Lucky 15 Tips: Galopin de star of Owen’s four fancies

In the absence of my colleague Alan, I've been tasked with coming up with some Lucky 15 tips for Sunday afternoon.

I've looked exclusively at the Irish action from Leopardstown and Limerick to find my four fancies - including two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in the big one.

12:10 Leopardstown - Lazare de Star @ 11/8

Given it was over an inadequate two miles, Gordon Elliott's four-year-old LAZARE DE STAR did extremely well to push Willie Mullins' smart prospect Saint Baco on rules debut at Navan earlier this month.

The son of Masked Marvel finished within four lengths of the Grade 1-entered winner in County Meath and over 18 lengths clear of his stablemate in third.

Like all of the yard's novice hurdlers, he should improve plenty for the run and could be hard to beat in this 2m4½f maiden.

The JP McManus-owned point-to-point recruit Mighty Park is feared, but Willie Mullins' novices are in the main not performing to the best of their ability so I'm confident the selection can have his number.

12:30 Limerick - Unflinching @ 5/2

I'm in the Cullentra camp again for the opener at Limerick - a maiden hurdle over the minimum trip.

UNFLINCHING is another Gigginstown-owned bumper winner making a swift transition to hurdling, like impressive Boxing Day winner Ballyfad, and he's pitched against a couple of good-looking rivals. On paper, at least.

One of those is King Rasko Grey, for team Mullins. I'm a big fan of this horse but like my previous comments on Mighty Park, he's probably going to need the run.

Kaiser Ball used to be at Closutton and the form of his bumper victory at Fairyhouse in February is red-hot, but he's since moved yards and I wouldn't be certain of a similar performance. See file marked 'Asian Master'.

If those two fail to fire, it's Unfliching's to lose. Bokamsin can make a race of it after his third to Cheltenham Festival prospect Sortudo at Cork last month.

14:30 Leopardstown - Galopin Des Champs @ 15/8

Leopardstown. Three miles. It's GALOPIN DES CHAMPS, right?

The dual Gold Cup hero is nine rising 10 and this is his delayed return to action having missed the John Durkan with a small setback, so there's questions to answer.

But he was mustard when last seen at Punchestown in April to round off another very good season, despite missing out to the reopposing Inothewayurthinkin in the Blue Riband at Cheltenham.

This is his playground and if he's anywhere near 100%, which you'd be hopeful about, he's still the one to beat in the Savills Chase despite the market favouring Gavin Cromwell's seven-year-old.

Inothewayurthinkin was beaten a long way in the John Durkan and despite connections saying they expect a much-improved effort (they said that before the last day), it's surely all about March again for him.

Fastorslow is a danger, but the other rivals are hard to advise.

15:05 Leopardstown - Eclipse Chaser @ 6/1

How about one at a bit of a price for the final leg of this Lucky 15?

ECLIPSE CHASER is the one for me in the Pertemps Qualifier at Leopardstown.

After getting off the mark in a maiden hurdle at Navan in September, Willie Mullins' five-year-old was tried in the G3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle back at the County Meath venue a couple of months later and was sent off 5/2f under Paul Townend.

He finished fourth of seven, 12 lengths off the winner Kalypso'chance, but I don't think he acted at all on the heavy ground. A sounder surface on Sunday will be much more to his liking.

The son of Jet Away could be ahead of his mark of 126, which likely needs raising if he's to turn up in the Pertemps Final in March, so he looks a fine bet to me.

If all four selections won at the quoted prices, a 50p win Lucky 15 would return around £234 for a £7.50 total stake.

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