Taranis looks the safest option in ‘Champion’
The youngest horse in the race, he comes from a stable chockful of talent and should be well suited by this three miles.
He improved throughout last season, rounding off his campaign with two career-best performances. At the Cheltenham Festival, Taranis responded to a particularly vigorous Ruby Walsh drive to land the Ryanair Chase.
That was over two miles and five and he then dropped down a furlong in the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree.
He was always struggling on that flat track, but was doing his best work at the finish to be beaten three and a half lengths into second by Monet’s Garden.
The ground may ride on the quick side for The Listener and Justified has to be regarded as a doubtful stayer, so it all points to Taranis as being the safest option.
Only four are set to face the starter in the Killultagh Properties Ltd Chase, but it is a fascinating little contest all the same.
Justpourit would prove a surprise winner, but the other three are decent. One Cool Cookie has a nasty 10lbs penalty to carry, so it may pay to concentrate on Knight Legend and Alexander Taipan.
Knight Legend has been getting his act together and he slammed Central House at Punchestown. Preference, however, is for Alexander Taipan, who showed just what he is capable of, when on song, at Punchestown in April, defying top weight to land a very competitive handicap.
Once-raced Muirhead can provide the answer to the 20-runner A Bartlett and Sons (Airdrie) Ltd Maiden Hurdle.
There may be a big field, but a case can be made for only a handful and Muirhead greatly impressed when storming to a five lengths success in a Gowran Park bumper.
Best wager on a moderate Leopardstown card today is Mourilyan in the betchronicle.com Race.
He was returning from a long break when powering to an easy win in a maiden at the Curragh last month.
Feature at Cork tomorrow is the paddypower.com Cork Grand National Handicap Chase. The nod falls on Mattock Ranger, who completely lost his way as last season progressed.
He started at Punchestown in October when beating Knight Legend and Gazza’s Girl, a smart performance, and if anyone can nurse him back to his best it is Noel Meade.
Major Finnegan, who did really well to give Shuil Aris 9lbs and half a length beating at Limerick, gets the vote in the Dial-A-Bet 1800721821 EBF Novice Hurdle.
Leopardstown tomorrow houses one of the best bets of the weekend in the shape of Aidan O’Brien’s Halfway To Heaven in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden,
The daughter of Pivotal was decidedly unlucky on this track on Monday when a neck second to Labaqa, failing to get a run at a vital time.
