Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday Tips Dave Stevos
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday Tips and Preview
We had a pretty decent day at Leopardstown and Sandown on Saturday. Neither of our Musselburgh bets ran to form though. Moonlighter got us off to the perfect start, winning nicely advised at 7/1. We then landed more places at Sandown with Paint The Dream (20/1) and Clan Legend (16/1). At Leopardstown Fakiera (12/1 NB), Abacadabras (9/1) and e/w NAP Golden Jewel grabbed place money for us too. Let’s hope for more of the same on what should be a superb day of racing to finish off the weekend. Check out Dave Stevos’ Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday tips below…
Leopardstown 1.10: Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
A nice and handy start to the day with a fiercely competitive 18f handicap hurdle for mares only. The one I like at a nice price in this contest is Global Equity for JJ Slevin and Joseph O’Brien. This mare is making her handicap debut off a mark of 121. She has form in the book in higher grades than this and while she has yet to win in six outings over timber, she has finished in the first three in four of those starts.
She ran a nice enough race in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last time when beat 4L by Roseys Hollow. That mare is heading into Grade 3 company for her next start so connections must rate her highly. This daughter of Shirocco ran well enough in a Listed heat over 20f on her previous outing when the 20f trip maybe just stretched her. Her Grade 3 place last season when behind Soviet Pimpernel and Gardens Of Babylon suggests that a mark of 121 could be generous. At odds of 22/1 Global Equity is the each way selection.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: Global Equity e/w @ 22/1 (5 Places)
Leopardstown 1.40: Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)
We head into somewhat calmer waters in this 6 runner, 16f Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle. This race is for 4yos only and Joseph O’Brien has won the last two renewals. He relies on Busselton this time around and I think he has a great chance if he improves on his seasonal/stable debut here at Xmas. We backed him that day too and he ran a blinder behind the highly touted Zanahiyr. That horse had already had two starts this season before that race whereas Busselton lacked match practice.
Busselton was only 4L behind Zanahiyr and he finished a couple of lengths in front of Ha D’Or (10/1 today) and Saint Sam (6/1 today). I see absolutely no reason why either of those two will turn that form around and it was hardly an ideal prep run for Youmdor last time out when he fell at Fairyhouse. The favourite is an obvious danger but Gordon Elliott’s horses didn’t set the world alight here yesterday. I think Busselton is closer to a 5/1 shot than an 11/1 shot and at the prices he is well worth backing each way.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: Busselton e/w @ 11/1 NB
Musselburgh 1.55: Scottish Triumph Hurdle (Listed)
The first live race from Scotland on ITV4 on Sunday is this Listed 2 mile hurdle. Hopefully all 8 of them stand their ground for each way players. The Southern raiders, Carlos Felix and Wise Glory are of obvious interest for the Skeltons and Paul Nicholls respectively. The Nicholls horse is the market leader, unsurprisingly given that Nicholls has won the race three times since 2013. No Scottish horse has won this race since Vosges scored for James Ewart back in 2011.
However, I think that Feldspar could run a big race for Scotland this year. Trained by Keith Dalgleish, this 4yo son of Champs Elysees was no great shakes on the flat. The switch to hurdling seemed to be to his liking though and he ran a cracker here on his debut in this discipline over C&D. He was only 2L behind Fiveandtwenty and that horse had an experience edge over him. That horse is only 5/2 to win today, yet Feldspar is the rank outsider of the field at 20/1!
Surely Keith Dalgleish’s charge will improve plenty with that run under his belt. Another plus is that Craig Nichol prefers Feldspar to Dalgleish’s other runner, Le Magnifique. I would imagine he had the pick between the two. He has 14 wins from 125 rides for the owners and he has a good record when riding for Dalgleish too. All things considered, Feldspar has to be worth backing each way at 20/1.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: Feldspar e/w @ 20/1
Leopardstown 2.10: Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
There aren’t many Grade 1s away from Cheltenham that attract a field of this size. It is great to see 16 novices going to post for this 16f contest and Appreciate It is odds on for Mullins and Townend. He hosed up in a similar event over C&D at Xmas and his only defeat in his last five starts came when beat into 2nd in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He had Ballyadam a full 16L behind last time out and while the Elliott horse didn’t run to form, it is hard to see how he can turn that around.
The one that looks a shade overpriced to me is Cask Mate for Noel Meade and Sean Flanagan. This likeable horse was off for nearly 3 years before returning to action this season. A maiden win at Limerick was followed by a novice win at Punchestown and he then produced a super effort behind Ballyadam when stepped into Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse.
He didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs that day and he was only 1.5L behind Ballyadam. The Elliott horse is single figure odds today and Cask Mate is 33s. Noel Meade’s horse has placed form at Leopardstown in the book, he has had a nice break since his last run and he has no worries about the ground. I think 33/1 is absolutely massive about this fella and at those odds an each way interest is advised.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: Cask Mate e/w @ 33/1 (4 Places)
Musselburgh 2.25: Scottish Stayers Novices’ Hurdle (Class 2)
The one I am interested in here is Corach Rambler for in form Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox. Russell had a winner and a place from 4 runners yesterday and this son of Jeremy could give her even more to shout about. He comes here on the back of an eye-catching hurdle win at Ayr on his first rules start. The 24f trip and heavy ground really suited him and he came from last to first to beat a previous winner by 3L.
