4.10pm Leopardstown Tips & Betting Preview 22/01/2017

A useful looking bumper is in prospect in the final race of the day at Leopardstown, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Derrinross finished second to a useful looking Mullins’ horse on bumper debut and has to be respected but BAKMAJ looks to have more potential. He was bought by Barry Connell and transferred to Alan Fleming after a good second behind another smart looking horse over C&D in December. He’ll be capable of much better and should get off the mark on the second attempt with a good 3lb claimer on board.

1 DERRINROSS – Point to Point winner back in February and made a good start under rules when second in a bumper at Fariyhouse earlier this month, just behind a useful looking Willie Mullins’ recruit. He’s likely to be capable of better with Jamie Codd retaining the ride and conditions to suit so has to be respected, looking a likely main danger today.

2 MADE IN MAYO – Never involved in his only point to point after making mistakes at an early stage and sports the hood on his rules debut. Has a decent looking pedigree and likely to be capable of better in time, though this doesn’t look an easy target for him. Best watched on rules debut.

3 BAKMAJ – Showed a lot of promise on bumper debut when a close second behind a potentially smart Willie Mullins horse who was odds on that day. He was six lengths clear of the third and subsequently bought by Barry Connell for E18,000 and transferred to Alan Fleming. Showed scope for progress and likely capable of much better, so should be able to get off the mark on the second attempt under rules.

4 BIENNIAL – E10,000 newcomer for Andrew McNamara with a useful looking pedigree, so is an interesting contender on rules debut today. Patrick Mullins is an eye catching jockey booking and market support should be duly noted, though he is likely to have no better than place claims today unless he’s very smart.

5 BLAIRS COVE –  Thrice raced in bumpers and though he has shown a useful level of form including finishing third at Down Royal when returning this season (2m, Soft). However he doesn’t look progressive and has shown a similar level of form on all three runs, so seems vulnerable today. Likely place claims as he’s consistent but hard to recommend for win purposes.

6 IMPERIAL WAY – Twice raced in bumpers and once over hurdles, with his latest bumper run being a good enough second behind a useful looking Willie Mullins horse in Getabird (2m, Good to Yielding). One thing that is clear from all his runs however is that he lacks a change of gear, looking quite weak in a finish. Likely to run his race and certainly has place claims, but doesn’t appeal for win purposes with what he’s shown thus far.

7 MAD CAREW – Bought for E48,000 as a three year old and is currently with Noel Meade. Has a useful looking pedigree and that yard is in good form at present (3-12 in the past two weeks), with a 5lb claimer to help lessen the burden on rules debut. Likely to run well and has place claims, though he will have to be very smart out of the gate to be competitive for win purposes.

8 KIVALINA – Dam won a bumper and is half sister to Best Mate, which makes her of immediate interest on rules debut. Will be useful in time for Mrs John Harrington but will likely need further distance to show her best, so possibly best watched with a keen eye on bumper debut.

9 CHESTNUT BRAVE – Unseated in her only point to point though finished well under Jamie Codd when third at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve (2m 2f, Soft) behind Redhotfillypeppers. Katie O’Farrell takes the ride today and claims a useful 7lb which is likely to help and should have place claims if progressing from that first run, though will need a big step forward to trouble the principles.

10 SIMONE – Half sister to Simonsig and wasn’t devoid of promise when finishing fifth at Leopardstown in December, seven lengths behind Bakmaj. Unlikely to reverse the form with that rival unless she’s improved massively for that run, and is likely to improve further when upped in trip.