Return To Leopardstown Could Suit Theophilus

Just Bill ran a lovely race earlier and under the tenderest of handling he hung on well for 3rd at an sp of 33/1. He travelled extremely well and at one stage I thought he might actually win. He looks sure to come on again for that run and he definitely has the necessary ability to win races under rules in the future.

Tomorrow racing fans are in for a treat with a mouthwatering card of action at Leopardstown. It will be one of the last chances for the big boys to fine tune their charges for the festivals in the Spring, and with only 5 odd weeks to go before the big one starts there will be plenty of Cheltenham clues to be found. I have written an in depth preview of the opening Grade 1 juvenile hurdle, starring the hugely exciting Ivanovich Gorbatov, and you can read it here at Bettingtools.co.uk.

Later on at Leopardstown I like the look of a horse for Des McDonagh in the 3.05, a 2m handicap that will be run on soft ground. Theophilus is an intriguing contender for his shrewd owner Mr.Bolger, and he was produced at the Xmas meeting here last year to hack up in a 2m maiden on his first run over timber on heavy ground at odds of 4/1. He had previously dotted up on his flat debut over 12f on heavy at Gowran, and although the Triumph was mentioned as a possible target after his Xmas win he reverted to the flat for the summer, and he was placed in a handicap here off 93.

He has had just two runs over timber since his successful debut, and he ran a perfectly respectable race behind Dicosimo in  a listed heat over 16f at Limerick at the Xmas meeting. He was beaten 10L, but he was giving 6lb to the winner and he was entitled to be ring rusty on his first run back over hurdles after a year. He was stepped up to 20f in a rated heat at Punchestown last time and was sent off at 3/1. He produced an underwhelming effort but he is a better horse than he showed that day, and it is possible the step up in trip was too much.

He drops back to 2m for his handicap debut tomorrow and he gets in off a mark of 131. Tigris River was behind him in the Listed heat at Limerick, and that horse went on to be 4th in the Coral Hurdle here a couple of weeks ago off 133, and that was a much stronger race than this one. He has run well on 3 of his 4 visits to Leopardstown and he clearly has a liking for the track. The ground is in his favour, as is the drop back to 2m, and it would be no surprise to see a big run from this strapping son of Teofilo in what looks a wide open handicap.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 3.05 LEOPARDSTOWN-THEOPHILUS 16/1 E/W