TV TIPS (SUNDAY)

13:20 Leopardstown

This first of many Grade 1's on the Leopardstown card on Sunday. Novice Chase sees 8 runners go in what seems to be about one horse. Who was visually very impressive last time out over this course and distance.

Galopin Des Champs though does come up against more difficult opposition than last time on his chasing debut. Fury Road won over course and distance last time out in a grade 1 and clearly commands respect has been running in decent company over the last couple of seasons will be in contention for sure.

Master McShee if he wins here will be a very moving story considering the trainer only has 2 horses in training currently. Master McShee certainly isn't without a shout a grade 1 winner last time out at Limerick.

Capodanno was only 4 lengths behind Bob Olinger last time wasn't miles behind Bob Olinger and that form may turn out to be decent when you consider other quality horses have finished a lot further behind Bob Olinger in his hurdling days. You would think Capodanno would need a career best to win here though.

It's a plain and obvious selection at a very short price but it's so hard to oppose Galopin Des Champs. Visually he left his opponents a mile behind and you could see at the finish Paul Townend was struggling to pull him up which suggests there was plenty left in the engine that day.

I imagine Paul Townend will adopt the same tactics and jump from the front. But this is a step up in class in terms of opposition. Galopin Des Champs will have to show the last result wasn't a look too good to be true performance.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS (WIN)

written by Luke Tucker 13:32 Musselburgh

The Scottish Triumph Hurdle sadly only has one Scottish competitor and will only be making up the numbers for one of Musselburgh’s major supporters Gerry McGladery. John McConnell sends two over from Ireland in Calvados and Innatendue, the former has shown a reasonable level of form including being second in a listed event at Aintree. Innatendue battled well to win a AQPS Group 3 on the flat in France the market will give the clues to his ability in the run-up to the race.

Impulsive One heads here with arguably the best form with his close third behind Knight Salute and Porticello at Doncaster on good to soft in December. He had a spin on the flat a month ago and he will come here with no ground or fitness concerns. James Bowen has been picking up most of the double green rides during Daryl Jacob’s injury lay-off and he is up today.

IMPULSIVE ONE (WIN) written by Michael Taylor

13:50 Leopardstown

5 highly respected chasers come up against each other in another grade 1 on the card.

All eyes will be on Chacun Pour Soi who will be looking to defend the race he won the last 2 years. Although you have to be concerned about his race last time out at Sandown. Didn't jump well at all at Sandown from an early start and was well and truly beaten. People forget that Chacun Pour Soi is now ten and is very lightly raced. Has clearly been difficult to get fit and has been you could say fragile throughout his career

Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen was impressive that day leaving today favourite Chacun Pour Soi well behind. Last race at Kempton I don't think the ground suited him was to soft and tacky. But you have to be concerned about the yard form 2 winners in 42 runs for a powerhouse yard like Paul Nicholls is not a good return.

Dunvegan would need a career best here to win today and Cash Back would need another career best and his jumping can be a bit suspect.

I just fancy at a bigger price and an each way angle for me is Captain Guinness finished 3rd in the Tingle Creek behind Greaneteen which wasn't a bad result. Captain Guinness is the youngest horse in the field and I just feel there could perhaps be a bit more progress in him compared to the others. Has run against Shiskin and Energumene in a lot of races over his career so has always been competing in recent times against top opposition.

I believe there is one big race in him somewhere and at an each way price of around 6/1 just feel perhaps if the front 2 are still not at the top level today Captain Guinness could have a big play.

CAPTAIN GUINNESS (E/W)

written by Luke Tucker

14:05 Musselburgh

The Scottish Supreme will see the McCain and Murphy runners heading the market, the formers runner Since Day One is looking to complete a four-timer and he has shown good form but he will need to continue his progress to do so. Restandbethankful represents the McNeil’s and the Bryceland’s. The main concern for him is the poor form of the Murphy yard who may well be in the middle of their vaccination period.

Mike Smith is more than entitled to have a go with Livelifetothemax who won with what I feel was a fair degree of authority at Ayr. The form from the race had a boost when the sixth Rowdy Rustler won on Tuesday. He has a bit to find on the figures although he has one of the more unexposed profiles in the field. He got a good pace to aim at the last day and they tend to go quick at Musselburgh so it may just set up for him to run a big race.

LIVELIFETOTHEMAX (E/W) written by Michael Taylor 14:25 Leopardstown

In the past 10 years only one horse (Foxrock - 2015) has carried more than eleven stone to victory, so as a rule it pays to look towards the foot of the weights. The ante-post “plunge” Birchdale carries a featherweight 10-0 which is even lessened by Mark McDonagh’s valuable seven-pound claim. The son of Jeremy was very smart for Nicky Henderson and although he’s yet to win over fences, he put in a much-improved performance in the Paddy Power, wearing first time cheekpieces, which are retained now and he must go close.

