Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s best bets for ITV’s Easter Monday action at Kempton & Fairyhouse

Matt takes in the ITV Bank Holiday card featuring the Irish Grand National

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Matt Chapman Tips Today

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14.40 Fairyhouse – BLOOD DESTINY

ITV Racing Easter Monday gets underway here in Ireland with a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle over 2m. BLOOD DESTINY went to Cheltenham with a huge reputation but failed to fire and was a tame ninth behind Lossiemouth in the Triumph Hurdle. There’s no doubt the Willie Mullins team think he’s very good and he should bounce back here under Paul Townend.

14.55 Kempton – RUNNING LION

ITV also go Flat racing on Monday starting with this Fillies’ Conditions race for 3yo over 1m. These could all improve, but I’ll go with RUNNING LION for Oisin Murphy and John and Thady Gosden. Murphy will love to win on this daughter of Roaring Lion and he’s looked good in two wins at Lingfield and Chelmsford. Let’s hope she’s good enough.

15.15 Fairyhouse – PAPAL LODGE

This is a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m5f. PAPAL LODGE might have an each-way chance here for Sean Flanagan and Peter Fahey. The former Gordon Elliott inmate was a fine winner over 3m at Thurles last time and is up 7lb for that but that still means he’s handicapped to operate here and he has a great racing weight.

15.30 Kempton – LEGEND OF LEROS

Another conditions race here for 3yo over 1m. LEGEND OF LEROS has been unfenced in two starts but did nothing wrong when last seen in October when landing a maiden over 7f. That was very soft ground so these conditions are very different, but the son of Aussi horse Kuroshio appears promising for Marco Botti and Andrea Atzeni.

15.50 Fairyhouse – ASTERION FORLONGE

A grade 2 hurdle over 2m4f. It would be no surprise for Monkfish to win on return. He’s a monster. That said, the selection has to be ASTERION FORLONGE also trained by Willie Mullins and the mount of Paul Townend. My hope was back hurdling last time having previously been in the 2022 Gold Cup behind A Plus Tard. His fitness edge should make the difference.

16.05 Kempton – SIR RUMI

The Rosebery Handicap over 1m3f. SIR RUMI is not chucked in at all, but this trip is perfect and he should run well for Kevin Stott and Richard Hannon. The five-year-old returned this term with a fine second at Doncaster and has decent form here off 1lb lower. Each-way chance.

16.20 Fairyhouse – EASY GAME

A Grade 2 Chase over 2m4f. French Dynamite has a chance here, but I have to stick with EASY GAME for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins. The winner of 15 of his 34 starts, Easy Game has been in great form this term and beat the now retired Kemboy last time. He has been very well placed, and may well have been so again here.

 

16.40 Kempton – LAUREL

Class horses here in a Listed race for fillies over 1m. All eyes on LAUREL who won here last year before chasing home Fonteyn in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket. As a lightly raced filly she should only get better and it’s hard to believe she won’t be far too good for this lot for Ryan Moore and John and Thady Gosden.

17.00 Fairyhouse –  STUMPTOWN

There big betting race of the day in the Irish Grand National over 3m5f. STUMPTOWN has improved fast in recent times and is the each-way selection for Luke Dempsey and Gavin Cromwell. Just three runs ago my hope was a winner at Thurles off 112, now he’s here off 134. That’s 1lb lower than at Cheltenham when he chased home Angels Dawn in the Kim Muir. The youngster might have more to offer and is just in cracking form.

Matt Chapman Tips For Easter Monday

*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.

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