the ground is much quicker now.
Stablemate Polidam is about four times the price he was in this 12 months ago but that reflects a pretty disappointing string of efforts since. Does he really stay this trip?
Selection: De Name Escapes Me (8-1)
3.30 Paddy Power Games 'One For The Road' INH Flat Race 2m4f
K'chou Du Pecos Aa will be one of the talking points of the track for a few reasons. One he is owned by John Magnier's wife; two he is trained by Willie Mullins; three he is by the sire of Douvan and Min; and four it is next to impossible to know how to pronounce him.
At much bigger odds, take note of Air Gold. This half-brother to three French winners made a really pleasing debut behind then smart Daly Tiger in a maiden hurdle and he looks more than promising enough to win a bumper.
Cenotice, Daly Tiger's stablemate, probably needs to improve, while Neptune seems gradually progressive. Whether he will get this staying trip is questionable though.
Selection: Air Gold 20-1
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