DAVY RUSSELL: Leopardstown Tuesday

The final day of Leopardstown’s four day Christmas meeting and I’ll be doing a bit of TV again. There are two really good Grade One’s on the card featuring the exciting novice Monkfish and a cracking renewal of the Matheson Hurdle…

TUESDAY

LEOPARDSTOWN

1.15pm Advent Insurance Mares Hurdle

You have to have been impressed with Concertista (pictured) the last day in Fairyhouse when she took the step up in trip in her stride. She did it all very cosily but steps up in trip again here with the ground on the soft side. It would be a bit of a surprise if she wasn’t to follow up again, but Black Tears will be there to pick up the pieces if she doesn’t see it out.

1.50pm Neville Hotels Novice Chase

The first of two Grade Ones on the card and all eyes will be on Monkfish (pictured) as he looks to further enhance his reputation. Last season’s Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle winner was a really impressive winner on his chasing debut and will be hard to beat here if in the same form. Latest Exhibition was a smart hurdler and looks the obvious danger.

2.25pm Matheson Hurdle

A really good renewal of the Matheson Hurdle which sees the Morgiana 1-2 renew rivalry. My old friend Abracadabras came out on top that day, but he will have to step up again to beat Willie’s Saint Roi again. He didn’t have the smoothest of passages that day and is bound to have come on for that run. I think he’s the one they all have to beat. The Mullins team also saddle Saldier and Sharjah who are both very talented on their day. Aspire Tower was incredibly impressive on his only start of the campaign so far and bolted up at this meeting 12 months ago. Even rank outsider Coeur Sublime cannot easily be dismissed as he showed plenty in Punchestown behind the big two the last day.

DAVY

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If you have a question for Davy drop us a line at content@starsportsbet.co.uk and we’ll try and include in the next blog…

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