Mick Fitzgerald’s Wednesday ITV Racing Tips
Leopardstown 13:10 – Falcon Eight (each-way)
Leopardstown 13:45 – Flooring Porter
Leopardstown 14:20 – A Plus Tard
Leicester 14:35 – Issam (each-way)
Leopardstown 14:55 – Gentlemansgame
Leicester 15:10 – Honneur D’ajonc (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Leopardstown 13.10 – Falcon Eight
A qualifier for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival where horses need to finish in the first four to have a chance of making the line-up in the finale. Judging by previous years, they will need to be rated higher than 132 to have a chance of running at the finale next March. FALCON EIGHT trained by Dermot Weld has a good 5lb claimer Michael O Sullivan booked and won a decent race on the Flat at the Curragh in very soft ground off a mark of 109. That gives him a decent chance now off a jumps rating of 132. He is a very good each way bet at likely double-figure odds.
Leopardstown 13.45 – Flooring Porter
This is the race being run in the memory of Jack De Bromhead and if Bob Olinger were to win, it would raise the roof at the Dublin track. However, Bob Olinger has a few questions to answer. After a disappointing end to last season it was a reasonable comeback run at Navan in the Lismullen Hurdle when second to Home By The Lee. More is now required to beat the dual and reigning Stayers’ Hurdle champion, FLOORING PORTER. He was behind Bob Olinger at Navan but looked badly in need of the run. He’s won this before and it looks a better fit.
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Leopardstown 14.20 – A Plus Tard
I am willing to put a line through the reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner’s return to action at Haydock, where he was pulled up. He was found to have had an allergic reaction at some point during his trip to the UK. He was only beaten a short head in this race last year by Galvin, but Rachael Blackmore learned a valuable lesson about how to ride him that day and he went on to win the Gold Cup on his next start. Last season’s surprise Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup winner Conflated is highly thought of by Gordon Elliott and is the mount of Jack Kennedy. He was a disappointing third at Down Royal, but will strip fitter now. Galvin will be suited by conditions and defends his crown. We know he likes the track and has to be on the short-list too. I’ll stick with A Plus Tard who should he win here will be a much shorter price for a repeat win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup afterwards.
Leicester 14.35 – Issam (each-way)
Tom Symonds acquired ISSAM from France in the summer. He was a winner at Bordeaux le Buscat and Lyon Parilly. He handles very soft ground, which it will be at Leicester and I saw enough at Wetherby to suggest he is not badly handicapped can at least hit the places. Playful Saint is worth his place at the head of the market but I like our chances.
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Leopardstown 14.55 – Gentlemansgame
This contest was won last year by Galopin Des Champs who now sits at the top of the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting. Mouse Morris trains Gentlemansgame for powerful owners Robcour and he has kept good company over hurdles and now makes his debut over fences. He finished second in a Grade One Novice Hurdle to Galopin Des Champs and was a good third to Klassical Dream in a Grade One at Punchestown last April also. It would be fantastic for Mouse to have another good horse on his hands, and I’m hoping this six-year-old will win for him. I Am Maximus has cheekpieces on after getting narrowly beaten at Fairyhouse last time. The Mullins camp mean business but I am hoping GENTLEMANSGAME will win.
Leicester 15:10 – Honneur D’ajonc (each-way)
This five-year-old son of Diamond Boy has kept good company in his three runs over fences. He has learned his job without being put under too much pressure. If you look the last time he ran over hurdles was in a Grade 2 at Kelso, he was not beaten all that far (12 lengths) and before that had won at Wincanton and on the heavy ground at Exeter when winning off today’s rating. HONNEUR D’AJONC will handle conditions and I think is a very good each-way bet in this competitive heat.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Wednesday ITV Racing Tips
Leopardstown 13:10 – Falcon Eight (each-way)
Leopardstown 13:45 – Flooring Porter
Leopardstown 14:20 – A Plus Tard
Leicester 14:35 – Issam (each-way)
Leopardstown 14:55 – Gentlemansgame
Leicester 15:10 – Honneur D’ajonc (each-way)
READ MORE
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- Matt Chapman’s Wedneday Horse Racing Tips, 28th December
- When is the Matheson Hurdle? Leopardstown date, start time, runners and betting
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