Max Flamingo has been running well in good novice company and although he may look a tad exposed, he’ll enjoy the ground and can go close. Francis Casey’s charge was rated 127 over hurdles which is well below some of his rivals but he’s undoubtedly improved for the switch to fences. He was third in a hot beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse in November and was far from disgraced in a Grade One at Christmas. This should suit better and his rider has a very useful claim. The lightly-raced Fakir D’alene has won both starts since the application of blinkers and although he only got a five-pound hike for his latest win, I question the strength of that form.

The top-weight Minella Times has to be of interest even with his welter burden. He gave Rachel a famous win in the Grand National last season and can use this to showcase his talents before a bid for back to back victories at Aintree. He fell when struggling in the John Durhan back in December, when there was a slight cloud over the De Bromhead stable and I expect a much-improved performance here.

MINELLA TIMES (E/W)

written by Peter Keogh

14:40 Musselburgh

Despite not finishing any better than 5th in his last five starts I’m under the impression that The Big Galloper has a mighty run on the not too distant horizon. It’s very intriguing to see a horse make his way all the way over from Ireland as I’m sure Charles Byrne’s eight year old wont be coming just for a holiday. His best performance of late came when stepped up to a longer trip so this three mile distance should be right up his street. With the rain beginning to pour in Scotland this mudlark should relish the conditions and at current odds of around 8/1 looks a very appealing each way selection.

At the head of the market both Brorson and Wakool have run up impressive sequences with Brorson aiming to make it three wins in a row and Wakool seeking his fourth success on the bounce. Both deserve to be well fancied but it’s safe to say that this looks the most competitive race either have entered before so further improvement is needed. Hard to discount the duo who should be on the scene come the closing stages but given their current price look better left alone.

The runner that seems to pose the biggest threat to the selection finished mid-division in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham back in March and went close at Wincanton most recently. The Paul Nicholls trained Saint Sonnet hails from a powerhouse stable and represents top connections. With the gelding seemingly in good form I’d expect him to finish in the mix come the closing stages.

THE BIG GALLOPER (E/W)

written by Rory Paddock

15:00 Leopardstown

It’s impossible to oppose Honeysuckle as she bids for a third straight win in the Irish Champion Hurdle. This incredible mare is unbeaten in thirteen starts and looked as good as ever with a dominant display on her reappearance in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse. She should win and then all roads lead to Chentlneham to defend her Champion Hurdle crown.

Of the others, Zanahiyr continues to progress with each start and has chased home Sharjah on the last two occasions. He looks most likely to pick up the pieces should anything happen to the favourite and can confirm places with Saint Roi and Echoes In Rain from when they last met.

ZANAHIYR (E/W)

written by Peter Keogh

15:15 Musselburgh

The Scottish Champion Chase is tricky heat, where you could conceivably give a chance to everything in the field. Lucky Flight would've gone close in the week at Kelso but for an unseat two out. Sword Of Fate inherited second that day but it was a poor one although it was his first run since October and he can come on for that. Sarasota Star was unlucky last day and he is entitled to plenty of respect coming up from Cheltenham.

The Mouse Doctor is the one for me though as he was a winner over track and trip over hurdles in January 2020 when he landed a gamble when in the care of Tony Martin. He moved over to Adrian Keatley at the backend of last year but remained in the same ownership. His first run for the yard was a massive one when only going down by a length from Pay The Piper, he then had a spin on the all-weather and a quiet chase spin four days later. Now 4lbs lower today and returning to Musselburgh it seems like a plan may be coming together.

THE MOUSE DOCTOR (WIN)

written by Michael Taylor 15:35 Leopardstown

Willie Mullins has taken eight of the last nine runnings of this Grade 1 novice contest. The master of Closutton has a four strong team this year, spearheaded by Sir Gerhard who was an impressive winner of the Champion Bumper last season. The seven-year-old hardly broke a sweat when landing his maiden hurdle with ease at Christmas. Stablemate El Fabiolo was very impressive on his Irish debut in a Tramore maiden on New Year’s Day and, while this represents a sharp step up in class, he looks an exciting prospect.

The Grade 1-placed Three Stripe Life was a very smart bumper horse and has taken well to hurdles. He’s held on bumper form by Sir Gerhard and it’ll be interesting to see how he fares. The highly-touted and Champion Hurdle entrant My Mate Mozzie is a fascinating contender for Gavin Cromwell. He would have won the Royal Bond if he hadn’t made a mistake at the last flight and is open to lots of improvement.

MY MATE MOZZY (E/W)

written by Peter Keogh