Monday didn't go well for my picks. At Leopardstown Chacun Pour Soi was a non-runner it was later revealed he had sustained the equivalent of a hamstring injury this morning with further investigations needed to determine how bad it is, Envoi Allen won the race by 7 1/2 lengths. In the other Leopardstown race Grangee was 4th,the 10/3 chance led briefly from 2 out but soon dropped to 3rd offering no extra in the closing stages. The race was won by Mighty Potter who beat Three Stripe Life by 1 1/2 lengths. It was even worse at Limerick where Brampton Belle finished 5th. The 10/11 shot was 4th 3 out but she dropped to 5th and weakened before 2 out. The race went to Eric Bloodaxe the 11/8 favourite beat Freedom To Dream by 7 1/2 Lengths.
Both festivals continue on Tuesday with 7 races at Limerick and Leopardstown, the main event at Limerick comes at 1.30 when 7 begin the Grade 2 Boylesports Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase. Concertisa is a promising horse who has 1 win from 2 runs this season that came in a chase at Cork on her fences debut 23 days ago. Her jumping wasn’t fluent all the way but it was good when needed and despite going significantly up in trip here she definitely has more to offer giving her the nod. Sayce Gold caught the eye when finishing 4th in the same Cork race and this useful hurdler will be suited by the stiffer test so is the main threat. The other to keep an eye on is Kitty Galore a good chaser who picked up her latest win in a chase at Clonmel in October. She fell in a handicap chase at Fairyhouse just over 2 weeks ago so needs to bounce back.
The other two big races are both Grade One's which take place at Leopardstown,the first is at 1.45 when 11 start the Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle. Flooring Porter landed this contest 12 months ago and went on to win the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. His two runs since then have been disappointing he was pulled up at Punchestown in April and was on the way to a winning return before falling 2 out at Navan last month. If he is none the worse and has recovered well he should retain. Klassical Dream showed a 487 day absence didn't worry him when winning the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in April. He has been off since then but he is clearly capable when fresh so is the main threat. The other two to look at both come from the yard of Gordon Elliott,Sire Du Berlais was 3rd in this race last year and was 2nd to Flooring Porter at Cheltenham. He wasn't at his best when 2nd in a Grade 2 at Navan on his return but should be sharper now and will challenge as should Abacadabras. He won Grade One's at Punchestown and Aintree last season and was a respectable 3rd to Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace on his return so shouldn’t be overlooked. The other big race at Leopardstown comes at 2.20 when 8 line-up for the Savills Chase. The one standout horse in the field is last year’s winner A Plus Tard who was very impressive when winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock by 22 lengths on his season return 38 days ago. He has the best chance on form and should easily retain here. Galvin is a top-class chaser who has one win from two runs this season that came in a Grade 3 at Punchestown and he was a good 2nd to Frodon in the Champion Chase at Down Royal 59 days ago but he will only be fighting for the minor places here as will the 2019 winner of this race Delta Work who needs to bounce back after finishing 4th in the same race at Down Royal on his return but this is all about A Plus Tard.
Big race predictions: Limerick: 1: Concertista
Leopardstown: 1.45: 3:Flooring Porter 2.20: 1: A Plus Tard.
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