Advised Sunday Morning 3rd February

Racecourse & Time

Leopardstown – 12:40

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1/2 Point Each Way

Name of Horse to Back

Sapphire Lady

Current Odds: 

15/2 Coral, Ladbrokes & Unibet all 5 places else 8/1 Bet365 4 places, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

Sapphire Lady is very closely matched with stablemate Cut The Mustard and it must have been a hard decision for Ruby Walsh to choose the latter. Both have excellent open handicap form having finished not far behind Wonder Laish at Fairyhouse. Just behind these mares that day was Off You Go and Jezki who finished first and second in the Ladbrokes hurdle yesterday giving the form a serious boost. Sapphire Lady has won over 2m4f and will relish stepping back up two furlongs along with the stiff finish at Leopardstown. She will enjoy the good ground and looks a big player back against her own sex with Paul Townend riding.

Racecourse & Time

Leopardstown – 14:25

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1/2 Point Each Way

Name of Horse to Back

Pleasure Dome

Current Odds: 

 5/1 William HIll & Paddy Power both 5 places else 5/1 in places, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

A close call between Cuneo and Pleasure Dome but in the end I’ve sided with Pleasure Dome who has better form in the book. At Christmas this mare was most unlucky not to win a Grade 2 novice hurdle when getting stuck in a pocket on the inner rail behind Derrinross and Defi Bleu. She ran up a blind alley nearing the line and Danny Mullins had no option but to sit up on her. That run proved this mare is more than capable of making her mark over hurdles. She is a mare we backed on the flat in the November Handicap when fourth beaten just 2 lengths behind Mt Everest at Naas. The return to good ground looks sure to suit and Ruby Walsh is booked to ride.

Racecourse & Time

Leopardstown – 15:35

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1 Point Win

Name of Horse to Back

Bellshill

Current Odds: 

4/1 Ladbrokes & Sportingbet else 7/2 generally, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

Bellshill is our Gold Cup antepost bet and I think he will go close today with Ruby once again in the plate. He proved at Christmas that he has no problem going left handed and jumping straight. That Grade 1 was a rather slowly run affair won by Kemboy thanks to an enterprising David Mullins ride. Bellshill is tough as auld boots and is just the right type of stamina laden horse to finally land Willie Mullins a Gold Cup. He ran in bumpers at all the three major spring festivals when younger and ran his best race in the last one at Punchestown having had a very hard race at Aintree. He has won on good and yielding ground and the key is a decent pace and hopefully Monalee will provide that today. Bellshill has been a top class graded performer all his racing career and can land this Irish Gold Cup to go along with his Punchestown Gold Cup from last season.

Racecourse & Time

Leopardstown – 16:10

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1/2 Point Each Way

Name of Horse to Back

Fitzhenry

Current Odds: 

10/1 Bet365, Boylesports, Ladbrokes & 888sport, use BOG bookies

Fitzhenry has been declared a non-runner this morning

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

JP McManus runs five here with the best and most natural chaser Fitzhenry to my eyes. He ran a cracker here in the Paddy Power handicap chase when third to Auvergnat off a 2lb lower mark. He is guaranteed to stay this trip well and Paul Nolan’s yard is in super form landing the final handicap chase yesterday with Quamino. Barry Geraghty takes the ride off 10-6 and that is a positive as he has rode this horse well in the past. Fitzhenry races in first time blinkers and hopefully they sharpen him up enough to go and land this valuable handicap.

**Next Update Saturday Morning 9th February ~10:00

**Next Update Friday Night 8th February ~19:00

As per usual you will be emailed as soon as new selections are updated online