Hi all,
In Sunday’s preview, focusing on Day 2 of the Dublin Racing Festival and the second day at Musselburgh, I’ll concentrate on races where I have selections due to time constraints.
ITV Racing will be featuring five races from Leopardstown and five from Musselburgh in a comprehensive ten-race program on the main ITV channel this Sunday.
Let’s begin at Leopardstown.
Leopardstown
12:40 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) – 2m 2f
A cracking 19 runners handicap which isn’t on ITV, but I do have a selection. Risk Belle probably found 2m 4f on testing ground stretching her stamina here at Christmas. The drop back in distance and return to handicap company will suit and she should go close. Foxy Girl caught the eye when a 4-length 3rd of 11 at Down Royal on seasonal return. She wasn’t well placed in a steadily run race at Fairyhouse last time and didn’t get the best of run in the straight. Looks on a winnable mark if getting more luck in the run. The 7/2 available is a bit short for a bet for me but she’s the pick.
1:10 – Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 5 ½ f
Willie Mullins has three of the four runners. The stable selected looks to be even money favourite Gaelic Warrior. He’s probably a better horse going right-handed but this exciting novice chaser remains the one to beat. The form of his latest Grade 1 success was boosted yesterday when the runner-up won the Irish Arkle here on Saturday. Stablemate Grangeclare West is 2-2 over fence and won the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase here (3m ½ f) last time and can’t be ruled out. Fact To File finished runner-up in last season’s Champion Bumper. Trainer Willie Mullins wasted no time sending the 7-year-old over fences and he ran out a comfortable winner of a C&D beginners chase 38 days ago. Like Gaelic Warrior he’s another excellent chase prospect.
2:10 – Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 1f
El Fabiolo unbeaten on his five starts over fences will be long odds-on to maintain his unbeaten record. His biggest rival is stablemate Dinoblue. The mare has improved to win her last four starts over fences and last time won a Grade 1 over C&D at the Christmas meeting. Not totally dismissed given she gets the 7lb mares allowance and is going the right way,
2:45 – Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
State Man is a very short price to give Willie Mullins another Grade 1 success at this year’s meeting. Last year’s winner is the second-best hurdler behind Constitution Hill, and he can follow up last year’s win in the race. His nearest market rival is stablemate Impaire Et Passe. One of last season’s top novice hurdlers he’s not so far kicked on in open company and was put in his place by State Man last time. Better ground will suit but it’s hard to see him reversing places with State Man. Bob Olinger has returned to winning ways this season over 2m 4f. He could outrun his odds but it’s hard to see him beating the favourite.
3:20 – O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade 3) – 2m 5 ½ f
James Du Berlais was only headed at the last when a 10-length 4th of 27 to Meetingofthewaters in the Paddy Power Chase (3m ½ f) here 39 days ago. He should be suited by the drop in trip and a big player.
Classic Getaway is a classy chaser on his day as he showed when making a winning seasonal return in a Listed race at Thurles in November. Testing ground stretched him when beaten favourite for a Grade 3 at Tramore (2m 6 ½ f) on New Year’s Day. Despite his big weight he looks on a workable mark for his handicap chase debut.
Inothewayurthinkin is already a better chaser than a hurdler finishing runner-up on his first two starts over the larger obstacles before not subjected to a hard race when a 7-length 3rd of 5 to Gaelic Warrior in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novices’ Chase at Limerick 38 days ago. He’s open to further improvement over fences and must be respected on handicap debut.
Top weight Fakir D’oudairies, a four-time Grade 1 winning chaser, wasn’t knocked about when an 11 ¼ length 5th of 12 to Fugitif in December Gold Cup on his seasonal reappearance last time. He’ll be sharper here and the better the ground the better his chance. Despite his big weight a mark of 161 is winnable.
3:50 – Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) – 2m
Ataboycharlie got off the mark at the fourth attempt over hurdles when winning over C&D on handicap debut 40 days ago. A 12lb rise makes life harder for the 6-year-old but he’s open to further improvement and is a leading contender.
Bialystok won a valuable handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in April. Not quite at that level on four subsequent starts but there was encouragement to be taken from his 2 ¾ length 4th of 8 to Farren Glory in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novices’ Hurdle at Fairyhouse 63 days ago. One for the shortlist
One Last Tango is another for the shortlist. The 7-year-old came from a strong gallop to win a handicap hurdle over C&D 39 days ago. Up 9lb for that success but capable of going close.
Conyers Hill won a Cork handicap hurdle in November and improved again when a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 19 at Fairyhouse next time. He was set plenty to do and was doing his best work at the finish when a 12 length 5th of 13 to One Last Tango over C&D last time. Get’s a 9lb pull in the weights with the winner and Conor Stone-Walsh takes off a further 5lb. The 6-year-old is another to take seriously,
Musselburgh
3:00 – Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (Class 2) – 3m
Noble Birth went close at Ayr (good) two starts back before finding heavy ground too much in the closing stages when a 18 ½ length 4th of 15 to Buddy One at Cheltenham last time. Back on drier ground you should see him in a much better light and he’s one to seriously consider.
Carnfunnock has been shaping like he’s on a handy mark and looks worth another try at 3m. He’s got solid claims with Ben Bromley taking off 5lb.
Imaginary Dragon posted a career best on RPR’s when winning a Kelso handicap hurdle (2m 6 ½ f) 37 days ago.
Wakool’s form figures over C&D are 1124, the last two coming in this race last and in 2022. The 8-year-old was runner-up at Ayr 33 days ago and has place claims once more.
Last time out winners Imaginary Dream and Peking Rose are both in the mix. The first named won at Kelso (2m 6 ½ f) 37 days ago and could improve for the step up to 3m. Peking Rose returned from an 11-month absence to win at Doncaster 64 days ago. Up 1lb but needs decent ground and has stamina to prove.
3:35 – bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (For The Bowes-Lyon Trophy) Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 4 ½ f
Thunder Rock looked set for a good season over fences when winning the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on his return to action but was never travelling or jumping in the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup at Cheltenham next time. Down in class here and the first time cheekpieces are applied so could bounce back.
Petit Tonnerre hasn’t been disgraced on three starts over fences at around two miles. He’s shaped likely needs 2m 4f and there could be a big performance in this novice chaser if his jumping holds up against more experienced rivals.
Corrigeen Rock looked much improved when making a winning seasonal reappearance at Kempton in October. The 7-year-old hasn’t been disgraced on either start since and seemed to prove his stamina when runner-up over C&D last time. Likely to give his running once more and is a contender.
Tommy’s Oscar is a very good hurdler on his day and has proved just as good over the larger obstacles. He made a winning return to action at Kelso (2m 1f) and was a good 4th of 11 in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. Not so good over hurdles last time but better expected here and he’s handicapped to go close albeit his stamina will be tested.
Smart hurdler and even better over fences, winning Grade 2 at Doncaster last term. Better than ever when making a winning return at Kelso before shaping as if still in good form in a muddling Old Roan. Disappointed back over hurdles since but expected to bounce back.
Betting Advice:
Leopardstown
2:10 – Dinoblue – 1pt win – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:20 – Classic Getaway – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Bet365 and Fakir D’oudairies – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Bet365
3:50 – Bialystok – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Ataboycharlie – 1pt win – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Musselburgh
3:00 – Noble Birth – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:35 – Tommy’s Oscar – 1pt win – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and Corrigeen Rock – 1pt win – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John