Leopardstown betting tips for December 29 and day four of the Christmas Festival on Horsebetting.com say Limini is the the NAP of this seven-race card in the 2m 4f Grade 3 mares’ hurdle. There’s also Grade 1 action and in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase, Delta Work has leading form claims, so is the next best punt. Supasundae, meanwhile, is the most consistent sort in an ultra-competitive renewal of the feature Ryanair Hurdle and therefore each-way value. Read all about this superb Saturday card in our detailed Leopardstown betting tips for December 29.Limini looks a worthy favourite at LeopardstownRace terms are completely in favour of Limini for the Grade 3 mares hurdle on the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival on Saturday, so she’s thus a worthy favourite for this 2m 4f test (13:20). The Willie Mullins trained seven-year-old is eased in grade considerably after finishing third to the mighty Apple’s Jade in elite company last time out and should cash-in against lower calibre opposition.
In Limini, owners Rich and Susannah Ricci have a daughter of Peintre Celebre who is four from eight over hurdles and that’s never finished outside the frame in this sphere. She also ran two fine races on the Flat when second and third at the Galway Festival over the summer, and then landed a Premier Handicap on Irish Champions Weekend.
After winning her first three starts for Mullins stepping up in grade each time, Limini was far from disgraced when an eight-length third to Buveur D’Air in the Top Novices’ Hurdle at the Aintree Grand National meeting of 2016. She then just bested Apple’s Jade over this trip in the Quevega Hurdle at Punchestown first time out the following season, but was beaten 1 1/2 lengths when they met again at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival.
Useful on the Flat too
Although Limini then spent 503 days on the sidelines, she demonstrated plenty of her old ability throughout that Flat campaign over the summer until handicapped out of the Cesarewitch and another valuable staying prize at Naas last month. She switched back to hurdles last time out and was back in Grade 1 company for the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse when shaping better than the bare result results.
While Limini was beaten 22 lengths by old opponent Apple’s Jade, she kept on well to finish third and this is much, much easier. She gets weight from two main market rivals in Forge Meadow and Good Thyme Tara – a stablemate who is passed over by Ruby Walsh in favour of her.
As Limini is 6lb and upwards clear of the field on official figures, those up against her face a huge task trying to give her that much weight. With the rating topper well-in to this off 152, she simply cannot be opposed on all known form and thus rates the NAP of our Leopardstown betting tips for December 29.Delta Work fancied for hat-trick in novice chaseThe first of two Grade 1 races follows in the 3m Neville Hotels Novice Chase (13:55), and powerful owners Gigginstown House Stud have five of the seven entries. County Meath handler Gordon Elliott has won two of the last three renewals, and Delta Work looks the clear pick of his trio engaged here after scoring at this level last time out.
This five-year-old son of Network has a progressive profile and seeks a hat-trick over fences. Delta Work ran a string of solid races over hurdles last season, winning twice and peaking with a superbly timed tide from Davy Russell to touch Glenloe off by a nose in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
He was earlier a fine 3 3/4 lengths fourth to 2017 Ladbrokes Trophy winner Total Recall in a Grade B handicap here in February over 3m when trying to give the winner 6lb. That was a fine effort and Delta Work was unlucky not to follow-up after Cheltenham when just held a neck in a Grade 1 staying novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival by Next Destination.
Connections thus had an exciting chasing prospect to go to war with this season and, after rallying well when strongly pressed by the re-opposing Ben Dundee and another rival, he landed his bow over fences by three-quarters of a length at Down Royal. Delta Work was pitched straight back into Grade 1 company following that and again rallied superbly when under real pressure to deny Le Richebourg by half-a-length in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse.
The runner-up has come out and won the Racing Post Novice Chase by 4 1/2 lengths earlier in the week, and the front two pulled eight lengths clear of the third. That gives the form a solid look and Delta Work now gets the stamina test he needs to be seen to best effect.
While this is no easier, some of Gigginstown’s other runners don’t appear to be suited by this sound surface, most notably Blow By Blow who was well below par in the Drinmore. As Ben Dundee must bounce back from being pulled up last time out, it’s Judgement Day for in-form Henry De Bromhead who may give Delta Work most to think about.
Barring accidents, he should win and solidify his 2019 RSA Chase claims off an opening mark of 153 over fences. Delta Work under now regular rider Russell is thus our next best bet of these Leopardstown betting tips for December 29.Supasundae clear each-way value for Ryanair HurdleA stellar renewal of the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle over 2m is the feature race (14:30) and, while only seven go to post, Supasundae is the most consistent of those and well worth backing each-way. Jessica Harrington’s Alan and Ann Potts Ltd owned eight-year-old has the least question marks hanging over him in a field where many have something to prove.
Although one of the oldest in the line-up, this son of Galileo seldom runs a bad race and has finished first or second in each of his last six starts – all at the highest level. Supasundae is a versatile horse who beat Faugheen by 2 1/4 lengths here in the Irish Champion Hurdle over course and distance back in February.
While he then chased Penhill home in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and L’Ami Serge in the Aintree Hurdle during the Grand National meeting, Supasundae scored again in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle on his final start of last season. He also looks sure to come on for the run when bested by the once again thriving mare Apple’s Jade in the Hatton’s Grace on reappearance at Fairyhouse earlier this month.
Rivals have questions to answer
Looking at those in opposition to Supasundae in this, for all some are clearly open to more improvement, doubts persist. Despite his lofty reputation, Samror has never won a race in open company and the strike rate of Melon is poor. Sharjah, meanwhile, faces a much stiffer test in this Grade 1 than the Morgiana that he won at Punchestown last time out.
Bedrock has changed owners again and is now worse off at the weights with Samcro from his Down Royal upset. Petit Mouchoir is sent back over the smaller obstacles after being thrashed by Footpad in his novice chase campaign. It makes Supasundae look the only safe bet on offer, so he completes our Leopardstown betting tips for December 29 as the each-way selection.Your Next Bet
