PADDOCKS PATENT (THURSDAY)

13:20 Leopardstown Let’s Dance looks the one to be on here as she receives weight from all of her rivals this afternoon. She won a listed race at Punchestown back in November making it two wins on the bounce. The form of that race was given a boost following a subsequent win by the runner up Shattered Love and with the Mullins and Walsh partnership bearing fruit yet again at this meeting, she has to rate highly on any shortlist this afternoon. Another slight step up in trip is on the cards here but she certainly looks progressive and should prove hard to pass. Slowmotion was far from disgraced behind the useful Missy Tata a couple of starts ago. That rival has gone on to record another win in listed company since and if polishing up her jumping she would be the biggest threat. JP McManus has had a terrific recent run of form with the horses he owns and this would be an ideal prize to give Joseph O’Brien his biggest win over the Christmas period. Daisy’s Gift fell last time out and is a stablemate of the selection. If fully over those exertions she has the potential to get amongst the places. Let’s Dance (WIN)

15:05 Leopardstown First To Boogie gave Madeleine Tylicki her first ever career success as a trainer when landing a mighty gamble at Punchestown in the middle of November. It was an emotional experience for the relative newcomer especially coming so soon after the horrific injuries sustained by her brother Freddy in a fall at Kempton a few weeks earlier. Ruby Walsh has been booked to ride today replacing Davy Russell in the saddle so connections must be hoping for another huge effort. The form of his last race has been mixed with only Darewann coming out to win subsequently. A slight drop back in trip should prove ideal with conditions to suit. Stretchingthetruth was no match for Death Duty et al when last seen out at Navan last month. This sees him drop significantly in grade and with Barry Geraghty booked to ride for Noel Meade, a much improved performance can be expected this time around. If staying this far, this relatively unexposed sort could well play a leading role. Aspen Colorado and Exactoris have proved disappointing since winning earlier in the season for Joseph O’Brien. A likelier problem may be posed by the John Kiely trained Brave Out. There looks to be more to come from the five year old and he could have an each way squeak. First To Boogie (WIN)

15:10 Doncaster La Vaticane may well be carrying a little more than twelve stone in this race but that is because she is taking a massive drop in grade today. She has only had a handful of runs in the UK and the last time she raced at this level she thumped Ratify by some two dozen lengths. She was last seen contesting the Grand Sefton at Aintree last month where she ran very well for a long way to eventually finish fifth of seventeen runners. Prior to that she was beaten five lengths by the useful Desert Queen in a listed event at Market Rasen. Tom Scudamore has had a fantastic weekend and rides once again. He is the only British jockey to have won on her so that is another massive plus. Willoughby Hedge has always been held in high regard by Alan King and is the only previous course and distance winner in the line up. He was pulled up in soft ground at Bangor last time so if conditions were to deteriorate his chances may well be affected. He is still learning his trade however and he is an obvious danger. Beeves will appreciate the ground and trip and will almost certainly improve for his seasonal reappearance last month. Jennie Candlish has been amongst the winners of late and he has solid place claims today. La Vaticane (E/W if 9/2+)