Mick Fitzgerald’s Leopardstown tips
13:15 – Final Demand
13:50 – Sainte Lucie
14:25 – Gaoth Chuil (each-way)
14:55 – Majborough
15:30 – Galopin Des Champs
16:05 – Fascile Mode
16:35 – I Started A Joke
*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.
13:15 – Final Demand
A great couple of days coming up at Leopardstown in the Dublin Racing Festival. Paul Townend has opted to ride the unbeaten Final Demand, who is one of five declared from the Willie Mullins’ stable. He’s a little keen in his racing style so I’d be worried if there’s not much pace. He’s smart though and looks the one to be on.
13:50 – Sainte Lucie
Gavin Cromwell hasn’t hidden his regard for Hello Neighbour but I wasn’t overly impressed by his jumping when winning here at the Christmas Festival. Sainte Lucie was an impressive winner on her Irish debut for Willie Mullins and getting 7lb in weight will help her cause a lot. She’ll do for me.
14:25 – Gaoth Chuil (each-way)
A 3m handicap with 26 runners declared won’t be an easy puzzle to solve. The one I like each-way is Ted Walsh’s Gaoth Chuil. He was second to Maxxum in this contest last year off 129 and is not much higher now off 133. Josh Williamson takes off 7lb and he could be a bit of value to hit the frame again as you kind of know what you’ll get with him as he always seems to run his race.
14:55 – Majborough
Majborough won the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last season and won well on chase debut at Fairyhouse when beating Tullyhill. Stablemate Ile Atlantique has had two run over fences but has to concede weight to Majborough. That swings it in Majborough’s favour.
15:30 – Galopin Des Champs
A very good race with Galopin Des Champs looking for his third Irish Paddy Power Gold Cup ahead of a bid for a third Cheltenham Gold Cup in mid-March. I’m fascinated to see if they let Fact To File roll along or try to break his stride like they did last time. It’s hard to go against Galopin Des Champs though given his impressive record at Leopardstown and career in general.
16:05 – Fascile Mode
The two-mile handicap chase is a very tricky contest but I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Fascile Mode yet. He was a winner over this trip at Punchestown three starts back and started his career when winning a bumper at this venue in December 2022. There could be more to come.
16:35 – I Started A Joke
For so long it was a case of trusting in the father and son team of Willie & Patrick Mullins in the bumpers but this time I’m going to take a punt on Charles Byrnes’ I Started A Joke. Finian Maguire is booked to ride and he could be a bit of value against the Mullins’ and Gordon Elliott’s runners.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Leopardstown tips
13:15 – Final Demand
13:50 – Sainte Lucie
14:25 – Gaoth Chuil (each-way)
14:55 – Majborough
15:30 – Galopin Des Champs
16:05 – Fascile Mode
16:35 – I Started A Joke
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change.
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