Jane Mangan
Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Leopardstown St Stephen’s Day Preview
William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews racing from Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day
Friday, Leopardstown
My first fancy on St Stephen’s Day is in the second race, the two-mile maiden hurdle (12.35pm). It looks to be a really good clash between Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins with their young, exciting, unexposed horses. Doctor Du Mesnil was really impressive at Cork on debut in his bumper, his only start to date. But Willie Mullins’ horses are currently taking a run to be fully fit, and I’m going to side with Gordon Elliott’s main contender. El Cairos was an expensive purchase from the David Maxwell dispersal, and rightly so, because he’d only been beaten five lengths when fifth in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper. And he came back to the Punchestown Festival, where he was second despite drifting to his left. I think now with Jack Kennedy aboard and in the care of Gordon Elliott, El Cairos is going to be very hard to beat here.
The Grade 2 juvenile hurdle (1.10pm) has a very strong roll of honour. From Apple’s Jade in 2015, to Espoir D’Allen in 2017, to Lossiemouth in 2022, it’s a proper race that can throw up a real good horse. Which one of those fit into that category this time around? It might be Narcisco Has. This guy won on debut at Auteuil in April, and he was subsequently picked up by current connections. He led before the last at Fairyhouse in November, and he looked like he got tired when ran down by Mange Tout of Gordon Elliott’s. That is consistent with the form of Willie Mullins’s horses on debut this season as they seem to be taking a run to be at their best. With the benefit of that first start under his belt, I think Narcisco Has could take the measure of Elliott this time around.
In the two-mile handicap hurdle (1.45pm) I like True Testimony. This mare won well over fences last time and reverts here off a mark 16 pounds lower than her chase mark. She drops back in trip with Keith Donoghue on board, and the shorter distance shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Ian Patrick Donoghue is well able to ready one for a big day, and this girl could be hard to beat.
The Grade 1 two-mile novice chase that has been restored after being removed from the calendar in 2024. When it was last run in 2023, Gordon Elliott took it with Found A Fifty, and this time around I believe he’s going to take it with Romeo Coolio. He’s two from two over fences and brings in a high level of form over hurdles. This guy was all but perfect in the Drinmore over two-and-a-half miles and reverting back in trip shouldn’t be an issue for a horse good enough to be placed in the Supreme. His nearest rival, I believe, could be July Flower, but I don’t think the mare is going to be good enough to get in front of Romeo Coolio today.
In the big handicap chase (2.55pm), I like One Last Tango, who’s alreayd a winner at the track over hurdles. He was fourth in this race last year behind An Peann Dearg, but he’s only two pounds higher now and I think he’s still quite favourably treated. He’s still a maiden over fences after 10 starts, which obviously isn’t ideal, but I think these conditions are right up his street. The fact that the trip will be to his liking will enhance his chances given that he’s been kept to this type of distance for most of his career. The expected ground at Leopardstown should suit, too, so I think One Last Tango can run a big race off a light weight.
