2020 Leopardstown Sunday Tips and Preview
2020 Leopardstown Sunday Tips by Dave Stevos
Saturday’s tips went alright, but it was so close to being a bumper day for us. Golden Jewel was desperately unlucky not to win the last for us, while Cobbler’s Way was arguably unlucky too. Diable De Siviola also nicked a place for us in 4th. Hopefully we get a change in fortunes with a winner or two today. Check out Dave Stevos 2020 Leopardstown Sunday tips below…
2020 Leopardstown Sunday Racing Tips: 12.55 – Handicap Hurdle (Grade 1)
A nice and easy introduction for us on Sunday at Leopardstown with a 27 runner mares’ handicap hurdle. The one I like here is Rhythm Divine for Tom Gibney and Darragh O’Keefe. The key to this mare is decent ground and this will be her first time to get it this season. She showed some smart form on her last two starts on yielding/good, including a close 2nd to Great White Shark off level weights.
That horse is now rated in the 130s and Rhythm Divine makes her first handicap start off just 118. Tom Gibney has booked Darragh O’Keefe for the ride and he is a quality pilot. She has been disappointing so far this season but all her runs came on soft. The return to a sounder surface should hopefully help her get more competitive and at odds of 40/1 Rhythm Divine is the each way pic
LEOPARDSTOWN SUNDAY TIPS: RHYTHM DIVINE E/W @ 40/1 (6 PLACES)
2020 Leopardstown Sunday Racing Tips: 1.25 – Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
The first Grade 1 of the day is for Juvenile hurdlers and 10 will go to post. The one I like in this is Never Do Nothing for John McConnell. I was very impressed by this son of Casamento’s win at Musselburgh on hurdles debut. He hosed up by 5.5L and still looked to have plenty in the tank (15.5f gd/sft).
That form looks alright now with the 3rd and 4th both winning since. McConnell went to Musselburgh in search of decent ground so hopefully they haven’t over watered at Leopardstown today. If the ground is decent then Never Do Nothing is capable of running a massive race. He was rated 5lb higher than the fav here on the level so ability wise, he shouldn’t be too far away. At odds of 15/2 he is the each way pick.
2020 LEOPARDSTOWN SUNDAY RACING TIPS: NEVER DO NOTHING E/W @ 15/2 NB
Leopardstown Sunday Preview: 1.55pm – Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
This Grade 1 has attracted just 7 runners and does not appeal as a betting race. The top 4 in the betting look to have it between them though with Willie Mullins running 4, you never know what might unfold. No bet.
LEOPARDSTOWN SUNDAY TIPS: NO BET
2020 Leopardstown Sunday Racing Tips: 2.30 – Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
With 26 going to post this looks a very tricky puzzle to solve. You wouldn’t want to be lumping on anything in this as a lot of luck will be required to prevail. At an absolutely monster price, De Name Escapes Me is a horse that has the ability to figure, if on a going day. Noel Meade’s charge possesses no shortage of ability, it just depends whether he is in the mood to show it.
He didn’t last time out in the Troytown, pulling up when out of contention. However, he had previously run a superb race off 80 on the level, beat less than a length by Perfect Tapatino. He seems to enjoy the hustle and bustle of big fields and he wasn’t disgraced on his last hurdles start at Galway when finishing in midfield. That came off 143 and he is down to 138 now. With his jockey’s 7lb claim he effectively runs off 131. He has placed form over timber off 136 at Navan so he looks competitively handicapped and at 66/1 a small e/w interest is advised.
2020 LEOPARDSTOWN SUNDAY TIPS: DE NAME ESCAPES ME E/W @ 66/1 (6 PLACES BFAIR)
Sunday Leopardstown Racing Preview: 3.10 – Novice Chase (Grade 1)
Another 7 runner field and another race I’ll just watch. I’d love to see Faugheen win again but Battleoverdoyen looks a formidable opponent. No bet for me.
2020 LEOPARDSTOWN SUNDAY TIPS: NO BET
Leopardstown Sunday Preview: 3.30 – Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)
I tipped up Jett for the Savills Chase here last time and while he finished 6th, he was far from disgraced. Mark Walsh was probably a shade too aggressive on him and that told after the 2nd last fence. I was hoping that Robbie Power would return to the plate this afternoon but to be fair, Rachel Blackmore is a more than able deputy.
If Jett can reproduce the form of his first completion over 3 miles plus at Punchestown I think he could sneak into the money here. He stayed on takingly behind Douvan over 20f next time and that form is not half bad either. I think he is worth giving one more chance to over 24f and this Cheltenham Gold Cup entry could outrun his massive odds of 125/1.
2020 LEOPARDSTOWN SUNDAY TIPS: JETT E/W @ 125/1 (4 PLACES BETFAIR)
Sunday Racing Preview: 4.00 Leopardstown – Handicap Chase (Grade B)
Regular readers will be familiar with the horse I fancy in this. I tipped up Mr Diablo in the Troytown earlier this season and he ran a cracker, just fading late on over the 24f trip. That was the 11yo’s seasonal return so he should strip fitter with that under his belt.
3 miles is probably the limit of this spectacular jumper’s stamina, so the drop back to 21f looks to be ideal. His last win under rules came over today’s course and distance in March 2017 off 133 and he is now rated just 1lb higher. Although that win came on soft/hvy he relishes nice ground and yielding should be absolutely perfect for him. He will go from the front so that should help him stay out of trouble and Luke Dempsey is back on board (on for last 3 wins). At odds of 33/1, Mr Diablo is the e/w NAP of the day.
