Leopardstown welcomes the Dublin Racing Festival this weekend, with plenty of superstars appearing on track.
There is so much to look forward to across the card on Saturday, with four Grade 1 races taking place.
We’ll be previewing a number of races from Leopardstown whilst also taking a look at Sunday’s card, but first we’ll take a look at the action taking place in Sandown as well as Ahoy Senor’s Wetherby appearance.
(All prices are correct at time of writing)
At Sandown in the 1:50, five are set to go to post for the Listed Contenders Hurdle, with eight hurdles being jumped over the course of nearly two-miles.
There’s plenty of Graded experience amongst the field, and the highest-rated runner is Tom Symonds’ consistent Song For Someone, rated 153.
He finished second on his last appearance in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham, finishing half-a-length behind winner Guard Your Dreams, and both horses are currently sharing favouritism at the top of the market.
Hunters Call finished a close third, but Song For Someone backers would have been frustrated with the run, as he didn’t travel well through much of the race.
He had to be pushed along by his jockey early on, and seemed all-out and without much chance with two-furlongs to run, but rallied towards the end and finished the best of the field.
With Aidan Coleman retaining the ride, plenty will be hopeful of a return to winning ways, as he has had success with horses running towards the rear and appearing to have lost all chance in a race, as seen in the Cleeve Hurdle last weekend onboard Paisley Park.
Guard Your Dreams was slightly disappointing on his following run in the Relkeel Hurdle, and there’s plenty to suggest that Song For Someone could reverse form here, but Nigel Twiston-Davies’ runner is a course and distance winner, and has plenty of determination and heart.
The ever-unpredictable Goshen returns having finished last of three at Lingfield last month.
Jockey Jamie Moore had a tough job around the track, as Goshen continued to drift to the right and didn’t show his quality as has happened plenty of times before.
At Wincanton last February he beat Song For Someone convincingly by twenty-two-lengths and looked a real star, but he’s run on five occasions since and has failed to fire.
If showing anything near his best, he is capable of winning easily here, and a return to a right-handed track will suit.
Global Citizen makes his second start following wind surgery,and the ten-year-old performed decently on his last appearance, finishing a respectable second behind the well thought of Tommy’s Oscar at Haydock.
Hunters Call finished in third, four-and-a-half-lengths behind Global Citizen, and both receive 6lbs from the leading trio in the market.
Our selection: Song For Someone 9/4 – he has been one of our horses to follow for a while, and is the likeliest winner here.
If he’s able to find his rhythm early on, he should travel nicely and win this contest well, unless Goshen manages to find his form once again.
The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase comes at 2:20, and the market leader is odds-on shot L’Homme Presse who is bidding for a four-timer to win his first Grade 1 for Venetia Williams.
He impressively won a Graded contest when last seen at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, beating second-placed The Glancing Queen by ten-lengths.
The highly progressive seven-year-old has earned himself a rating of 154, but the highest-rated in the field is Paul Nicholls’ Pic D’Orhy, rated 1lb higher than the favourite.
He won a Grade 2 on his last appearance, easily beating the opposition including second-placed Faivoir.
Prior to that win, he was a faller at Newbury when ahead, allowing the youngster Nassalam to take the win.
This will be his hardest task yet, but he is more than capable of mounting a challenge.
Mister Coffey makes his third-start over fences, following two placed efforts in handicaps.
He has finished behind Solo and Jacamar, both of whom we saw on Cheltenham Trials day last Saturday, with Solo being well beaten in the Novices’ Class 2 Handicap, and Jacamar running decently but failing to make a significant impact in the Grade 3 handicap.
Fugitif won last time out, finishing three-and-three-quarter lengths ahead of Dreams Of Home, but that form doesn’t appear to be too impressive in this company.
Gladiateur Allen, the outsider of the field, won on chase debut at Exeter before finishing twenty-nine-and-a-half-lengths behind Pic D’Orhy at Ascot, and seemingly has a mountain to climb to reverse form here.
Our selection: It’s difficult to look past the favourite L’Homme Presse 4/5, who could well be a star in the making.
We expect him to impress once again here, by beating a tough opponent in Pic D’Orhy.
The 2:55 Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle appears to be an open race with plenty of each-way options at decent prices.
Currently sharing favouritsim is Ree Okka for Harry Fry, a six-year-old rated at 130 who is bidding for a hat-trick of wins here, stepping up in class.
Another at the top of the market is Beauport, who finished second behind Dashel Drasher on his last outing and has 3lb claimer Jordan Nailor onboard here once again.
He won a Grade 3 Handicap at the track last March, and there is plenty to suggest he will deal with the extended trip this time out.
