SEAN - Leopardstown 3.00 - Handicap Hurdle - 3 miles 1/2 furlong - 24 run - Soft (light rain)

 

A big field handicap and enhanced to 6th places by some bookmakers. There is a fair bit of deadwood at bigger prices but a few stand out as possible improvers upped in trip and are in a detailed shrapnel list below in preference order.

 

There are three that I particularly like having looked at the chances of all the runners and the likes of Search For Glory, Maxxum, Will Do, Nice Graces and Panda Boy were perhaps the hardest to discount and in the final shortlist. I'm just not convinced about the value of Fine Margin, for all Mullins domination of this Meeting and want to take him on.

 

I am most sweet on MUSIC OF TARA, SHANBALLY KID and GOATH CHUIL. 

 

MUSIC OF TARA has always looked a 3 miles to me since early P2P success and has progressed nicely and looked better the further it's gone and graduated up to 20 and then 22 furlongs and now to the 3 mile trip here. De Bromhead had a quiet December and early January but clear signs last weekend of springing into action again and the horse has run very well at this Course during its formative runs and that is another big plus for me as it is deceptively tough up the final straight. SHANBALLY KID is notionally Mullin's second string and makes handicap debut off what really does look like a lenient mark to me, I'll be very disappointed if this one is not bang in contention here and although the UK handicapper will be watching very closely a win here could open up bigger top grade Handicap options down the line. I've passionately followed and extolled the virtues of GOATH CHUIL all season and it's a horse that has a toughness and durability about it and definitely one who can improve again despite a penalty and the type you'd definitely one onside if it turns out to be a battle to the line where the toughest will prevail.

 

Looking at the enhanced places on offer and for some shrapnel in preference order I like SEARCH FOR GLORY an interesting one for Elliott who drops in to a handicap and also looks to have been given a chance by the handicapper off a mark of 136, this is definitely one to also note for Cheltenham (perversely the further back he finished here the more I'd track him for Cheltenham!) . BLACK BAMBOO steps up in trip but like a couple of the main selections shows all the signs of being an improver the further it goes and another to keep a very close eye on. BALLYBAWN BELTER is a Course winner and very similar to the main tip in that it has progressed nicely up in distance and looks well worth a small poke here and finally on the list (up to you to go as deep as you like) and possibly the most speculative is AILIE ROSE upped in Class but a nice horse who deserves a bash at a prize like this and certainly one I can see finishing in the first 10 home at decent Odds.  

 

Tips (1) Music Of Tara / (2) Shanbally Kid / (3) Goath Chuil - (4s) Search For Glory / (5s) Black Bamboo / (6s or £1 e/w) Ballybawn Belter / (7s or £1 e/w) Ailie Rose