Horse Racing Tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s 7/1 each-way Friday flutter at Leopardstown

9mo ago

Leopardstown Racing Tips

12:05 Galileo Dame
12:35 Lisnagar Fortune
13:10 Marine Nationale (each-way)
13:45 Romeo Coolio
14:20 Jacovec Cavern
15:00 Nic Rockett (each-way)
15:30 Eclipse Chaser

*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.

Galileo Dame comes in here with a Flat rating of 96 so sets a pretty good standard if transferring that form to hurdles. The quicker ground at this time of the year should help and with the 7lb fillies allowance she looks a bit of value against the likely market leader, Last Kingdom.

12:35 Lisnagar Fortune

Willie Mullins’ Lisnagar Fortune is an interesting contender on his return to the racecourse after nearly a year off. He won a maiden hurdle at Punchestown last January beating Jasko Des Dames comfortably and has the size and scope to make his presence felt over fences. This is his first start over fences and just his fifth career start.

13:10 Marine Nationale (each-way)

I’d prefer to take a chance on Marine National each-way than go with Gaelic Warrior as a win only project on his seasonal debut. Even though he won the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham last year, he’s better on a right-handed track. Marine Nationale has a bit to prove as the former Supreme Novices Hurdle winner bombed out last season after winning as a novice here. Connections will be hoping he can start to put his career back together now and had a pipe-opener at Naas last month that should have brought him on, despite his odd-on defeat.

13:45 Romeo Coolio

Gordon Elliott’s runner Romeo Coolio was beaten at odds-on at Fairyhouse last time and connections hold him in high regard. The Cheltenham Festival Bumper runner-up to Jasmin De Vaux would appreciate any rain that falls and can get his career back on track today.

14:20 Jacovec Cavern

The first of two very competitive handicaps on the Paddy Power sponsored card is a tough 2m hurdle contest but I’ve come down on the side of Jacovec Cavern for Emmet Mullins. He was last seen when finishing eighth in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham but there’s more to the story than that.

He’s rated 8lb lower in Ireland than his UK mark and claiming jockey Conor Clarke takes off another 7lbs. He’s been highly tried in his races so is one to keep onside for his shrewd trainer.

15:00 Nic Rockett (each-way)

The featured Paddy Power Chase over three miles and there’s a lot of repeat runners in this contest from last year. Panda Boy was runner up last season and should give you another good run for your money. Willie Mullins’ Nic Rockett carries top weight but that’s offset by the jockey’s 7lb claim.

He was highly tried last year and started favourite for the Irish Grand National last season. He could be a bit of each-way value in a mightily competitive contest where Paddy’s bound to have an extra place or two.

15:30 Eclipse Chaser

Paddy Mullins rides the stable’s Eclipse Chaser for his dad over Leaky Cauldron so that’s a good place to start, considering Paddy has ridden the winner in the finale for the past three seasons with Joystick, Fact To File and Embassy Gardens all obliging.

Eclipse Chaser fell at the second last with the race at his mercy on his only start in a point-to-point last March. The winner that day, In The Age, joined the Skeltons and won a bumper at Southwell a week ago.