1.20pm Leopardstown Tips & Betting Preview 29/12/2016

6 classy mares go to post for a Grade 3 hurdle at Leopardstown on Thursday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This looks a showdown between Slowmotion and LET’S DANCE, with preference for the latter. Willie Mullins’ 4 year old filly has been frustrating to follow at times but she returned this season with an easy success is a listed race at Punchestown in November and should have more to give with that effort under her belt. The former does have good form to and is a Grade 2 winner, but still seems to have something to find today.

1 SLOWMOTION – Grade 2 winner over hurdles last season when an easy winner at Fairyhouse in March and returned this season with a 2nd place to a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Naas last month (2m, Yielding to Soft). Tried going over fences on her latest start but fell at the first and returns to hurdling where she should be more comfortable and has a good chance to make amends if her confidence hasn’t been too badly affected by that run.

2 BILLY’S HOPE – Finished 6th here yesterday in a tough race (3m, Yielding) and may find herself outclassed in this stepping up from handicaps. Probably best left alone.

3 DAISY’S GIFT – Comes back form two attempts at chasing and is a listed winner over hurdles, with that coming at Gowran Park in October 2015. Will need a career best to win this but likely to give this a good go and should be able to push the market principles today, so should they under perform she could be picking up the pieces.

4 LOVE ON TOP – Won three times for her former trainer over hurdles but in much lesser races than this and should be outclassed today on the balance of her form.

5 SOLITA – Her penultimate effort at Punchestown in November where she finished 2nd would bring her into the equation today (2m, Soft) but wasn’t so good the last time at Fairyhouse (2m, Good to Yielding) which tempers enthusiasm. Hard to fancy her troubling the principles but needs a second look nonetheless.

6 LET’S DANCE – High class juvenile for Willie Mullins who has won her last two starts at Sligo (2m, Good to Yielding) and Punchestown (2m 2f, Soft) with the minimum of fuss, albeit they weren’t the sternest of tests. She’ll be tough to beat with that reappearence under her belt and wasn’t disgraced in a Grade 1 at Punchestown back in April, so needs a huge amount of respect today.