Green Book is the mount of in-form jockey Charlie Deutsch for trainer Venetia Williams, a partnership that has enjoyed plenty of success this season.
He won the Chester Plate on the flat last May, and has been a useful runner over obstacles so far, winning twice and finishing second twice in his first four starts before unluckily unseating his rider at Kempton last month.
Jesuitique, Orbys Legend and Dolphin Square all recorded good wins when last seen, whilst Call Me Lord for Nicky Henderson is bidding for his first win in over two years.
If The Cap Fits and The Cob are both at big prices, whilst Jonjo O’Neill’s Easysland is the top-weight outsider.
This trip is likely to be too short for Easysland who is one of the favourites for the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at The Festival next month.
He also currently holds an entry in the Grand National.
Our selection: Dolphin Square 16/1 – the eight-year-old has been in impressive form recently and is bidding for a hat-trick of wins here. He benefits from claimer Mr David Maxwell, who also owns the horse, taking 3lbs off his weight.
The 2:30 Towton Novices’ Chase at Wetherby sees Lucinda Russell’s exciting prospect Ahoy Senor return to the track, following a second-placed finish behind Bravemansgame at Kempton on Boxing Day.
He holds an entry for the Gold Cup in what would be a bold bid for the novice, but it’s likely he’ll take his chance in what is expected to be a competitive Brown Advisory’s Novices’ Chase at the Festival.
Three oppose him in this contest, course and distance winners Saint Palais and Ashtown Lad, as well as Emmet Mullins’ trained Noble Yeats.
Turning out attention to the action at Leopardstown, Gordon Elliott’s Hollow Games is the favourite in the opener at 1:05, ahead of his likely attempt at the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month, but he was beaten on his last appearance at Naas.
Whadeawant is the shortest-priced Willie Mullins runner, ahead of Bronn, whilst Eric Bloodaxe takes his chance for Joseph O’Brien.
Minella Crooner already has four wins to his name in his short career to date, and could be one to watch having beaten the impressive Kilcruit at Leopardstown in December.
Kilcruit showed his class when bouncing back to winning ways at Punchestown on Monday, and Minella Crooner could have each-way claims.
Grand Jury for Henry De Bromhead, Mullins’ Minella Cocooner and Peter Fahey’s Freedom To Dream are less fancied, but are all runners in decent form, which makes for an interesting contest.
Our selection: Hollow Games 9/4
At 1:35 comes the anticipated Spring Juvenile Hurdle, where Vauban and Fil Dor are expected to fight it out and put down their markers in the division, following Pied Piper’s breathtaking victory at Cheltenham last Saturday.
Icare Allen won comfortably on his hurdle debut, as did The Tide Turns who makes his second start for trainer Elliott and over hurdles, having left Sir Mark Prescott’s yard last year.
Ben Siegel is a bigger-priced runner but is another who won well on his last appearance.
Four-year-old filly Vadaly makes her debut for the Mullins’ stables, pairing up with Rachael Blackmore.
Six Feet Apart, Il Etait Temps and Scenic Look complete the line up.
Our selection: Fil Dor 5/4
The Arkle Novice Chase is run at 2:10, and once again Mullins and Elliott horses head the market in the form of Blue Lord (11/8) and Riviere D’etel (9/4).
Elliott’s mare, Riviere D’etel, receives 9lbs from the favourite, but Blue Lord has looked very impressive this season and will be tough to beat.
Haut En Couleurs and Saint Sam are also at relatively short prices for the Mullins yard, whilst Embittered and Busselton are both big outsiders for J P O’Brien and Embrun Mitja represents De Bromhead.
Our selection: Haut En Couleurs 4/1
The 2:45 is a wide open contest, a tough race to call, with plenty of useful types lining up.
Panda Boy won well here over the Christmas period, whilst Dunboyne finished fifth in behind, having been hampered, and is certainly one-to-watch.
Good Time Jonny has been performing well in Irish handicaps but didn’t impress at Cheltenham in November.
There is plenty to like about Priory Park who runs off a low-weight and is attempting a hat-trick having recorded two impressive wins in competitive handicaps in recent months.
Rightplacerightime carries 10st but didn’t impress when well-backed at Haydock on his last outing.
However, he is likely to perform better here and could feature at the finish.
Unexpected Depth could have too much to do to reverse form with some of his rivals, carrying 11st 12lbs here.
A Great View has been consistently placing in similar contests, whilst Futurum Regem’s form reads well and jockey Eoin Walsh claims 5lbs.
Aldo The Apache beat A Great View at Naas in November, and has three wins to his name since debut last March.
