Ireland today

as is so often the case on a Sunday, the day´s best racing comes from Ireland and specifically from Leopardstown which stages two Grade One and one Grade Two race. Main event is the Lexus Chase over 3 miles at 15.35 CET, which has attracted a strong field, including 3 dangerous English raiders in Neptune Collonges (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year, Exotic Dancer (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy), Gold Cup runner-up last year, and CD specialist The Listener (Nick Mitchell/ Daryl Jacob). The Irish defense is headed by War of Attrition (Mouse Morris/ Paul Carberry -replacing Davy Russell, who has been stood down by the doctor because of dehydration), Gold Cup winner in 2006 and back to form this season, and the improving Glenfinn Captain (Tom Taaffe/ Barry Geraghty), winner of his last two races. The novice chase over the same distance at 14.30 should go to Trafford Lad (Dusty Sheehy/ Tom Doyle), who can complete a four-timer, while German-bred Ca tch Me (Edward O´Grady/ Andrew McNamara) will be a short-priced favourite to win the Christmas Hurdle at 15.00. Although he concedes weight all round, he stands out on form and ratings despite the ground being possibly not as soft as he would prefer. Another German-bred Lazio (Steve Mahon/ Paddy Flood) can also get on the scoreboard by taking the handicap hurdle at 16.10, though this is very speculative. At Limerick, main event is the Grade Three novice hurdle at 14.45 over 2 3/4 miles. 6 of the 9 runners are last-time-out winners, with our preference being narrowly for Checkpoint Charlie (Charlie Swan/ DG Hogan) and Future All Star (Colm Murphy/ Matt O´Connor)

Betting forecast for Leopardstown:
1.Race: Kempes - Time Electric - Roberto Goldback
2.Race: Peak Raider - Ross Accord - Diophas
3.Race: Trafford Lad - Siegemaster - Footy Facts
4.Race: Catch Me - Whatuthink - Earth Magic
5.Race: Neptune Collonges - The Listener - War Of Attrition
6.Race: Carthalawn - Siege Of Ennis - Mullach Na Si
7.Race: Roches Point - The Biscuit Club - Deise Dan



Betting forecast for Limerick:
1.Race: Brosna Val - No One Tells Me - Gudnis Gracious Me
2.Race: The Midnight Club - Whinstone Boy - Lurgan
3.Race: Damien`s Oscar - Future All Star - Monty Blue
4.Race: Wicklow Lad - Colls Corner - Drive On Jim
5.Race: Stonehouse - Fortune Seeker - Polly Massini
6.Race: Topofdemornintou - The Dashing Doctor - Buckland Gold
7.Race: Abroad - Knight Realm - Some Song