Advised SUNDAY MORNING 29th DECEMBER

Racecourse: Leopardstown
Time: 13:55
Date: 29/12/2019
Horse: Champagne Classic
Current Odds: 5/1 generally, use BOG bookies.
Advised Stake & Bet Type: 1.0 Point Win
Selection Reasoning

Champagne Classic is right in the mix here following two wins over fences at Fairyhouse and Wexford. Robbie Power rode him to win at Wexford over 2m7f when easily accounting for Discorama. Last season he was due to run in the “four miler” but encountered a setback having finished a close second to Troytown chase winner Chris’s Dream with Kim Muir chase winner Any Second Now over three lengths behind. Any Second Now gives us a line of form with Battleoverdoyen who beat Any Second Now by 5l in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl at Punchestown.

Minella Indo was champion novice staying hurdler last season winning both at the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals. He made a satisfactory chasing debut when second behind Laurina over 2m4f at Gowran and will love going up to this trip. Champagne Classic has four chase runs under his belt and is more mature than both 6 year olds ahead on him in the market. He can put that experience to good effect at Leopardstown today. The ground has dried out to good ground but less we forget Champagne Classic won the Martin Pipe handicap hurdle at Cheltenham before going on to win the Grade 1 stayers hurdle at the Punchestown Festival over three miles on good to yielding ground lowering the colours of Penhill who was that seasons Albert Bartlett winner.

Compare Odds at https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/

 

Racecourse: Leopardstown
Time: 14:30
Date: 29/12/2019
Horse: Sharjah
Current Odds: 5/1 Betvictor & Bet365 else 9/2 generally, use BOG bookies.
Advised Stake & Bet Type: 1.0 Point Win
Selection Reasoning

Sharjah is a talented hurdler at his best and with the ground drying out to yielding on the hurdle course conditions have come in his favour. He ran an fine race on his seasonal debut when fourth to Sadlier in the Grade 1 Morgiana hurdle at Punchestown. Third that day was Klassical Dream which connections were disappointed with having expected more from the Supreme hurdle winner. Sharjah landed this race last season when showing too much speed for Supasundae. He is a dual Grade 1 winner as he beat Faugheen in the 2018 Morgiana hurdle run on good ground. Patrick Mullins rides and he can ride a patient race and come over the top on such a fast horse.

Compare Odds at https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/

 

Racecourse: Leopardstown
Time: 3:05
Date: 29/12/2019
Horse: Envious Editor
Current Odds: 6/1 Coral 4 places else 6/1 Betvictor & Bet365 both 3 places, use BOG bookies.
Advised Stake & Bet Type: 0.5 Point Each Way
Selection Reasoning

Envious Editor can land this for the Jessie Harrington team with Robbie Power riding. He had a nice pipe opener in a maiden hurdle at Navan over this trip on soft ground. Bang in contention over the final hurdle the saddle slipped making life difficult for Rachael Blackmore but I doubt he would have won on the day. Following that run we can expect an improved show in his first handicap off a rating of 120. Last season he produced two excellent runs when beaten a short head by Rhinestone at Naas and a length by Éclair De Beaufeu at Limerick. The drying ground will suit over this trip and he has an obvious chance.

Compare Odds at https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing/

**Next Selections due Date & Time:

Tuesday Night 31st December ~20:00