Leopardstown Preview: Charlie Swan selects his tips for today's meeting.
12.25: Sublimity was a good horse on the Flat, and even though he hasn't had a run over hurdles yet, this doesn't look a great race.
Eye On The Ball looked a very good horse in bumpers but has been disappointing since, and obviously something is not right there. Telemachus looks the danger.
12.55: I notice Mouftari has gone up a lot in the ratings and instead I would give a bit of a chance to Fivestar Alstars. He beat one of mine, Contact Dancer, on his last start and looks like he could be well handicapped.
1.25: There doesn't appear to be much between Slim Pickings and Southern Vic on their run at Galway earlier in the season. Church Island is another that must come into the reckoning. Southern Vic won that race at Galway and obviously stays well, something you have to do around here.
2.00: Solerina has never won over three miles, but in this company I think she'll be fine. Golden Cross coming out has made it a lot easier for her. Rosaker looks the danger - if there is one.
2.35: Beef Or Salmon is a dour stayer who likes the track and is the one they all have to beat. For me War Of Attrition is the class horse of the race and I think he's perfect for racing over three miles. You just have to be worried about him running so badly just a couple of weeks ago.
You need a fair horse to win the Grand National but even so I couldn't see Hedgehunter coming close to the other two if they are in top form.
3.10: I run the topweight, Ground Ball, here but he looks to have a lot to do at the weights. Some of the horses I ran earlier in the week didn't run well and scoped bad afterwards, but Ground Ball is bucking and squealing and has scoped perfectly. It's hard to know what to do but he runs and if he's at his best he will go well.
I like Paul Nolan's mare Escrea in this. She has won here before and like a lot of Paul's horses she appears to be coming back to form. Ennistown Lady is another with a chance.
3.40: If Major Stampi hadn't run after his second to Celtic Sammy at Navan he would look very hard to beat in another race that has cut up quite badly. But he did run at Gowran and got beat. He might just be worth another chance though.
* My only other runner today is Mans Man in the 1.10 at Limerick. He keeps running fourth but this doesn't look a great race and he must have some sort of squeak.