Okay, it admittedly wasn’t the strongest race on paper but he could do no more than beat what was in front of him. The third home was rated 122 but he probably didn’t run to form. The ground at Musselburgh will be fine for Corach Rambler. Bar Threeunderthrufive, there doesn’t look to be much strength in depth in this race. I think Corach Rambler is a fascinating contender and at odds of 25/1 he is the each way selection.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: Corach Rambler e/w @25/1
Leopardstown 2.40: Handicap Hurdle (Grade B)
This is another typically competitive handicap and 22 are due to go to post for this 3 mile heat. The ground is going to be on the testing side so this will be an energy sapping contest. At an absolutely monstrous price I think Heroes Of Renown is an interesting runner. Trained by a shrewd handler in James Motherway this 7yo son of Beneficial flopped over course and distance on his return to action over the festive period. However, he was entitled to need that run and he should have learned plenty from the experience too as it was only his fourth run over timber.
He is a maiden after a total of 7 starts under rules but he has shown enough to suggest that his mark of 124 could be workable. Heroes of Renown was only beat 7L in a hot maiden at Leopardstown in December 2019 (20f yld) when he shaped like a step up in distance would suit. He was sent off at just 14/1 in that Pertemps Qualifier last time out. So, clearly connections felt he was capable of making some sort of an impact. Rachel Blackmore takes over in the plate and she has 15 wins and 28 top 4 finishes from just 67 rides for these owners. Heroes Of Renown is far from a certainty but he has more ability than he showed last time. At odds of 66/1 I think he is worth a couple of quid e/w in an open race.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: Heroes Of Renown e/w @ 66/1 (6 Places)
Leopardstown 3.10: Novice Chase (Grade 1)
At the Xmas meeting the clash between Monkfish and Latest Exhibition was one of the highlights. They lock horns again in this 21.5f Grade 1 Chase and I cannot wait to see how it unfolds. Monkfish is one of the most exciting novices in training and he bested Paul Nolan’s charge by 3 lengths in the end last time over 3 miles. He beat him by a neck at Cheltenham in the Albert Bartlett too. However, I think back at this sort of trip Latest Exhibition may well turn the tables.
Paul Nolan has decided to use a tongue tie which suggests perhaps that Latest Exhibition’s wind may not have been perfect the last day. His best performances have come at around this trip. The two times he was beaten by Monkfish it was over 3 miles. It must be said that Monkfish is effective at this shorter distance too but you could argue he outstayed Latest Exhibition on both occasions when beating him. I won’t be lumping on but there shouldn’t be much between these two talented horses again. I’ll be having a small win bet on Latest Exhibition at odds of 7/2. Let’s hope the race lives up to its billing.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: Latest Exhibition win @ 7/2
Musselburgh 3.25: Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Class 2)
Third Time Lucki is the top rated in this race by a distance and he is odds on for the Skeltons. He is 3/4 over timber and his sole defeat came in G2 company. He is obviously a quality horse but I think Tommy’s Oscar has the potential to be even better. The Hamiltons own and train this 6yo son of Oscar and he has improved with every run over hurdles. His sole defeat under rules came in a bumper on his first start but since then he has been flawless.
He won his maiden in fine style at Sedgefield and then followed up in a soft ground Novice at Newcastle. A mark of 124 looked generous on the back of those efforts and it turned out to be so. He absolutely hosed up in a C&D soft ground handicap and he gave the distinct impression there was an awful lot more to come. The handicapper raised him 11lb for that facile victory and he is now rated 133.
That means he has to find 11lb with Third Time Lucki but I think he could easily improve again. The ground, trip and track are all fine for him and Danny McMenamin keeps the ride. This will be his toughest test to date but I think this is easily a mid-140s horse and he could turn out to be even better. The same connections had a horse called Runswick Royal who placed in a Grade 1 at Aintree when rated 135 and they could well have another good one in Tommy’s Oscar. At odds of 9/1 he is the e/w NAP of the day.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: Tommy’s Oscar e/w @ 9/1 NAP
Leopardstown 3.40: Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1)
The final live race of the day on ITV4 is the Irish Gold Cup. Unfortunately the race’s close proximity to Cheltenham means that only five will go to post. This is a heat in which I have no interest in having a bet. Minella Indo and Delta Work are on retrieval missions having failed to complete over Xmas. Kemboy is back for another go after being mugged by A Plus Tard in the dying strides last time out. Melon will be hoping to back up his excellent effort in that race when he finished a close 3rd.
The Storyteller, a Grade 1 chase winner at Down Royal earlier this season, completes the five runner field. It is tough to be confident in Delta Work given his last three runs. Minella Indo is best watched as that fall last time may have dented his confidence. Kemboy, Melon and The Storyteller look the most solid options but with just 2 places on offer I’ll sit this one out. No bet.
Leopardstown and Musselburgh Sunday: No Bet
Leopardstown 4.10: Handicap Chase (Grade A)
RTE2 viewers will be able to watch this 21f handicap chase and a field of 22 will go to post. Conor McNamara gave Kildorrery a dreadful ride for us on Saturday and I am hoping he makes amends for us on Smithscorner. This horse has yet to win at further than 20f but he has shaped on more than one occasion as though further would suit. He was in the process of running a nice race last time out at Punchestown (22f hvy) when he unseated Gavin Brouder.
Trained by Michael Kennedy, the 10yo son of Kadeed has run well on both previous visits to Leopardstown. He was 6th in a handicap hurdle back in 2018 and he ran a very solid race behind Grand Partner in a Novice Chase in March 2020. He’ll be carrying less than 10 stone thanks to McNamara’s 5lb claim. If the first time cheekpieces help him to jump better than last time he could outrun his odds of 66/1. With 6 places on offer a small each way bet is the order of the day.
