Punters hoping for Heartbreak on Sunday
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Coral sponsored card at Leopardstown looks a Sunday treat
After a weather-affected Saturday, with frost putting an end to hopes of the Clarence House Chase meeting at Ascot, punters turn their attentions to Sunday’s cards, which offers a higher class of action than we are perhaps used to on the final day of the week.
The Coral sponsored meet at Leopardstown is of particular interest, a seven-race card headlined by the Coral.ie Handicap Hurdle due off at 3.10pm. Two-miles stands in front of a bumper field, with 23-runners expected and, at present, the going has been marked down as yielding.
Return to winning ways for Heartbreak City
Heartbreak City lines up as the early favourite, and he has been at the head of the market for quite some time now, with punters and odds compilers both eager to keep the in-form seven-year-old gelding on-side.
It’s not difficult to see why, with Tony Martin’s jolly winning three of his last four starts, before being beaten a head into second by Almandin on his last appearance back in November. Despite the runner-up spot, that effort in the Melbourne Cup, over today’s trip, only served to further boost his stock and there’s no lack of support to see him return to winning ways at the first time of asking.
Heartbreak City was a thoroughly impressive winner of the Ebor Handicap at York over 1m 6f in his penultimate start, and he was seen finishing well clear of nearest rival Shrewd, who came home four-lengths behind, which seemed like a generous margin on the chasing pack. Ridden by Donagh Meyler, who was last on board for a win at the Galway Festival over hurdles, he appears to be well-treated at the weights and will take all the beating.
Ruby’s a force to be reckoned with
Earlier in the day and it looks well worth giving another chance to Capital Force in the second race on the card, the Coral.ie Best Price Guaranteed On Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle, scheduled over two-miles two-furlongs.
Henry de Bromhead and Ruby Walsh team up on this well regarded six-year-old gelding, who caught the eye on debut when beaten a head at Fairyhouse by Runfordave last month. He returned for another crack at it a couple of days after Christmas, but made mistakes, putting too much effort into the early part of the race, thus putting a line through his chances.
He has now been popped into what appears to be a wide-open race and if connections can get him to recapture the mood he was in first time out, they will see him go mighty close again here. He’s in capable hands under Mr Walsh and I expect him to go and serve it up to his rivals.
Leopardstown Selections
1.10 – Bargy Lady
1.40 – Capital Force
2.10 – Yorkhill
2.40 – Steller Notion
3.10 – Heartbreak City
3.40 – Sutton Manor
4.10 – Kivalina
