Ireland today

the big Leopardstown jristma meeting ends today, when the main feature is the Grade One Festival Hurdle at 14.55 CET has attracted an excellent field.However at the time of writing it is not clear if Sizing Europe (Harry de Bromhead/ Andrew McNamara) will be able to run following a slight setback yesterday. If he does line up, he is clearly the oneto beat, althogh the opposiiton is very strong, headed by Cheltenham heroes Hardy Eustace (Dessie Hughes/ Paddy Flood), Brave Inca (Colm Murphy/ Ruby Walsh) and Sublimity (Robbie Hennessy/ Phlip Carberry). Ex-German Aitmatov (Noel Meade/ Paul Townend) faces a stiff task here. The listed hurdle race for mares over 2 1/2 miles half an hour later is also a top race, with Pomme Tiepy (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh) the likely favourite; however the drying ground may not be in her favour, and top-weight Give it Time (Jessica Harrington/ MJ Bolger) and the maiden Shirley Casper, trained by Dessie Hughes and partnered by his son, flat jockey Richard, could come out on top today. There is also Irish N.H. racing today at Limerick, where ex-German Orange Touch (Eric McNamara/ BC Byrnes) is a possible each-way bet in the handicap hurdle at 15.10. The more the ground dries out, the better the chances of the Lando gelding.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Cleni Boy - Kilbane River - Tamayo
2.Race: Dancing Tornado - Candy Girl - Jimmy Ber
3.Race: Boulavogue - Horner Woods - Deutschland
4.Race: Sizing Europe - Sublimity - Brave Inca
5.Race: Give It Time - Pomme Tiepy - Garrai Ard
6.Race: Corskeagh Royale - Judge Roy Bean - Ten Fires
7.Race: Lord Over - Rhyl Accord - Long Strand