De Bromhead’s ace to boost our Festival funds at Leopardstown

Poker Party (4.40) holds all the cards on a cracking pre-Festival meeting at Leopardstown.

Star duo Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore have the ammunition to enjoy a brilliant Cheltenham next week with a powerful team heading across the Irish Sea.

But there’s business to be done first and the pair team up in the Grade B handicap chase with a strong chance.

Eight-year- old Poker Party won at Listowel in the autumn and ran a cracking race at the Christmas meeting here when coming fourth behind Roaring Bull.

That was in the Paddy Power and this is a far- less competitive affair. The Kerry National winner kept on well in the closing stages to secure that fourth placed finish in the big-money event last time and has only gone up two pounds.

JP McManus has a few interesting contenders going to post and SPRUCED UP (3.35) can do the job for shrewd trainer Eddie Harty.

The six-year-old appeared as though he was going to win on his previous start in a strong race at the Dublin Racing Festival before making a hash of the final fence and weakening on the run-in.

This drop back in trip looks to be perfect. Only one pound has been added by the handicapper but that’s nicely offset by the seven-pound claim of jockey Simon Torrens.

CHARLI PARCS (3.05) almost feels like a daft pick but there is some method behind the madness.

There was a time when Nicky Henderson had this McManus-owned youngster and he was favorite for a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle back in the day.

Obviously his career has gone awry since and injury has also resulted in a lay-off of 469 days.

Now switched to the yard of Aidan Howard, you’d have to think he’s going to be fit because trainers don’t put horses back out after 18 months out unless they are ready.

Barry Geraghty has been booked for the ride, which is also noteworthy. It might just be a spin to knock off the rust, so don’t go crazy with bets. The price will just be too big to ignore.

The ground will be absolutely desperate at Sedgefield and low weights look the way to go.

THE PADDY PIE (4.20) broke my heart when coming down last time at Wetherby and the plan is to get the money back today.

You can hardly say that Sue

Smith’s horses are flying but the seven-year-old has won at the course before and that counts for a lot.

Given the fact he’s off bottom weight, The Paddy

Pie has been handed another chance to do the job and can do so at the

Durham venue.

Huntingdon also go south of the border and there are a couple worth having a look at on the card.

FEARLESS (2.20) has a big chance in the opening novice hurdle. Olly Murphy has his string in cracking order and the five-year- old has been switched into his base by the owners having previously been housed with Rebecca Menzies.

Murphy is sure to have waited for the right opportunity to get a new inmate off to a winning start and Aidan Coleman, who has the plum ride on Paisley Park in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival next week, is in the plate.

At smaller stakes, a chance should be taken on MARMONT (4.30) in the MansionBet Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old has course-winning form from the past and is sliding down the weights for handler Jo Davis.