Horse Racing Tips: Ruby Walsh’s fine Saturday fancies at Leopardstown

A big day needs some big calls and Ruby Walsh scoots through the day one card at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Ruby Walsh Leopardstown Xmas

By / Horse Racing Tips / 3 months ago

Ruby Walsh’s Leopardstown Tips

13:20 Predators Gold
13:50 Highwind
14:25 Marine Nationale
15:00 Gaoth Chuil (each-way)
15:35 Galopin Des Champs
16:10 Madara
16:40 A Dream To Share

    *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.

        13:20 Predators Gold

        Six runners are declared and Willie Mullins trains four of them, headed by Predators Gold. Paul Townend was keen for him to run here and he steps up in trip after chasing home Caldwell Potter at this venue over Christmas. The ground was soft that day and it favoured the stamina horses with the front two pulling away from the rest of the field.

        His stablemate Loughglynn did plenty wrong at Limerick but still managed to win but he needs to settle better. Jetara was impressive at Christmas and is an improving mare but a few of the others underperformed.

        13:50 Highwind

        Willie Mullins saddles six of the 11 declared runners and Storm Heart is the choice of Paul Townend. He was very impressive when winning a maiden hurdle at Punchestown on debut and like a few others of Willie Mullins’ is pitched straight into Grade One company. Paul has ridden some of these but Sean O’Keeffe rode Highwind for his debut win at Punchestown despite jumping terribly.

        Sean O’Keeffe is out now but Rachel Blackmore gets the leg up now. On homework alone Ethical Diamond should be a lot shorter in the market as he works well but needs to bring it to the track and will appreciate better ground. You have to respect Paul’s opinion and he’s chosen Storm Heart but I suspect Highwind looks very talented and he’s my pick.

            14:25 Marine Nationale

            We should see a better performance from Facile Vega as he was very disappointing at Christmas but even on his best day last year he wasn’t good enough to beat Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

            Looking at them this season over fences, I don’t see anything that screams at me that Facile Vega will overturn that form. As much as it kills me to go against Facile Vega I’m afraid I have to.

            15:00 Gaoth Chuil (each-way)

            My dad’s horse, Gaoth Chuil, won the Pertemps Qualifier here over Christmas and returns to try and pick up some more prize money. She seems in good nick at home and Dad is very happy with her so hopefully she runs a good race for him.

            Willie Mullins saddles two with Fine Margin who was second to the ill-fated Slate Lane at Haydock in November with Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle candidate Crambo back in third. Shanbally Kid also lines up and looks to improve over hurdles as he never really jumped a fence properly last time. Gaoth Chuil should run her race and might be a bit of value each-way.

            15:35 Galopin Des Champs

            If the same Galopin Des Champs turns up that won at Christmas he should win. He was a 23-length winner that day and has only three opponents to face this time, headed by Fastorslow.

            Last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner looks 100 per cent at home. He’s been beaten the last two times he’s met Fastorslow though but back at this trip, on this track, I’m siding with him.

                    16:10 Madara

                    A 2m 1f handicap chase is the penultimate race on the card and it looks very competitive. In general, the British 2m handicap chasers are just a little bit better than their Irish counterparts and the five-year-old Madara makes plenty of appeal.

                    He’s very lightly raced and was a good winner at Cheltenham in December and is only 3lb higher now. Willie Mullins saddles Hen See down near the foot of the weights but he’ll have to improve on handicap debut.

                    16:40 A Dream To Share

                    Willie Mullins has declared five in this contest and Patrick Mullins rides Redemption Day who overcame a long absence to finish second in a bumper here at Christmas behind Jalon Doudaires. Joystick won well over 2m 4f on debut while You Oughta Know is two from two in bumpers but hasn’t run since August.

                    My Great Mate has taken a couple of steps forward since defeat on debut and was impressive last time at Punchestown when winning, despite racing very keen. Hens Tooth is another who comes here on the back of a win on heavy ground at Limerick at Christmas where Jody Townend rode him but she’s opted for You Oughta Know this time. Despite all of that, I can’t remember a horse winning six bumpers and that’s what last year’s Champion Bumper winner A Dream To Share is looking to do after connections decided against a hurdles campaign this season.

                      Leopardstown Racing Tips

                      13:20 Predators Gold
                      13:50 Highwind
                      14:25 Marine Nationale
                      15:00 Gaoth Chuil (each-way)
                      15:35 Galopin Des Champs
                      16:10 Madara
                      16:40 A Dream To Share

                        *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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