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Irish Mirror

Sport

Peter O'Hehir

Leopardstown and Limerick betting tips: Peter O'Hehir's selections for Sunday's horse racing action

Turned over at 2/5 on his seasonal debut in the Morgiana at Punchestown last month, Klassical Dream will be expected to bounce back in the Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle at Leopardstown tomorrow.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was unbeaten in four starts in his novice season, bagging three Grade 1 prizes along the way and ending the campaign as favourite for the 2020 Champion Hurdle.

Those Grade 1 victories came at Leopardstown, Cheltenham (the Supreme Novices) and Punchestown, where he beat Aintree scorer Felix Desjy in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.

On his reappearance at Punchestown, Klassical Dream was far too keen for his own good, in addition to ballooning the first flight. He came through to lead before the final flight before finding little on the run-in and having to settle for third spot, behind stable-companion Saldier and one of tomorrow’s rivals Petit Mouchoir.

With that run under his belt, Paul Townend’s mount should be less ‘gassy’ tomorrow and, if he settles a bit better, he’ll be tough to beat.

Coeur Sublime, close to the top of the juvenile ranks and seriously impressive on his return to action at Down Royal, looks a bigger threat to the selection than Morgiana runner-up Petit Mouchoir and fourth Sharjah, a stable-companion of the selection and winner of this event last year.

Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, in tremendous form already this Christmas, have bright prospects with Minella Indo in the earlier Group 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase.

Beaten by Laurina on his fencing bow over an inadequate trip at Gowran Park, he’ll be more effective over hree miles here.

But he might not cope with Gordon Elliott’s Battleoverdoyen, two from two over the bigger obstacles following wins in Galway and Punchestown where he beat solid yardstick Any Second Now convincingly in a Grade 2.

The Elliott runner gets a marginal vote in what should prove a cracker.

The Big Getaway, in the Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Eric Bloodaxe look attractive bets.

And Karl Thornton’s Shanroe Al C, expected to improve for his recent second to Fairly Legal at Navan is a sporting nap choice in the opener.

Ellliott and Kennedy to strike again at Limerick

Jack Kennedy celebrates with trainer Gordon Elliott after Delta Work won the Savills Chase (©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy should strike again for Gigginstown House Stud with Surin in the Grade 3 Irish Independent Hurdle, feature on the final day of Limerick’s Christmas meeting tomorrow.

A smart juvenile last season, Surin is attempting to complete a hat-trick having triumphed at Wexford in October before beating one of tomorrow’s rivals, Gardens Of Babylon in the Grade 3 Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas.

Surin should confirm that form here while the Willie Mullins, inset, trained Franco de Port, a smooth winner on his Irish debut at Gowran Park, is another major player in a fascinating race.

Earlier, Ifyoucancatchmenow, fifth to Ten Ten on her fencing bow at Navan, might make that experience count against stable-companion Cut The Mustard in the Limerick Racecourse Vets Mares Beginners Chase.

The Denis Hogan-trained Young Dev, already a winner twice at Greenmount in recent weeks and successful in a handicap chase here on Thursday, when beating The Ballyboys (my fancy for tomorrow’s Racing Post Handicap Hurdle) might follow-up in the Greenmount Equine Hospital Rated Novice Chase, in which he’ll be ridden again by Damien Skehan.