Sunday 2nd February 2025
12.40 Leopardstown: Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle: After a frustrating Saturday, we dust ourselves down and go again on Sunday and my first selection of the afternoon comes within the 12.40 at Leopardstown, and this is a Listed mares handicap hurdle over two miles and two furlongs. I like the UK raider here in Queens Gamble for the team of Harry Derham and Rachael Blackmore. She’s a smart mare who won a listed novice event last term and returned to the track with a fine second of third in a competitive Grade 3 handicap at Newbury in November. I think she sets the standard here and if she runs up to the level of that Newbury run here she can have a big say. Queens Gamble – 9/2 (Each-Way)
1.10 Leopardstown: Ladbrokes Novice Chase: Next up for me will be the 1.10 at Leopardstown and this is a Grade 1 novice chase that’s ridden over a distance of two miles and five and a half furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Ballyburn here who heads the betting for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. Despite being a shade of odds on, I actually think he’s overpriced here on the back of his defeat to Sir Gino last time out at Kempton. He had to give that rival weight that day and it’s a big enough task to try and beat the Henderson charge off levels. I’m not fully convinced by the other Mullins pair here and I still believe that there is a bit of star quality about the Mullins seven-year-old. If he gets a clear round he should prove very tough to beat. Ballyburn – 10/11 (Win)
2.25 Musselburgh: bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase: It’s over to Musselburgh for my third selection and the 2.25 which is the Edinburgh National, a Class 2 handicap chase over three miles and seven and a half furlongs. I’m with Inis Oirr who represents the team of Lucinda Russell and Alan Doyle who takes off five pounds. He won this race by twenty-one lengths last year and whilst he’s not been able to find that same form since he’s effectively back down to the same mark here when you take the rider’s claim into consideration. Another stab at this race has likely been the plan since last year’s success and if he turns up in anything near that form he can go close again. Inis Oirr – 9/1 (Each-Way)
2.45 Leopardstown: O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase: My fourth selection of the day comes back at Leopardstown and in the 2.45 which is a Grade 3 handicap chase that’s ridden over two miles and five and a half furlongs. I like Backtonormal here for the combination of Gavin Cromwell and Conor Stone-Walsh who takes off five pounds. He makes his handicap debut here and looks to be a potential big improver now he’s upped in trip. He’s contested some hot maiden and novice events prior to today’s assignment and has already shown signs that a longer trip will unlock significant improvement. If he gets some luck in the run he can run a big race off a lowly weight. Backtonormal – 4/1 (Each-Way)
3.35 Musselburgh: bet365 Handicap Chase: The penultimate pick on the day for me comes within the 3.35 at Musselburgh and this is a Class 3 handicap chase over two miles. I’m taking a chance on Teddy Blue here for the team of Harry Derham and Paul O’Brien. He makes his chasing debut here having last been seen when not giving his running in the Grade 3 Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham back in November. If we’re judging him on his hurdling form, as there’s nothing else to go off, he’s got by far the best form on offer in this particular contest, and if taking to the larger obstacles he should be a big player. The Derham yard has also come back into form as of late following a difficult spell. Teddy Blue – 13/2 (Each-Way)
3.50 Leopardstown: Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle: My concluding selection for the weekend will come within the 3.50 at Leopardstown and this is a Listed handicap hurdle over two miles. I’ve come down on Ol Man Dingle here who represents Eoin Griffin and Ricky Doyle. He comes into the contest in fine form having won his last three outings, with his most recent success coming on his handicap debut at this track back in December. He’s been raised twelve-pounds for that four and three-quarters of a length success but he’s got every chance of progressing again. The drop back down in trip shouldn’t be an issue either having won a novice hurdle over two miles and half of a furlong. Ol Man Dingle – 12/1 (Each-Way)
