2.25pm Leopardstown Tips & Betting Preview 28/12/2016

This is an intriguing race with plenty of good form on offer as eleven horses line up for this handicap hurdle in the fifth race at Leopardstown today. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Tudor City should prove popular after his fine second at Cheltenham last month and with Tony Martin aiming for a hat-trick of wins in this race he should go well. That being said ARETESONE also comes in here good form, having finished runner up behind Duke Cass who was a good winner at Limerick yesterday and he can go close having won over this trip three starts ago. Charlie Stout should continue to give his running and is taken to follow them home.

1 Bull Ride – Lightly-raced and only five runs so far for the yard. Landed back to back wins over 2m at Wexford and Navan recently (both Good/Soft). Put up 8lb for those wins and finished a good runner up behind Charlie Stout on his last start at Thurles ten days ago. Should remain competitive from this mark but looks held by that reopposing rival and one to note in the market.

2 Ben Dundee – Only three career runs and won on his second start at Naas (Good) over this trip last month after returning from almost a year off. Caught tapped-for-toe at Gowran on his last start and can be overlooked today.

3 Tudor City – Dual purpose performer who has scored twice on the level on deep ground but yet to score over hurdles. Ran his best race so far when runner up in a big field in a novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham last month, ridden patiently and should go well for a yard that has picked up this race for the last two seasons. Player.

4 Thirsty Work – Only one win at Clonmel (Soft) in eight starts and returned after a seven month absence to finish mid-division at Navan (Good/Soft). Only seventh of 16 on his last start when sent off favourite and struggled upped to 2m4f. Back down in trip today but easy to rule out on current form.

5 Spider Web – Landed a couple of hurdles wins in minor events in May on deeper ground up to 2m5f but has disappointed when sent off favourite on his last two starts at Navan and Fairyhouse (both Good/Soft). Drops back down to 2m today and not one to rule out just yet but does appear to have his work cut out for him in this and one to rule out for the win unless the money comes for him.

6 Aretesone – Fair form so far for this current yard but been in good nick recently, staying on well to win at Wexford (Good) in October over this trip before finishing a good runner up behind Duke Cass at Limerick (Good/Soft) twenty six days ago who won over the same course yesterday in good style. Needs more to win this but capable sort with hood and a tongue-tie fitted today and dangerous to rule out if in the mood. Big player.

7 Camlann – Fifth in this race last year and now 6lb lower. Won a decent hurdle race at the Galway festival in July on good ground. Only third at that course when 5 ¼ lengths behind Scoir Mear two months ago and needs a lot more to get involved today despite this being his preferred ground.

8 Charlie Stout – Got off the mark on his eleventh start when just pipping the reopposing Bull Ride on his last start at Thurles (Soft) ten days ago over 2m. Travelled strongly in that race and should remain competitive off his current mark and has been running consistently for the last three months. Only 5lb higher in this and place claims.

9 The Irregular – Ran a career best to get off the mark at the eighth time of asking at Clonmel (Soft) twenty days ago over 2m. Strapping sort who probably needs a stiffer test of stamina in time but hard to fancy at this level. Looks held by the market principals on current form.

10 Baron Von Chill – Still a maiden after four starts and only seventh of 28 on his last start at Navan (Good/Soft) eighteen days ago. Plenty of improvement needed to get involved in this and easy to rule out today.

11 Whats The Plot – Two time winner on the level up to 1m3f but patch form so far in four hurdles starts including when sixth of 18 at Thurles (Good/Soft) on his last start twenty seven days ago behind the smart looking Riven Light from the Willie Mullins stable. Wasn’t given a hard time that day and should be up to winning races at some point. Makes his handicap debut today and one to note in the betting.