THE two mile handicap hurdle is the least prestigious of the four races from Leopardstown this afternoon covered live on RTÉ, but it might prove the best race to target when trying to find a decent-priced winner. When Joshua Lane finished third - beaten just over three lengths - in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, connections would have been forgiven for dreaming of big days ahead over hurdles with the son of Gamut.

Five runs in maiden hurdles without success paints a very disappointing picture, but he might be able to put things right in just his second handicap run today. His first was a perfectly acceptable fourth at Naas, so much so that he was raised 2lbs for the effort. That should have left him spot on for a race of this nature and when you consider that he is rated some 25lbs plus below two of his immediate victims at Cheltenham over hurdles, namely Black Hercules and Killultagh Vic, he could be very well treated here. Owner J.P. McManus is chasing his third successive win in todays’ race whilst trainer Eddie Harty is seeking a double following his win in the race with Sort It Out last year.

KEEN ANTICIPATION

Elsewhere, there are some very good Grade 1 flat races tonight. Most eyes will be on Gulfstream Park, where they host two top level events. Keen Ice, the only horse to have defeated the great American Pharoah as a three-year-old, makes his seasonal debut in the Donn Handicap. Once he collared the American Triple Crown winner in last year’s Travers, Keen Ice won going away and when you consider that the horses defeated by American Pharoah have been upholding the form exceptionally well - Frosted at Meydan on Thursday the latest – it merely heightens the anticipation with regards to what Keen Ice might be capable of in 2016.

He has to give weight away to all of his rivals and tonight’s trip might be a furlong shorter than ideal for the favourite but, as well as watching the races on RaceBets.com, the firm offer money back on all Tote win bets on Keen Ice, should he finish runner-up.

Over at Santa Anita, the exceptionally exciting Songbird has the Las Virgenes Stakes at her mercy. Unbeaten in four starts at two, she won her maiden before hacking up in three successive Grade 1 races by upwards of four and a half lengths each time, culminating in a five length demolition of Rachel’s Valentina in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Keeneland. Songbird should take the race in style, her first step on the road to the Kentucky Oaks… or perhaps even a shot at the boys in the Kentucky Derby.