2022 Thursday Leopardstown Xmas Meeting Tips – DS
2022 Thursday Leopardstown Xmas Meeting Tips
Finally, a couple of good runs on Wednesday. Music Of Tara was given too much to do and probably needs further already. At least she landed the place money, advised at 22s. Jiving Jerry was ridden too forward and paid the price. Meet And Greet ran a massive race, nicking 3rd as I hoped at 66s. Franco De Port was only 2L off 2nd despite being keen. He has a G1 in him. Time Marches On ran well but might want better ground. We have one final chance to get a winner, check out Dave’s 2022 Thursday Leopardstown Xmas tips below.
12.00 – Handicap Chase (0-123)
With betting opportunities a bit thin on the ground in the Graded races, thank god for this handicap. It is one for conditional jockeys and Arctic Ambition is the fav for Elliott and Niall Moore. He won easily off 96 on his penultimate start at Thurles and he was probably going to win when unseating back over hurdles at Tramore last time. The 7yo son of Arctic Cosmos likes soft ground and it would be no surprise if he won this.
My original fancy for this race was Charlie Stout at 25s. I think he has big e/w claims but as I was writing the rest of the preview, his price collapsed. If he tries, I think he’ll go well but the value has well and truly gone from his odds now. So, I am instead going to take a chance on Leopardstown lover Super Citizen at much bigger odds. His trainer, Eugene O’Sullivan, had a winner and a second from his four runners yesterday, so his horses are clearly in fine fettle.
Dual C&D Winner
This horse is 2/2 at Leopardstown, both over this C&D. The first win came off 108 and then he won the same race off 105 last March. He is effectively in off 109 today with his pilot’s claim, so he is not badly handicapped. At Punchestown last time the son of Multiplex wasn’t disgraced in a Cross Country race when 80/1. His previous two chase runs at Cheltenham and Listowel weren’t bad at all and he handles this softer ground.
Young Michael O’Sullivan is a jockey making a name for himself this season. He has struck up a partnership with the hugely promising Marine Nationale and the ride he gave that horse last time was Carberry-esque. The drop back to this trip is a big plus and at odds of 40/1, an each way interest is advised.
2022 Thursday Leopardstown Xmas Tips: Super Citizen e/w @ 40/1 (5 places) nb
1.10 – Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 3)
Only the six runners here with two mares dominating the top of the market. The favourite is Queens Brook for Elliott and Kennedy. This 144 rated mare landed an 18f Listed heat at Punchestown last time out (18f yld). She seems to appreciate that kind of ground. The 7yo daughter of Shirocco has won four races under rules and three of them came on yielding.
Yes, she did win a poor bumper on heavy but her form figures over jumps on soft or worse read 22333. On yielding or better under rules they read 21112. Plus, she has never won going left handed under rules.
Not Bulletproof
Shewearsitwell also won last time, but in handicap company off 137. She is also by Shirocco and like the fav, she doesn’t look bulletproof. All of her best form (and wins) are on yielding or quicker. She fell in this last year on soft and she could also possibly be best at 24f. Now, the class of the top two mares might see them through, but I think that they both have questions to answer in these conditions.
I’m going to take a chance on one at big odds, even with just two places on offer. Copper Nation has 17L to find with Queens Brook on their Punchestown meeting. However, Donal Coffey’s mare lacked a run whereas the Elliott horse had already had a pipe opener. Soft ground is absolutely fine for the daughter of Westerner and while the form of her two wins last season isn’t spectacular, she should relish this 20f trip on soft. JJ Slevin keeps the faith after riding her last time and if one of the top two doesn’t run to form, hopefully Copper Nation can sneak into the first two at odds of 25/1.
2022 Thursday Leopardstown Xmas Tips: Copper Nation e/w @ 25/1
1.45 – Novice Chase (Grade 1)
We nicked a lovely place with Visionarian in a Novice Chase earlier this week. Keith Donoghue gave him a great ride from the front, hopefully he can do it from the back with Barnacullia in this 24f G1 Novice. Gaillard Du Mesnil is the most likely winner by far. He has loads of experience and he stays the trip. A repeat of his Cheltenham 3rd behind L’Homme Presse should be more than enough to take this.
I don’t think the rest of them set too high a standard though and with this step up to 3 miles almost sure to suit, maybe Barnacullia can go well. Trained in Meath by the Mulvany’s, this horse landed a decent Novice at Galway two runs back (18f sft/hvy). He ran on really nicely to beat Punitive by over a length and he has since hacked up in the Porterstown.
That was a standout run by Barnacullia but he probably ran even better when 3rd over an inadequate trip and on unsuitable ground behind Midnight Run in a G2 last time. His last two wins have come on testing ground and on pedigree, this trip should suit. Hopefully Donoghue drops him out, rides him quietly and produces him late. Even with just two places on offer, Barnacullia is worth a small e/w interest at 40s.
2022 Thursday Leopardstown Xmas Tips: Barnacullia e/w @ 40/1
2.20 – Matheson Hurdle (Grade 1)
An intriguing contest, even if just five run. The elder lemon, Leopardstown specialist Sharjah, is going for his fifth win in this. However, he’ll have to ward off some very promising up and comers. State Man is the favourite and Willie Mullins has made no secret of the regard that horse is held in. He beat Sharjah easily at Punchestown and the old boy could struggle to turn that form around, especially on this softer ground.
Vauban and Pied Piper are also in the field and they can’t be discounted either. Pied Piper might want better ground than this, although he did win a weak race on soft last time. After watching what Constitution Hill did to Epatante the last twice, the 2 mile hurdling division has probably been as weak as it has ever been for the last 2/3 years. These new kids on the block might just be more talented and one of the younger generation should win this. There’s no value in any of their odds though, so a watching brief is advised. No bet.
2022 Thursday Leopardstown Xmas Tips: No Bet
2.55 – Novice Handicap Hurdle (80-130)
Maybe Gringo D’ainay can go well here for Sean O’Keefe and John Queally. By Fame And Glory, this 6yo made his seasonal return in a Naas maiden hurdle (19f sft). He finished midfield in that contest, well beaten, but he has already run in a couple of handicaps, shaping well on both occasions. At Naas last season (19f gd/yld) he ran a lovely race on his handicap bow off 99. He finished 5th, beat 13L by The West Is Awake.
Next time out at Listowel he ran an even better race off the same mark (20f sft). He was only beat 1.75L by Navigator Jack and he has since run well off his revised mark. His best maiden run came at Wexford on heavy when he stayed on strongly over 16f, shaping like further would suit. The 6yo gelding will enjoy the ground at Leopardstown, he will be fit after his Naas outing and all his best form is going left handed. It is still early days for this fella and at odds of 18/1, hopefully he can finish in the money.
