The third day of Leopardstown’s post-Christmas meeting includes the Grade 1 Savills Chase, which is sure to be spectacular. Across the rest of the card, GG’s tipster Joe Napier has three best bets.
12.20 Leopardstown – Savills Maiden Hurdle
Willie Mullins is the default trainer to look for in maiden hurdles at Leopardstown, but Henry De Bromhead has won as many runnings of this four-year-old contest in the last decade and KOKTAIL DIVIN could be available at a livelier price to cause a minor upset.
De Bromhead was close to enjoying a sensational Boxing Day, but still sent out four winners from his 17 runners, three of those arriving in maiden hurdles. It is possible his crop of newcomers are in fine fettle, and his charge here has an attractive profile to potentially strike on debut.
He won twice from three starts in France on the flat and is related to two jumps winners in the country too. With his yard’s record in the race, and their form in the immediate post-Christmas period, he could be poised to strike.
2.00 Leopardstown – Savills Hurdle (Grade 1)
In the absence of Teahupoo, the staying hurdle division remains a fairly weak one. Home By The Lee and Bob Olinger set the standard, but the former can hit flat spots, and ran terribly in this last year, while the latter has often flattered to deceive when upped to 3m.
It’s most appealing to chance HEWICK, who has sidestepped the option to defend his King George title by coming here. He was only sixth in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree, but ran a superb race in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, finishing a narrow runner-up.
He beat both Home By The Lee and Irish Point that day, while he returned in good form over fences to begin this season. With that division being stronger, and him able to adapt well to smaller obstacles, he could well prove very dangerous among this line-up.
3.05 Leopardstown – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
On a mark off which he will have to be among the principles to qualify for the final, WIN SOME LOSE SOME has the profile of a horse who should improve for the step up in trip as well. In the colours of JP McManus, he is likely to be one with serious aspirations in the right race.
The five-year-old is the same age as the last three winners of this contest and has a pretty good strike rate for one only rated 125, with three wins from eight starts. Two of those have arrived in handicap company over trips around 2m4f, but having risen to a mark of 124 for his latest start, he shaped like going up to 3m would be for the best.
His close fourth last time out at Naas was still a decent run, and he is up a further 1lb in a more competitive race, but there could very easily be more to come in many respects.
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