Timeform Irish 1-2-3 Tips: Starr to shine at Leopardstown‏

Tipping / Billy Nash / 03 September 2011 / Leave a Comment

So You Think is the red-hot favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown today

"Napa Starr seems to be getting better with age and is sure to give a good account in the leopardstown.com handicap at 16:40."

So You Think is undoubtedly the star turn at Leopardstown today but we have decided to have a stab at solving the three handicaps on the supporting card...

Napa Starr seems to be getting better with age and is sure to give a good account in the leopardstown.com handicap at 16:40. Charles Byrnes's gelding looks more straightforward nowadays than he did at times in the past and ran a cracker when a fast-finishing third to Castle Bar Sling in the Cambridgeshire at the Curragh last weekend. He is 3 lb higher now but will be suited by the slightly longer trip and he has a good record at this track.

David Marnane has had a relatively quiet season by his standards but one of the high points of his year has been the emergence of Jamesie. The son of Kodiac managed only a maiden win from nine starts last year but has gone from strength to strength this year, winning handicaps at Tipperary and Fairyhouse prior to finishing a close second to Rock Critic at Galway last time. The handicapper doesn't appear to have caught up with him just yet and this race should be run to suit.

Luca Cumani doesn't run many horses in Ireland, particularly in handicaps, so the fact that he sends Mohedian Lady to contest the Autumn Fillies handicap at 19:20 is perhaps a tip in itself. However, she appeals as one that could well be overbet and one I think can go well at a bigger price is Rising Wind. Lady O'Reilly's filly has only a maiden win at Listowel to her name but has been campaigned almost exclusively at listed level since, and was set plenty to do when third to Priomhbhean at Gowran on her only previous try in a handicap. Rising Wind wasn't suited by the way things panned out at the Curragh last time and is still relatively unexposed at this sort of trip. She handles soft ground and looks capable of running into a place, at least, in a race where the emphasis should be on stamina.

Back Napa Starr in the 16:40 at Leopardstown
Back Jamesie in the 18:10 at Leopardstown
Win and Place Back Rising Wind in the 19:20 at Leopardstown

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Timeform Irish 1-2-3 Tips: Napa to Starr at Wexford

Tipping / Stuart Jones / 23 July 2011 / Leave a Comment

"Charles Brynes's runner won twice on the Flat last summer, and wouldn't need to improve greatly to see off a poor field".

Just the one meeting in Ireland this weekend and that takes place at Wexford this afternoon.

Napa Starr (14.00) has his quirks, but he appears to have little to beat despite the size of the field in the opening maiden hurdle, and it's suprising that he isn't quite a bit shorter than the evens currently available. Steadily getting the hang of things over timber, Charles Brynes's runner won twice on the Flat last summer, and wouldn't need to improve greatly to see off a poor field.

Moi Desire sets the standard in the first division of the maiden chase on current hurdles form, but there are enough question marks against her (often shapes as if amiss) to look elsewhere, and Deputy Consort (15.45) appeals as the most solid bet. The jumping of So Determined and Thepartysover is a definite worry and the pick of Deputy Consort's efforts leave him with every chance. The drop back in trip is another positive, too.

Division two of the maiden chase features a rematch between Vital Plot (16.15) and Doransfirth, both late fallers at Tipperary last weekend. Vital Plot would have got the better of it that day and looks worth a chance to make amends at [3.0]. The best of this over timber, Vital Plot has had fewer opportunities to show his worth over fences than Goban Soar and gets the nod over the current favourite.

Recommendations

back Napa Starr @ [2.0] in the 14.00
back Deputy Consort @ [6.0] in the 15.45
back Vital Plot @ [4.0] in the 16.15

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