Boxing Day Lucky 15 Tips from the Irish Racing – £1 Lucky 15 Returns £335

We asked our resident Irish horse racing tipster Ciaran Murphy for his three best bets from the St Stephen’s Day racing fixture list in Ireland. A £1 bet on this lucky 15 returns upwards of £335.

While those of you on the English side of the Irish Sea will be celebrating a ‘Boxing Day’ of blockbuster clashes, over in the Emerald Isle, we are also having our busiest day of the year with meetings at Down Royal and Limerick supporting the main event at Leopardstown. And while we don’t have anything to match the King George or the Christmas Hurdle, there is still some value to be had. Here are 4 bets that could make up a Lucky 15 on St Stephen’s Day in Ireland. 

 

1.10 Leopardstown 

One of the big talking horses coming into the season was WILLY DA HOUELLE (6/4) and while he was certainly disappointing on debut defeat to Naturally Nimble (who reopposes here), he was far too keen and there is an argument that the winner was simply picking up the pieces. Don’t forget Vauban was beaten on debut for the same connections and went on to win the Triumph that year. Crucially, the hood worn on all his starts in France is reapplied here and while the ground would be a slight concern, I think class will see him through in this contest.

 

1.33 Limerick

The graded action from Limerick comes in the form of a 2m 7f novice hurdle. While the ground at the time of writing is Yielding to Soft, the latter is what the course is most associated with and so stamina will be at a premium here. I was very impressed with the rules debut of THE BIG WESTERNER (11/4), the latest in a long line of impressive mares in the ownership of Coolmara Stud. She beat the well fancied Willie Mullins Argento Boy and did it with some style. A half sister to Albert Bartlett winner Stay Away Fay, I think she will take this contest and shorten significantly for the same race in March. 

 

2.33 Down Royal

Interesting that the highlight of the card in the North is a Hunters Chase and sees last year’s Cheltenham Runner Up taking on a festival Winner of the previous year. I have no doubt that It’s on the line is the best horse in the race but may be vulnerable on return to Kim Muir winner ANGELS DAWN (3/1). She was running a belter last year trying to defend her title and while no one would have beaten blot iknowthewayurthinkin, she lost nothing in defeat. She prepped for this with a Point win in Boulta and this race fitness mag just give her the edge.

 

3.30 Leopardstown 

Mullins in the Bumper is never a bad way to finish, especially here with GREEN SPLENDOUR available at 5/2. He has one previous run in a Newbury Bumper under Stuart Crawford and was no match for Regents Stroll (subsequently sold for 660k). However he showed enough for a transfer to Closutton and Word is that Patrick is impressed with his work. He has to take on Talking horse Ma Jacks Hill but I wasn’t impressed by his debut at Navan and am happy to side with the Double Green contender here.

 

Ante-post Cheltenham Festival Tip

Sidenote:  A £1 treble on Willy Da Houelle (Triumph), Green Splendour (Bumper) and The Big Westerner (Albert Bartlett) pays just over £15,000 in March. Thank me later.

 

How to get the Betfred Sign-up Offer:

1 Click this link straight to the Betfred sign-up page

2 Click ‘Claim Here’ and use promo code BETFRED50

3 Place a £10 bet on Boxing Day

4 You get £50 in free bets

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