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So come on over to the new Tote Blog at thetote.com/news and have a read!

My Racing Story: Sean McDermott

Being based in America is quite different than here at home – and sometimes not the easiest when you are a homebird like myself – but it was nice to come home for Christmas with my girlfriend and thanks to Ruaidhrí Tierney I squeezed in a winner at Leopardstown too!

Because of the weather along the east coast of America there’s no jump racing from November through to March, we’re lucky we only get rain in Ireland, but in America the ground would be frozen solid and it is just not feasible to have racing on the grass.

“Disko Ready To Rock & Roll” – Sean Flanagan

Disko and Sean Flanagan have formed a winning team in the past and now the jockey thinks the 6 year old is set to compete in the Irish Gold Cup. The pair were successful at Grade 1 level at Leopardstown last February and are looking to repeat the feat again at the Foxrock track in the Gold Cup. Despite being prominent in the market for both the King George at Kempton and The Christmas Chase at Leopardstown, Noel Meade’s grey turned up in neither race and Flanagan feels it was the right decision as it meant that he and Road To Respect were kept apart. “It worked out well anyway and it (The Irish Gold Cup) is looking like where Disko will go”

Listen to the complete interview here:

Welsh Grand National – Preview

The Welsh Grand National finally takes place tomorrow after it fell victim to the weather on December 27^th. The going has been described as “almost unraceable” by Philip Hobbs during the week and owing to this he took his horse Rock The Kasbah, who had been favourite with some bookmakers, out of the race.

The trip of 3m 6f will take some getting and the field are likely to finish well strung out, a common feature in this race when it has been run on terrible ground. This is one of the great big handicaps in the jumps season and has been won by some great horses down through the years such as Native River and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Synchronised.

NFL Wild Card Playoffs – Tipster

The 2017 NFL regular season has had just about a bit of everything but now we reach crunch time with the Wild Card Play Offs!!

Our very own Tote Tipster has donned his Red, White & Blue and Star-Spangled onesie and will be burning the midnight oil regularly over the coming weekends as he cheers the Minnesota Vikings all the way to what could be a history-making home win in Superbowl LII at their US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

My Racing Story: Sean Flanagan

To be honest it is still only sinking in that I’ve won a Leopardstown Christmas Chase but when I do sit back and think about it, it’s a wonderful feeling. It was only really on Saturday I got to sit down and watch the rerun of the race again and see how impressive Road To Respect was and it certainly gives you plenty to look forward to.

This year has just been phenomenal really and working for a man like Noel Meade just makes life so much easier. The association with Noel really came around by chance but I’m sure glad it did and to be riding horses like Road To Respect to win Grade One races is beyond my wildest dreams. 

€1 Million Pick 6 Tipster

As 2017 draws to a close Donald Trump is still the leader of the free world, phones now cost in the region of €1,000 each (yes, each!!) and the Tote Pick 6 pool could very well reach €1 Million at Punchestown on Sunday. There’s not much that we can do about the first two – but we can definitely help you out with the last one.

Strategy will be hugely important on when trying to win, or share, in what could be a life-changing dividend at around 3.22pm on Sunday afternoon.

Friday Tipster – Leopardstown & Limerick

Leopardstown

12:20 – Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase (0-123) 2m 5f (4yo plus)

FREEWHEELIN DYLAN looks an interesting contender in the sense that he is relatively unexposed compared to most of his rivals and makes his handicap debut where he could very easily improve for a very capable trainer in Dermot McLoughlin. Deputy’s Pass arrives having won a handicap chase over further at Gowran so is a guaranteed stayer, while Nobody Home and Whatareyoudoingtome look solid contenders on their best form over fences. Lasoscar has yet to win over the bigger obstacles but it shouldn’t be long judging by his close second to the in-form Poormans Hill at Down Royal.

Exacta: 10 – 7 (Freewheelin Dylan / Deputy’s Pass)

Trifecta: 10 – 7 – 14 (Freewheelin Dylan / Deputy’s Pass / Lasoscar)

Danny Mullins – Friday At Leopardstown & Limerick

Jockey Danny Mullins on the fourth and final day of Christmas Festival racing at Leopardstown and Limerick.

 

Today’s Racing At Leopardstown

1.20 – Willis Towers Watson Irish EBF Mares H’dle (Grade 3) 2m 4f

Willie has a couple in this race and Let’s Dance is the one to beat in my opinion. She was very good last year which included wins at this meeting before going on to win at Cheltenham. She seemed to be travelling well when tipping up at Punchestown on her reappearance, and if she shows no ill effects of that fall and is back to her best she is the one to take all the beating. Karalee was a bit disappointing in Thurles last time out, she finished well beaten and she came to Willie’s with a big reputation. She does work well at home but after her previous run there’s a bit of a question mark about her.

Thursday Tipster – Leopardstown & Limerick

Leopardstown

Nap of the meeting – Bacardys (3.35)

12.15 – Francin – attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle – Win

Francin is twice a winner on the Flat in his native France and is likely to be another Christmas winner for Willie Mullins who had mixed fortunes here yesterday. The race has a fair look to it and perhaps Daybreak Boy can build on a promising jumping debut at Cork early last month to chase the selection home ahead of Flawless Escape and Jetez.

Exacta – 8-6 (Francin/Daybreak Boy)

Trifecta – 8-6-7 (Francin/Daybreak Boy/Flawless Escape)