EARLY season juvenile contests do not always stand up when it comes to the spring festivals, but it may be wise to keep the faith with COEUR SUBLIME here.
Gordon Elliott’s three-year-old arrived on the jumps scene with a huge reputation after beating the high class Southern France in a maiden earlier this year and his engine looked just as good over a trip when he smoothly put the race to bed on his hurdling debut at Down Royal.
He was sent off at short odds to land his first Graded contest at Fairyhouse a month later, but some scruffy jumps towards the end of the race saw him lose out on the nod to his stablemate Chief Justice — who was given a peach of a waiting ride by Davy Russell.
La Sorelita, Maze Runner, Got Trumped and Coko Beach could all improve enough to make an impact, but Bryan Cooper’s mount has the innate talent to blow these away when putting it altogether and he should have learned enough from his Fairyhouse run to turn the result around with his stablemate.
Eamonn Hames' top tips for Leopardstown
12.10 Entoucas
12.40 City Island
1.10 Coeur Sublime
1.45 Vocarium (nb)
2.20 Mengli Khan
2.55 Grand Partner
3.30 Fury Road
A competitive handicap that could see VOCARIUM make a big impression.
Peter Fahey knows the time of day when it comes to placing his horses in handicaps and he would have thought long and hard about where to send this fellow since his last run in October.
He flopped in a novice hurdle that day — but don’t make the mistake of reading too much into that run.
He was smart as a bumper horse, progressive in his first two starts hurdling and he beat a useful sort of Joseph O’Brien’s that has went two from two since when winning at Gowran Park.
Warnaq won well at Navan when making all, but the one to take out of that race is the third home Share The Honour.
Tony Martin’s stayer is clearly on a good mark based on that and having Paul Townend up for the first time is a huge plus.
Connections clearly anticipate a good run and he should be the one to put it up to the selection.
EVERYTHING looks in place for MENGLI KHAN to make a big impression this Christmas.
There may not be many runners, but this could be a proper race that’s run at a genuine Grade 1 gallop with frontrunner Voix Du Reve likely to go off fast and Mind’s Eye and Us And Them likely to be not too far behind, keeping him honest.
A race ran like that is just what the doctor ordered for a smooth traveller like Mengli Khan and it is hard not to see him winning this well.
He sauntered around Punchestown on his debut, jumping slickly and eagerly, before drawing steadily clear without being asked by Davy Russell.
He had the smart mare Forge Meadow 10 lengths adrift that day and he will be so much better when getting a lead.
The aforementioned Voix Du Reve is a danger if he can get away with slowing things down at stages, but with the pace likely to be honest, Le Richebourg might be a bigger danger. Joseph O’Brien’s ace travelled supremely well when second in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse and a drop back to this trip should see him finish out his race a lot stronger.
THERE’s no doubt the Troytown form is red-hot and fourth home GRAND PARTNER can further enhance that in this competitive handicap chase.
Thomas Mullins’ ace shaped with huge promise at Navan before his stamina gave out after the second last and he must have a big chance of making amends here. He looked a huge danger throughout most of the race and he must go close now dropped back almost a mile to a trip that he has done most of his winning over.
Two miles is Grand Partner’s bread and butter and there is no doubt he has the right Partner with David Mullins back aboard.
Last year’s first and second Tisamystery and Bel Ami De Sivola are back for more, but both have questions to answer given their current form.
Arcenfete has taken well to fences and could be a big improver now handicapping, but the eye-catching one is Paul Nolan’s Quamino.
He looked a natural on debut when flying from the rear to win by seven lengths and there could be plenty left up his sleeve now handicapping.
Eamonn Hames' top tips for Limerick
12.20 Band Of Outlaws
12.50 Felix Desjy
1.25 Miss Shoe City
2.00 Getabird
2.35 Lady In Lavender
3.10 Mindsmadeup (nap)
3.45 Larquebuse
WATCH this Bird fly home.
Ruby Walsh has made the bold call to ride at Limerick for the first time in 20 years and he can make it a memorable one with GETABIRD in today’s Grade 1 contest.
Willie Mullins’ flying machine looked the business when making a slick debut at Punchestown earlier in the month and similar is expected here now upped in class. He looked to have plenty of boot, but is in no way short of stamina and he should just bounce out, get into a rhythm and gallop these into the ground.
Gordon Elliott’s Hardline won a Grade 3 very impressively at Navan, but he lacks the inherit promise of the Closutton trained favourite and could be easily brushed aside on the turn for home. Jetz ran well in the Drinmore, but looked in need of further and the majority would be better suited to handicap company.
Source: Read Full Article