Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on the best of Saturday’s action.
It could be Willie Mullins Day on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival. He’s got fancied horses in all four of the Grade 1’s at Leopardstown.
Mullins has six of the 8 runners in the Grade 1 Donohue Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1:55). And he has five of the 8 runners in the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (2:30). I don’t think the Mullins domination of the Grade 1’s is good for the sport there but that’s where we are.
I’m going to look at the racing at the Dublin Racing Festival in more detail on Sunday. Today I’m concentrating on the best of the action on ITV this side of the Irish Sea. As ever today’s selection can be found at the end of the main piece.
Sandown
The race of the day at Sandown is the Grade 1 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (2:20). Irish Challenger unbeaten on both starts over fences and indeed on all his starts under rules is a hot favourite. Even over 2m 4f he will probably have too much class for his four rivals. However, although Sandown has watered this week to maintain good to soft. I wonder if the ground over this trip could be too lively for him and if he’ll even run. If doesn’t line-up Balco Coastal looks the one who can take advantage.
Dolos bids to win his own race
Earlier on ITV. Dolos is the bookies favourite to win the Virgin Bet Dolos Handicap Chase (1:45). He bids to win the race named after him for a fourth time and given this is Gold Cup, he’ll be hard to beat. His biggest rival could be Fast Buck who bounced back to winning ways at Lingfield last time and despite an 8lb rise in the weights remains on competitive mark.
Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (2:55)
Fifteen are set to go to post for what looks a competitive handicap hurdle.
Flight Deck, an improved winner at Chepstow is the bookies ante post favourite. The 9-year-old has solid claims of backing up. Green Book was well beaten by Flight Deck last time. However, that was his seasonal reappearance, and he did win this race last year off 4lb lower.
Lightly raced 8-year-old Steller Magic was back to form when a ¾-length 2nd of 11 to Steal A March in handicap at Wincanton on Boxing Day. Up 4lb but remains unexposed over around 3m and there’s a race in him off his present mark. Trainer Phillip Hobbs won this in 2016.
The final race from Sandown on ITV is the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (3:30). Fourteen are set to meet the starter for another competitive looking handicap.
The improving Bangers And Cash bids for the hat trick after wins at Exeter and last time in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen. Would have won the Lincolnshire National by further than 1 ¼ lengths but for being awkward at the last.
Empire Steel is a rare runner here for Sandy Thomson (1-2 in the past five years). The top weight a winner at Kelso 12 months ago ran better on his seasonal return than his 4 ½ lengths 7th of 13 to Brave Seasca at Aintree (2m 4f) suggests last time. The return to 3m is a positive. However, he’s very effective on bottomless ground which would be a slight concern here.
Castle Robin ended last season with small field wins at Doncaster and Wetherby in the spring. He made a decent enough return at Kelso but was pulled up a Cheltenham when last seen in November. Fine on good to soft and likely he’ll be better positioned than most in what’s forecast to be a steadily run race.
Laskalin returned from a ten month absence with a taking success at Ludlow (good to soft). And then finished a 6 ¼ length 3rd of 13 at Newbury (soft) last time. The drop back to 3m is a plus as is a return to going right handed. One to consider.
Musselburgh
Whatever Empire Steel’s fate at Sandown. His trainer has a strong hand in the bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (2:03). The trainer saddles three in Doyen Breed, Flower of Scotland & The Ferry Master. Of his trio Doyen Breed is of interest with jockey Johnny Burke coming up to Scotland for just the one ride. He has some useful novice chase form from last season that makes him look handily treated here.
Improving staying chaser Slipway heads the betting and shouldn’t be far away. Truckers Lodge has dropped down to a handy mark and a big run could be forthcoming from the 1-year-old.
The other big race on day one of Scottish Cheltenham Trials Meeting is the bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (3:16).
Nayati has been in good form this season since returning from a very long absence winning three times. The latest of them coming over C&D on New Year’s Day. Only got a 3lb rise in the weights for that success and is entitled to go close again.
Paul Nicholls won this race in 2021 and he’s 9-20 (45%) +11.92 with his hurdlers at Musselburgh in the past 5 years. He saddles the mare Grivetana who was a disappointing beaten favourite at Newbury last time. However, that was on soft ground and she’s better on a sounder surface.
Lebowski a promising novice hurdler last season made a winning seasonal return at Wetherby in December. He’s got 7lb rise in the weight to contend with here. However. he’s going the right way and could be up to defying it.
Leopardstown
The Grade 1 races on day one of the Dublin Racing look races to watch rather than bet in. The two handicaps look better from a betting perspective.
3:40 – Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) – 3m
The improving Maxxum bids for the hat trick after wins at Navan and when bolting up over C&D last time. Hiked up 18lb for his easy win last time but Cian Quirke takes off a handy 7lb and his improvement may not have levelled off just yet.
Perceval Legallois was 26 lengths behind Maxxum last time but that was his first start for 3 months and he’s expected to get closer here on 19lb better terms.
Freedom To Dream returns to hurdling after two starts over fences this season. He’s respected on last season’s 4 length 4th of 23 to Banbridge in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Michael O’Sullivan takes off 5lb and drying ground gives him each way claims.
4:10 – Paddy Power Cheltenham Fanzone Handicap Chase (Grade B) – 2m 1f
Even better ground would suit Fils D’oudairies but he’s competitively weighted for a return to the larger obstacles. Get My Drift, a useful enough hurdler, has been placed on two of his three starts since going chasing this season. Looks the type who could progress further for going handicapping and he looks fairly treated on his best hurdles form. The first time cheekpices go on which makes the 7-year-old of plenty of interest.
Final Orders completed the four timer when winning over C&D at Christmas. A 9lb rise in weight makes life tougher but he could get an uncontested lead and the yard is in great form at present. Previous C&D winner Grange Walk isn’t the most reliable of jumpers but was only beaten 1 ½ length in last years race, off today’s mark. He was 12 ½ length behind Final Order’s here last time and he’s 10lb better off here. Entitled to get closer here but Final Orders could be capable of better.
Betting Advice:
Sandown
2:55 – Green Book – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Bet365 and Steller Magic – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:30 – Laskalin – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Bet365
Musselburgh
2:03 – Slipway – 1pt win – 9/2 @ Bet365 and Doyen Breed – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Leopardstown
3:40 – Freedom To Dream – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Bet365
4:10 – Final Orders – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.
Cheers
John