Racing Ahead’s horse racing tipster Ben Morgan has some picks for a big weekend of racing on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Saturday
Henry to learn from Limerick
The opener at Leopardstown looks a wide open event despite the favourite, Final Demand, occupying most of the market attention.
Although he looked good on debut, the stats are against him here and I am inclined to look elsewhere in the hunt for value.
I can’t understand why SOMMESKY for Henry De Bromhead is a 25/1 shot at present because he too has looked like a smart individual in all of his starts to date.
A bumper winner who benefited from the step up in trip last time out at Limerick looks sure to improve again on what would be his third hurdles start.
Connections were unsure if he would turn out to be speed or stamina laden on the back of his bumper win but his runs over hurdles to date suggest it is more likely to be the latter.
Another 3f here should be within his remit and at his current price he looks the value play here.
Off to a flyer
One horse I have been very keen to support this weekend is SAINTE LUCIE who bids to follow up her impressive debut win at Punchestown.
Connections were very impressed with her judging by their post race comments and suggested she was only half ready to run that day.
On the basis of that I think there should be plenty more to come from this daughter of Great Pretender who also sires her stablemate Lossiemouth.
Although they went slow at Punchestown, her flying jump at the third last really set her alight and the race was pretty much over from there.
There are arguments that she didn’t beat much but I think the second horse is a tidy performer, as you will find out below, and that the performance she put in was extraordinary for a debut run. I expect her to take this and shorten considerably for the Triumph.
Experience will put Majborough to the sword
I am one of Majborough’s biggest fans but I think he might just find himself wanting tomorrow if ILE ATLANTIQUE gets his own way out in front.
This is arguably Majborough’s toughest task to date and although he has all the potential in the world, I will be impressed if he is able to overhaul his race hardened stablemate who will undoubtely make the best of his way home from some way out given he stays further.
The speed at which they will be jumping will add extra pressure to the favourite and he will have to be very good if he can cope with that after only 4 runs under rules.
Tip top form after Tramore
I thought Henry De Bromhead would send MONTY’S STAR straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup after his Tramore run but he diverted him here to have his first bash at Galopin Des Champs.
For that reason alone I think he is an interesting runner as most of the field have been beaten by the favourite time and time again.
Connections have long thought the world of him and I do think he will be in the first 3 at Cheltenham whatever the result here but at 11/1 he looks a solid each way play given he will improve plenty for his run at Tramore.
The Pirate to dock in Sandown winner’s enclosure
I am sure DARTMOOR PIRATE is well handicapped off a mark of 124 and I hope he shows this tomorrow. Chasing looked to be his game but it didn’t quite work out at Exeter on debut so connections quickly reverted him to hurdles where he ran a nice race at Wincanton over Christmas.
That would have boosted his confidence no end and I think he can show the benefit tomorrow.
Luker is my favourite Tipple at Musselburgh
As mentioned briefly above, I think the Sainte Lucie form will work out better than expected so this lad’s second behind her two runs ago could look quite good come the Spring.
He has since finished second against his elders at Cork and should appreciate the switch back his own age group.
His small stable makes the big journey across the pond and they wouldn’t do that if they weren’t confident of a bold showing.
I don’t think the race is all that deep and the Irish juveniles tend to be further ahead than the British so I think this fellow could take a bit of stopping.
Ben Morgan’s tips:
Leopardstown 1.15 – Sommesky
Leopardstown 1.50 – Sainte Lucie
Leopardstown 2.55 – Ile Atlantique
Leopardstown 3.30 – Monty’s Star
Sandown 3.07 – Dartmoor Pirate
Musselburgh 1.42 – Luker’s Tipple
READ MORE: Cheltenham Festival 2025: Dates, how to watch on TV, trainers and jockeys to watch
