Sean - Irish Tips

Leopardstown 2.00 - This meeting is in its infancy (second year) but very much already shaping up to be a Cheltenham Trials Meeting for many. I will watch the non-handicaps avidly for form and scope potential (see below) but the Handicaps pose a different puzzle. I will watch midfield more closely than the front in this race in terms of Cheltenham, horses running for fitness, showing their well being and protecting handicap marks. That means I am looking for a "non Cheltenham angle" for my winners, a horse whose target race is here and not over the water in March necessarily.
 
Hearts and Trumps and Off You Go are very solid and consistent, neither would be a surprise winner at nice odds. Uradel is definitely one to track on for Cheltenham and could be worth a small ante-post once markets are available for multiple races. Today I will side with TUDOR CITY who is on a nice mark, had a couple of runs before Christmas and may be ridden with a bit more restraint today, but definitely has one of these in him for Alan Martin. The other one who looks primed and ready to fire is JETEZ and that one has good Course and Distance form and the booking of Robbie Power and stronger handling catches the eye.
 
If you want a T/C look no further than Hearts and Trumps and Off You Go for the perm options with the selections.
 
NOT a tip but in the opener, at 12.50 a lot of Cheltenham pointers are likely but if i had to have a small e/w dabble my few Euros would be on SALSARETTA as I'm not convinced Ruby is right to jump off this improving mare.