DANCE TO CALL TUNE
Today's Leopardstown tips from Starform
1.20
LET’S DANCE won this race 12 months ago en route to winning the Grade One mares’ hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. She fell too far out (four from home) to be categoric about where she would have finished on at Punchestown in November. She was travelling sweetly in second at the time behind today’s rival Forge Meadow who ran on surprisingly strongly to comfortably see off the remainder and is sure to be a serious rival. Let’s Dance bounced off the floor quickly that day and on the balance of form she should come out on top in this re-match.
1.55
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle runner-up Monalee confirmed his potential as an exciting novice chase prospect when dotting up on his fencing debut at Punchestown. He jumped really neatly that day in the confident hands of Davy Russell but you will have to take odds-on about him against more experienced novice chase winners like JURY DUTY and Rathvinden. Jury Duty was third in the Pertemps Final at the Festival so he will relish his first try over fences at three miles after wins at shorter distances. Beat stable mate Shattered Love who went on to win in Graded company.
2.20
It’s impossible to look any further than the brilliant FAUGHEEN who has met just one defeat in 13 outings and that to the ill-fated Nichols Canyon. He won the 2015 Champion Hurdle but has been ruled out through injury from the last two runnings at the Festival. He looked in tip-top shape after nearly a year off when winning the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle on his return at Punchestown, beating another former Champion Hurdle winner Jezki by 16 lengths. Mick Jazz holds a novice hurdles verdict over Cilaos Emery so may be the sensible bet for forecast punters.