Leopardstown racing top tip (1500): Fakir D’Alene undervalued on preferred ground

1500 Paddy Power Chase

The early market was formed based on decent ground conditions, but considering the rain came tumbling down on Monday morning, the picture has changed.

With that in mind, one of the eight-strong Gordon Elliott team, particularly Fakir D’Alene, is worth serious consideration.

Elliott has won this prize twice in recent seasons and this eight-year-old could provide the yard with another success because he revels in the testing ground and has plenty of good form in high-class big-field staying handicaps on left-handed tracks.

At last year’s Cheltenham Festival, Fakir D’Alene finished fourth of 20 in the Kim Muir over 26f on soft ground. He wasn’t beaten far at all (4l) and he missed third place by only half a length.

He ran off a mark of 144, which was 2lbs higher than today’s mark. However, he is effectively 4lbs lower this time because the very useful Danny Gilligan claims 5lbs whereas his rider at Cheltenham claimed 3lbs.

Gilligan has been used very shrewdly over fences this year by Elliott. The jockey has ridden in 26 chases, winning eight of them (31%) and placing in a further 10.

Of the others, it is hard to ignore the progressive Desertmore House, who comes here on a hat-trick following successive wins at Kilbeggan (25f on soft) and, more recently, in the Grade 3 Kerry National at Listowel (24f on a flat, left-handed track with yielding-soft ground).

He won that valuable prize by nearly four lengths, going away at the line in the manner of a highly progressive chaser with a lot more to offer.

He will have a very similar combination of conditions today, and he has now won three of his four runs in this sphere, the last two under today’s rider. He is up another 10lbs, but he looks dangerous once more.

Suggested bet: Fakir D'alene to win the 1500 at Leopardstown

• Tip advised by CD Systems - Daily Bargain on Tipstrr