Horseracing Tips: Leopardstown, Friday

005 Irish Racing / Darren Skelton / 26 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

St.Stephen's Day traditionally offers us a feast of racing with a selection box of class thoroughbreds; you like these festive puns? - and this year is no different. Today's Irish action comes from Leopardstown, Down Royal and Limerick. Here are the best horse racing tips of the day...

Cousin Vinny will be chasing for his first victory over obstacles in the first race on Leopardstown's card and he should really get it, with minimum fuss.

Last year's champion of bumpers created a mouth-watering impression last year and there are many that believe he can go all the way to the top. There have been many bumper winners in the past though who were never able to show the same potential over obstacles so caution should always be advised. However, it can definitely be said that Cousin Vinny's introduction to hurdles was a satisfying one when chasing home two class horses in Donna's Palm and Hurricane Fly. In the face of this race, that form is bomb proof and I'm not too worried about putting my neck on the block and saying that Vinny is a penalty kick here.

In the Juvenile Hurdle at 1:20 it will probably come down to a battle between two horses - Lethal Weapon and Tharawaat and at this moment, on the bare form, I have to side with the latter. The form of Lethal Weapons wins have not been franked like one would hope and the manner of Tharawaat's victories (when beating a couple of horses who reoppose today) lead me to believe that it will take a very special horse to put him in his place. I haven't seen enough of Lethal Weapon yet to think that he could be that horse (the horse he beat last time, Tyrur Ted has gone on to be beaten by about 22 different horses...)

The Grade One Novice Chase at 2:25 is undoubtedly the highlight of the card and features some of Ireland's best young chasers....and one of England's rising stars. Forpaddydeplasterer shaped very well at Fairyhouse last time when chasing home Trafford Lad and looks sure to improve over a shorter distance that is sure to suit him. Made in Taipan has destroyed all in front of him in all his chase starts so far this season and looks like a horse to follow...there aren't many out there that know how good he really is though. Unfortunately for us punters, the same can be said about the other two notable horses in the race - Cooldine and Tatenen. These two have made huge impressions so far this season and are both thought very highly of by their respective trainers. I'm finding it very hard to make my selection in this race to be honest and I think I won't be having a bet...if there was a gun to my head I'd go with the English horse, just because Paul Nicholls has such a good record when he comes over here with his horses and they don't come over for place money...

In Leopardstown's bumper, like last week, I'm going to go with a John Kiely newcomer - Wave Power. This horse is supposed to be one of John's best and I'd advise taking a price as soon as you can this morning.

Over in Limerick, Jessican Harrington has a good chance of picking up a nice prize in the Grade Two Novice chase at 2:15 with Top of the Rock. This horse has taken to fences like Santa to cookies and his defeat of Jayo last time was well advertised by Jayo winning impressively at Navan last week. To be honest, there are a few promising types in this race and it wouldn't be a major shock to see any of the ten horses winning but in the context of this...I really like that Jayo form and am fairly confident that Top of the Rock can copper fasten it even more.

I can't see to many people getting heavily involved in the action up in Down Royal but if you are looking for a bet there are two horses that are worthy of a mention. Agus A Vic ( 1:25) apparently burst a blood vessel when disappointing in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham last season but put that right by winning the hunter's chase a few week's later at Punchestown. He won this race last year and should be a warm order to do it again this year. Del Rio (2:00) showed marked improvement to finish runner up to a very useful Willie Mullins horse called Borrowdaddy last time and I expect him to go one better at Down Royal this afternoon, and he might be a decent price to do so as well.

Merry Christmas to the lot of ye and I hope you have a profitable St. Stephen's Day. Remember, there are approximately 1 million horses running today so don't be one of those people who look at the results at the end of racing and say "I always back him...didn't even know he was running today". Study the cards hard and enjoy a great day's racing.