Hi all,
Inside today’s main preview I look ahead to the best of Sunday’s action on ITV4.
It’s the second day of Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend at Musselburgh. And ITV4 are covering four races live from the track this afternoon. However, most eyes will be on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
The Musselburgh card is interesting enough for a Sunday fixture but in truth it doesn’t excite me as Leopardstown.
Leopardstown
ITV are taking four races live from Leopardstown this afternoon.
1:40 – Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 5f
Four Willie Mullins runners take on favourite Mighty Potter
Mighty Potter had Gaillard Du Mesnil 4 ½ lengths back in second when winning the Grade 1 Drimore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse. The runner-up was conceding race fitness that day. And he’s since gone onto win the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase here over 3m at Christmas. Interesting to see him dropped back to 3m and taking on Mighty Potter once more.
James Du Berlais made an impressive chase debut when winning a Fairyhouse beginners chase on New Year’s Day. That was his first start for 20 months. He could take a high order in the novice chase division and provided and he’s a big contender.
2:10 – Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 1f
Blue Lord won the Grade 1 over C&D at the Christmas meeting and this looks an even easier race. Its hard to see him being beat in what looks a very weak renewal. Useful handicapper Dunvegan (16/1) was runner-up to Chacun Pour Soi in last year’s race and I think he’s one for forecast players once more. It’s hard to see him beating the long odds on favourite. However, he’s on the same Official Rating as both Gentleman De Mee and Sceau Royal and they are both shorter in the early betting.
It’s no betting race for me. But If you’re looking for a bet in the race Dunvegan each way at the 16/1 with Bet365 could pay dividends.
2:40 – Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade A) – 2m 5f
Maskada put in a career best effort when beating Rebel Gold in a valuable 2m 3 ½ f handicap chase at Limerick over Christmas. Up 9lb for that success but that was just the mares third start since joining Henry De Bromhead and there could be more to come from her.
Birchdale won this last year from 2lb lower. He’s not been at that level of form on five subsequent runs and we haven’t seen him since August. Not totally dismissed with Aidan Kelly taking off a handy 7lb.
Besides Birchdale owner J P McManus also has a couple of other contenders in Ilikedwayurthinkin and Ciel De Neige. The former isn’t the most consistent of chasers but lurks on good mark based on his hurdle form. Top weight Ciel De Neige is another on a handy mark. He didn’t stay 3m in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase here over Christmas but that was his first start for 8 months and he should be sharper for that run. This is more his sort of trip and I can see him going well.
3:10 – Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
Just the six go to post but they do include State Man, Vauban and Honeysuckle.
Honeysuckle bids for a fourth win the race but you must wonder if she’s the same mare these days. We will know by 3:20 if she is. She would have to be at her best to beat State Man who beat Vauban in the Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle over C&D at Christmas. The runner-up was conceding race fitness and will improve. When I looked at the race on Wednesday, I was in the State Man camp and I remain so.
3:40 – Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
The Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (3.40) could see a fascinating clash between Facile Vega, 2-2 over hurdles and former high class flat performer High Definition who made a winning hurdle debut over C&D over Christmas. Trained by Joseph O’Brien he will need to have improved his jumping, but he’s got plenty of flat class.
Facile Vega needs no introduction, and the Supreme favourite will be tough to beat. Trainer Willie Mullins has The most interesting is Dark Raven, unbeaten on both bumper starts he returned from a 631-day absence to win on hurdle debut over C&D in December. Hard to see him beating the favourite but he looks a Graded hurdler in the making and could be a Ballymore contender.
4:10 – Festina Lente Charity Liffey Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) – 2m
Gaelic Warrior is going to be a short-priced favourite here. He’s won both this season’s starts easily and remains well treated off a mark 143. If he’s a Grade 1 horse as many think then he should win easily.
All Those Years hails from a yard that won this race three times between 2018 & 2020. The 9-year-old returned from a six month absence with a respectable enough 6 lengths 5th of 9 at Cork (2m 4f) last month. He will be suited by the drop back to 2m and should be sharper here.
It’s no easy task for a juvenile to win a handicap like this but Common Practice is a high class one and has light weight.
Fortunedefortunata made a winning stable debut for Gordon Elliott in a Galway Handicap in October. And he improved again when a 2 ¾ lengths 4th of 23 at Navan 84 -days ago. He seems to go well off a layoff and given he’s only had four starts over hurdles could be capable of better.
Man O Work was a credible 8 ½ length 4th of 17 in a similar race at Fairyhouse in December. He can get into the places again, but his yard has gone 277-days and 25 runners since a winner.
Musselburgh
I have had look at one of the ITV races from Musselburgh.
1:55 – Fidelio Vallis likes a sound surface and is now 4lb below his last winning mark. Provide the ground the ground doesn’t ease to much the handicapper has given him a real chance to make a winning start for trainer Harry Derham.
Pay The Piper took well to fences last season but hasn’t matched his best form on four starts this season. Mark is starting to ease though, and the yard is in better from now.
Hasankey completed a handicap chase hat trick last season. A solid head second on his seasonal return but ran poorly at Cheltenham on his next start. Hopes pinned on the returning visor.
Return Ticket two from three over C&D, has dropped 5lb below his last winning mark. Back to form effort after 5 month layoff when a ½-length 2nd of 6 at Kelso 63 days ago.
I’m torn between Fidelio Vallis and Pay the Piper with a slight preference for the latter at the prices.
Betting Advice:
Leopardstown
2:40 – Ilikedwayurthinkin – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Bet365 and Ciel De Neige – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Bet365
3:40 – High Definition – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:10 – Fortunedefortunata – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Musselburgh
1:55 – Pay The Piper – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
Cheers
John