Monday wasn't a great day for my selections with two failing to finish. At Leopardstown Sire Du Berlais was 3rd,the 11/4 shot was up with the leaders and sat 2nd after the last however he lost the runners up spot on the run-in to The Storyteller and the race was won by Flooring Porter. In the other Leopardstown race Minella Indo fell at the 8th while at Limerick Off You Go fell at the 4th.
The Christmas festival at Leopardstown concludes on Tuesday with two exciting Grade one's,the first is at 1.50 when 6 start the Neville Hotels Novice Chase. The standout horse here is definitely Monkfish who is looking for his 5th win in a row he made an impressive start over fences at Fairyhouse in November where he was an easy 4 length winner and he will be very hard to beat again here. Latest Exhibition was one of Monkfish's victims in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March where he was a close second since then he has had two runs at Punchestown a winning Chase debut in October and a very good second to Pencilfulloflead in a Grade 2 44 days ago and he should be up there in this one. The only other one to look at is Conflated who comes here after romping to a 17 length victory at Navan 24 days ago his trainer Gordon Elliott has won 4 of the last 5 runnings of this race and he has a good chance here.
The other big race is the 2.25 when 8 line up for the Matheson Hurdle. This is my personal highlight of the festival with three brilliant horses viying for top spot. Saint Roi was denied his 4th win in a row by Abacadabras in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last time out both run again here and it should be another close race. Sharjah is looking to win this race for a third time this high class hurdler was 3 3/4 lengths in front 12 months ago and despite his last run being a midfield finish on the flat at Galway back in July he is unlikely to give up his crown without a fight. If your looking for a horse who could upset everyone then Aspire Tower is the one he won a Grade 2 by 18 lengths at this meeting last year and his season reappearance at Down Royal in late October saw him beat Abacadabras by 4 1/2 lengths although he did lead all the way that day and he will be a surprise winner here.
Limerick also stages 7 races on Tuesday with the main event at 1.40 when 6 begin the Grant Thornton Hurdle. The one to beat here is Grand Roi this useful hurdler is having his second run for Gordon Elliott after a third place finish in a Grade 3 hurdle at Galway 65 days ago he goes down in trip here and should progress. The only other one to look at is Galopin Des Champs who is a promising horse who comes here after finishing 2nd on his Irish debut at Gowran Park in mid November he only lost by 1/2 a length and should go well again.
Big race predictions:Leopardstown 1.50: 5:Monkfish 2.25:5: Saint Roi
Limerick 1.40: 2: Grand Roi.
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