Racing Tips – Top Tipster Eamonn Hames’ best horse racing selections for Sunday, February 12 at Leopardstown

2.00

J P MCMANUS has won the last three renewals of this and with three cracking chances to go to war with, this looks to be his for the taking. 

Joshua Lane was third in the Cheltenham Festival bumper not too long ago and he has run with great credit in handicaps since. Canelie, the choice of Barry Geraghty, is likely to be very popular as she makes her handicap debut off a very fair mark, but the best of the McManus trio has to be Voices Of Spring.

Tony Martin’s seven-year-old found three miles around here too much over Christmas and will do better now back in trip.

The handicapper has kindly dropped him a little in the weights and this looks an ideal opportunity for him to notch a first win in handicap company.

Conright Boy bounced back to form when winning easily at Fairyhouse, Alamein has a long absence to overcome, but he could be too well handicapped for that to be an issue and French Import Jeannot De Nonant could be anything for his new yard.

However, if J P McManus is to be thwarted in his attempt for a fourth win in succession, then look no further than the hugely consistent Lagostovegas to spring the shock.

2

2.30

In the first of the Grade 1s on the card, it would be a huge surprise if Meri Devie fails to win this well, especially given the impression she made here over Christmas.

Graham Wylie’s filly was punted as if defeat was out of the question on her debut and so it proved to be when she beat the reopposing Group 3 winner and St Leger third Houses Of Parliament by an easy five lengths.

No slouch herself on the level, Meri Devie was Listed placed and ran in a Group 1 before switching to the Winter game. She’s currently the second favourite for the Triumph Hurdle in March and she should win this easily before going on to the festival.

Mullins also has Bapaume and Rich Ricci’s ace is really starting to get his act together after stepping up on his promising debut to reverse the placings with Landofhopeandglory on their next outing.

However, in third on both occasions behind that pair was Gordon Elliott’s Mega Fortune, a horse who just lacks a yard of pace and therefore is crying out for a strong gallop. If they go too fast here, then there will be none staying on as strong.

Also representing Gordon Elliott is Dinaria Des Obeaux. She is bred to relish a trip in time, but there is no doubting how impressive she was over the minimum trip on debut at Cork.

3.00

Willie Mullins has not had the best of times in recent weeks, but with his runners making up over half of the field, he should have an outstanding chance of making it five wins on the bounce in this.

Usually, the one with clear potential is the way to go and the potential of Bacardys is quite clear. A win and two third places in the big Spring festival bumpers last year is a clear indication of how classy he is, but it was a little disappointing to see him work so hard to beat a stablemate here in December.

That may be put down to him still feeling the effects of his debut fall though and his subsequent victory could be the confidence booster needed to put his best foot forward here.

Of the other Mullins’ prospects, Bravissimo may be too green to do himself justice this early in his career, Saturnas may be being overlooked a little as he looked a decent horse when winning a Grade 1 at Christmas and Bunk Off Early was nothing special on the level, but he looked way above average when hacking up on debut.

He may lack experience, but he could be the best of them.

Gordon Elliott also runs three and his Brelade looks the best of them. The mount of Barry Geraghty ran a cracker to finish second in a Grade 1 over Christmas and he looks the only reasonable chance of bettering the Mullins brigade.

3.30

What a clash of the Titans we have here. This is what you call a proper trial and whoever wins it will be crowned Ireland’s leading staying novice as we move onto festival time.

It was a surprise to hear connections of Our Duke have decided to miss the Cheltenham Festival as he looked for all the world an RSA horse when winning a grade 1 around here in stout fashion. A big, physically imposing seven-year-old, it seems an odd decision to say the least, but perhaps connections want to get further experience into him and that may not be a bad decision.

The world could be Our Duke’s oyster sooner rather than later, yes he’s a big immature brute who can throw in an odd jump here and there - but what he is, is one talented beast.

The drop back in trip should not be an issue, especially with enough juice in the ground to bring stamina into it, and trainer Jessica Harrington has a great record in the race.

2

4.00

Bryan Cooper lost all of his pace judgement that day and it was surprising to see Noel Meade’s ten-year-old still manage second place. Gigginstown’s multiple Grade 1 winner has been around forever and a lot of people have short memories since his Galway Plate flop.

While age does have an impact, class is permanent and people have forgotten his Lexus win, JNwine Chase win, his thirds in the Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase and the fact that he was on his way to winning at the Punchestown Festival in April before falling at the second last.

Soft ground will be fine and his run in the Lexus will have sharpened him up for this.

The stout stayer Don Poli bounced back to form with a vengeance when a game second in the Lexus and he has to take high rank here.

However, that Lexus second was still far short of what he was capable of earlier in his career and the National looks the perfect race for him.

Empire Of Dirt is lightly raced for a ten-year-old and won the Troytown in style. He finally gets his chance at the top level and he should make the most of it under the talented Jack Kennedy.

Carlingford Lough has won this for the last two years and ended last season on a high when winning at Punchestown.

John Kiely’s 11-year-old warmed up for this with a spin over timber behind Jezki and should be competitive at the very least.

Also representing J P McManus is Minella Rocco and Aidan Coleman’s mount has plenty of talented, but must put a heavy fall behind him.

4.30

A race that revolves around On The Fringe. If he is on song then he will carry these over the line, but he does usually need a run to put him right and that is what his handler Enda Bolger uses this race for.

He did win this in 2011, but in the four times he has ran in this race since, he has finished third, second, second and seventh. He needs to be taken on with that in mind and the best of the rest is Foxrock.