2025 Leopardstown & Newbury Monday Tips – DS
2025 Leopardstown & Newbury Monday Tips
Dave Stevos finally got his Xmas meeting winner on Sunday thanks to the brilliant Affordale Fury. Advised at 22s, he won at 7s. Jordans was the subject of a gamble too but our 14/1 NAP could only land the place money in fifth. You can check out Dave’s 2025 Leopardstown & Newbury Monday Tips below.
12.47 Leopardstown – Novice Handicap Hurdle (130 = 11st 12lb)
A couple of years ago Eddie Cawley landed us a big Leopardstown Xmas winner with Ataboycharlie. He’s had a quiet few days so far this year but he may have saved the best until last with Come Walk With Me.
This horse has yet to win a race but there is no doubt that he has a fair bit of ability. He finished runner up in three maiden hurdles last season and Keith Donoghue was on board for two of those runs. At Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day he got to within 2.75l of Sounds Victorious and he’s since been fifth in a G1 and is now rated 133.
On his next start he found just Honesty Policy too good (8l behind), and he has since won a G1 and is now rated 145. Come Walk With Me was sent off at just 5/1 for his handicap debut at Fairyhouse in April off a mark of 125 and flopped, but I am always willing to forgive a horse a poor first run in handicap company.
This season Cawley’s charge has had two modest runs over fences and they should have him spot on fitness wise for this return to hurdling. Donoghue is back on board and the fact that Cawley isn’t using a claimer off top weight is interesting. On his best maiden efforts surely a mark of 125 is workable and with odds of 14/1 available, Come Walk With Me is the e/w selection.
2025 Leopardstown & Newbury Monday Tip: Come Walk With Me e/w @ 14/1 nb
1.57 Leopardstown – Adare Manor Handicap Chase (130 = 11st 12lb)
The interesting one here at a decent price is the Paul Nolan trained mare Kiltealy Park. A two-time chase winner, she landed a nice prize at Fairyhouse back in April off a mark of 116. On her next start she ran a cracker in the Blazers at Galway (22.5f, good) off 122 and Nolan then gave her a four-month break.
On her seasonal return a month ago, she ran poorly at Fairyhouse but she may have needed that. The handicapper gave her a pound back for that effort so she is now 1lb lower than she was when running so well at Ballybrit.
She should strip fitter for her last outing and given how she stayed on at Galway, she looks well worth a go at this longer trip. She’ll have the assistance of the talented Tiernan Power-Roche in the saddle and she will be fine on the drying ground at Leopardstown. At odds of 14/1, Kiltealy Park is worth backing e/w.
2025 Leopardstown & Newbury Monday Tip: Kiltealy Park e/w @ 14/1 (4 places) nap
2.32 Leopardstown – December Hurdle (Grade 1)
Lossiemouth is a warm order to follow up her Punchestown win but the fact remains that she has won just one of her previous three starts at Leopardstown.
Brighterdaysahead was hailed as the second coming after winning at this meeting last year but Golden Ace put manners on her (for a second time) at Cheltenham in the Champion Hurdle and she was again well beaten when last seen at Punchestown in May.
The highly touted Anzadam was also put in his place by Golden Ace at Newcastle last month so there is scope here for one of the bigger priced horses to sneak into the frame and the one that fits the bill is Casheldale Lad.
Rated 148
Gordon Elliott’s charge is rated just 148 but he was outperforming that figure when falling at the last upsides Teahupoo in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse. Yes, he was tiring but that 2m4f trip on soft probably stretched him and he’s now back at his optimum trip and this better ground will suit too.
This son of Raven’s Pass is still only a 5yo and he’s had just eight runs over hurdles so we may not have seen the best of him yet. Jordan Gainford has won on him before and he has a fitness edge over his stablemate Brighterdaysahead.
As I mentioned earlier, the market leaders here don’t look totally bulletproof so at odds of 25/1, Casheldale Lad is worth taking a chance on e/w. Fingers crossed he runs a big race.
2025 Leopardstown & Newbury Monday Tip: Casheldale Lad e/w @ 25/1
3.00 Newbury – Challow Hurdle (Grade 1)
It was difficult not to be extremely impressed by the manner of No Drama This End’s Grade 2 win at Sandown. Comparisons to Denman may be a touch premature but he looks a proper tool. That being said, this will be the quickest ground he’s run on since his defeat in the Champion Bumper so that has to rate as a bit of a concern.
I’m going to take a punt on the rag here, Tiptoptim. Trained by Jamie Snowden, this son of Mount Nelson relished the step up to 21.5f when getting off the mark over hurdles in an admittedly weak affair at Ludlow. Previously, he finished 1.25l behind De Temps On Temps on his seasonal return and hurdling debut at Uttoxeter.
Snowden’s charge was conceding 7lbs to that rival and may have needed the run so it wasn’t a bad run in hindsight. One of his rivals here today (Etna Bianco) finished 3.25l behind the same horse when in receipt of 5lb yet he is priced up at around 16/1 and Tiptoptim is 33s.
Apart from the favourite, not a lot separates the rest of these on ratings and at the prices, it’s worth taking a chance on Tiptoptim for small stakes.
