Limerick and Leopardstown Tuesday Tips

What a turnaround in fortunes that was. The highs of Sunday seem like a distant memory after that disaster of a day. I’m not going to debrief every horse because just one word describes how the lot of them ran and that word is ’Shite.’ The ITV cameras will be at Leopardstown, Leicester and Catterick on Tuesday but we will be focusing solely on the Irish action. Check out Dave Stevos’ Limerick and Leopardstown Tuesday tips below.

1.10 Leopardstown – Pertemps Qualifier Handicap Hurdle (0-145)

These qualifiers are never easy to predict. Usually, it pays to side with horses near the bottom of the weights for win purposes. Last year was an exception with Dandy Mag winning off 134. 8 of the previous 9 winners were rated 128 or lower and carried no more than 10 st 11 lbs. The one I like off a mark of 128 is Panda Boy for JJ Slevin and Martin Brassil. This son of Valirann has had just four starts over hurdles. His debut saw him run out an easy winner of a 20f maiden at Punchestown when he had a few subsequent winners in behind.

That earned him a mark of 128 and he was thrown into a similar race to this at Fairyhouse on just his second start. He actually ran a huge race considering his lack of experience, finishing 7th of 20 beat just 5L. Capodanno was just 2.5L ahead in 4th off 131. He won his next handicap start by 12L off 132 and is now rated 147.

On his final start of last season he ran in novice back at Punchestown but he finished a well beaten 5th. He then shaped as though badly in need of the run on his comeback at Naas last time. He’ll be much fitter now and this step up to 24f on soft ground should suit him well. At odds of 18/1, Panda Boy is the each way pick.

Limerick and Leopardstown Tuesday Tips: Panda Boy e/w @ 18/1 (7 Places)

1.30 Limerick – Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2)

If Concertista stays the 22f trip, she should win this fairly handily. She landed a 16f Grade 2 at Cork last time out and her form is head and shoulders above the rest. However, her only start at beyond 20f on ground this testing resulted in a maiden hurdle defeat at Fairyhouse. Sayce Gold was 8L behind Concertista in that Cork G2. Her supporters will be hoping this longer trip helps her to turn that form on its head. Mick Winters’ mare likes bottomless ground and her stamina is proven.

Bay Ambition is another one who has winning form on heavy at around this distance. She bombed out at Navan last time but the ground was far too quick. It was much more like it on her chase debut at Galway on soft when she ran a grand race behind Sixshooter. However, at bigger odds, Darrens Hope could be the one to be on each way. Robert Murphy’s mare likes it here and it wouldn’t surprise me if this is her main target for the season.

The daughter of Oscar enjoyed her finest hour on bottomless ground last season. She landed a Grade 3 Novice over 22f, her third excellent run at this track on heavy. In 2020 she was beat just 7L by Farouk D’Alene in a G2 novice and he was narrowly denied in a G1 here on Sunday. Ian Power was the jockey that denied Farouk aboard Master McShee and he rides this mare too. Trip, ground and track look perfect and 16/1 looks a huge price. Darrens Hope is the e/w selection.

Limerick and Leopardstown Tuesday Tips: Darrens Hope e/w @ 16/1 NAP

1.45 Leopardstown – Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)

Flooring Porter dotted up in this race last year and he is back to defend his crown. He then added the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before disappointing at Punchestown. The son of Yeats put in his second non-completion on the bounce on his return when falling at Navan. It wouldn’t be a big shock were he to return to form in this but at 11/4 he is too risky a proposition. Klassical Dream is a shade shorter at 5/2. He goes well fresh so his absence isn’t that much of a worry. Willie Mullins’ charge dotted up on his first try at 24f at Punchestown and he has obvious claims.

At a huge price, perhaps Commander Of Fleet can run big for Elliott and Cooper. This son of Fame And Glory showed massive potential as a younger horse. He won a G1 novice hurdle here over 22f in 2019 and he then finished 2L behind Minella Indo in the potato race at Cheltenham the same year. Unfortunately, he was pulled up lame on his last start of that season. We didn’t get to see him again for the guts of two years.

Confidence Booster

His chasing career was aborted after a poor run at Naas and he then finished 10th in the Pertemps Qualifier here last December. It looked like all that old ability was gone but he gained a confidence boosting hurdle win in a bad race at Thurles in March. This season’s return was poor behind Stratum. However, he was running huge when falling at Punchestown before he produced one of his best ever runs when winning the same race at Navan that Flooring Porter won last year before landing this. If he backs that run up and repeats the form, that could be enough to get a place today. At odds of 25/1, Commander of Fleet is the e/w pick.

Limerick and Leopardstown Tuesday Tips: Commander Of Fleet e/w @ 25/1

2.20 Leopardstown – Savills Chase (Grade 1)

Just so you are forewarned, I have a dreadful record in this race. Last season, Easy Game fell victim to the Stevos’ Hex. In 2019 Jett ran respectably to be fair but he only finished 6th and the year before, Coney Island was unplaced. So, who is the unlucky horse this year? Favourite backers don’t worry because it won’t be A Plus Tard at 8/11. He won this last season, he was second in the Gold Cup and he won the Betfair Chase at Haydock by 22L last time out. He is a special horse, a stayer with a turn of foot, and he is a Gold Cup winner in waiting. A Plus Tard should win this and win it well.

Franco Has Form To Figure

I’m going to try and nick some place money with the rag, Franco De Port. Bryony Frost is over to ride him again. She had a first spin on him in the John Durkan. Considering it was his first run of the year, it wasn’t a bad effort at all. The son of Coastal Path was bang there until he faded out of it after the last. Still, he managed to finish 7th, 12L behind the winner Allaho but only 7L behind Melon in 3rd and 3.5L behind Tornado Flyer.

It was only three runs ago that Franco De Port was beat just 4L by Janidil at Fairyhouse (Asterion Forlonge back in 3rd). Janidil is a single figure price today and Franco is 50s.The 7yo was a G1 novice chase winner at this meeting last season, beating Darver Star over 17f. He then chased Energumene home in a G1 in February. This horse clearly likes Leopardstown and he should be spot on fitness wise after the John Durkan. I think he can close the gap to Janidil over this extra four furlongs and at odds of 50/1, a small each way interest is advised.

Limerick and Leopardstown Tuesday Tips: Franco De Port e/w @ 50/1

2.40 Limerick – Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase (grade B)

Halsafari has won twice around here before and it was bottomless on both occasions. Liam Cusack’s 8yo has run poorly  on three of his five starts this season (unluckily unseating twice) but the ground was on the fast side for him in his below par outings. His best effort came on his second run back at Cork (16.5f sft) when 3rd off a mark of 123 and he is 1lb lower today.

This is the first time he gets his conditions this season and as an added bonus, he is back at his favourite track. He won a novice hurdle around here in Mar 2019 (23f) and he added a novice chase at this meeting in 2019 over 17.5f. Conor Orr takes the ride and he is usually good on these hold up sorts. Heavy ground is really important for this son of Doyen. His form figures on it read 1512 and he’ll handle it better than most. 16/1 looks a more than fair price and at those odds, Halsafari is worth backing each way.

Limerick and Leopardstown Tuesday Tips: Halsafari e/w @ 16/1 NB (4 Places)

-DaveStevos