Maze Runner has been in poor form of late, but won at this meeting last year at a big price of 40/1 off a low-weight.
The Jam Man benefits from having 7lbs taken off his 11st 11lbs weight, and gave a gallant performance at Warwick last month, finishing second behind Sporting John.
He did finish behind A Great View in December, giving his opponent 18lbs whilst 9lbs separate them here.
Top Moon has been largely inconsistent this season, but has each-way claims if running to his best.
The Little Yank is a huge price at 100/1 but has an entwined form line with short-priced Good Time Jonny, with both beating Mars Harper in the past six months.
The Little Yank beat Mars Harper by eight-and-a-half-lengths, giving him 5lbs, at Sligo in August, albeit over a much shorter trip.
Mars Harper was subsequently beaten two-lengths by Good Time Jonny receiving 1lbs over 2m4f in December.
It’s a given that these are very different races and at varying points of the season, and The Little Yank could be well beaten as his price suggests, but the difference between the two in the market is astronomical.
Although The Little Yank has much to do to be competitive here, the step up in trip could help and Liam Quinlan claims 5lbs to give him a weight of 10st 1lb to carry on the day.
Davy Russell rides course and distance winner Dallas Des Pictons who finished ahead of a few of his rivals and Mars Harper in November.
At a big price, he is another who could run into the places.
Dark Voyager is the outsider of the Mullins runners, attempting the trip for the second time having been pulled up here in December.
Our selection: Priory Park 15/2
Dallas Des Pictons 33/1 (EW – 7 places)
The Little Yank 100/1 (EW – 7 places)
The showpiece comes at 3:15 in the form of the Irish Gold Cup.
Frodon travels over from England, with Paul Nicholls hoping to win his second Irish Gold Cup as a trainer, having won with Grand-National hero Neptune Collonges in 2009.
Last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo once again opposes the 2020 King George winner, having been beaten 5 lengths by him at Down Royal in the Champion Chase in October.
Leading trainer in the race, Willie Mullins, has won the contest eleven times, most notably with four-time winner Florida Pearl.
Last year’s winner Kemboy is the shortest-priced of the Mullins entries, with Asterion Forlonge and Janidil also candidates, whilst Cilaos Emery is the outsider of the field at a big price.
Gordon Elliott saddles Delta Work and Conflated.
Frodon is unlikely to have it all his way here, as the front-runner could face competition for the lead, with Kemboy another who enjoys being prominent and Delta Work, wearing cheekpieces, could well go forward early on.
But with those three runners having their own battle, they could set the race up for Minella Indo, who will be looking to revitalise his campaign for back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cup glory with a win here.
Asterion Forlonge has made mistakes on his last two outings, unseating his rider when travelling well at Punchestown in December, before falling at the last in the King George.
Despite being clearly talented, he is relatively unexposed over the trip and there could well be more reliable options in the field.
Janidil finished behind Kemboy on his last outing in a hotly contested Savills Chase at Leopardstown in which Delta Work also appeared but made no impression.
Neither Conflated or Cilaos Emery are guaranteed to enjoy the trip and seem to have it all to do.
Our selection: The top three in the market appear extremely difficult to split, with plenty to like about Frodon, Kemboy defending his crown, and the class Minella Indo possesses.
Kemboy 3/1 will be tough to beat around Leopardstown, but we’re backing Frodon 10/3 to run off with the prize from the front.
There is plenty of action to enjoy on Sunday in all races, in particular the 1:20 Novice Chase, in which Galopin Des Champs makes his second start over fences having massively impressed on his debut over the larger obstacles.
Master McShee, our each-way selection at 25/1 on his third-placed finish behind Bob Olinger at Gowran Park in November, takes his chance for Paddy Corkery, aiming to continue their fairytale story.
The Dublin Chase at 1:50 sees the return of Chacun Pour Soi, with Greeneteen and Captain Guinness and Dunvegan opposing.
Chacun Pour Soi was well-beaten by Greeneteen in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, with Captain Guinness finishing in third, but he didn’t run his race there and could well be in better shape following that run.
A competitive Handicap Chase comes at 2:25 with Mullins’ Blackbow heading the market ahead of The Shunter and Max Flamingo, among others.
Fakir D’alene has been in good form for Gordon Elliott, whilst last year’s Aintree Grand National winner Minella Times runs off top-weight for Henry De Bromhead.
Annamix appears to be a big price at 25/1, and could be one to watch.
A small but select field goes to post in the Irish Champion Hurdle at 3:00, with the seemingly invincible Honeysuckle a strong odds-on favourite.
She appears to be unbeatable, but there is plenty of quality in behind, in the form of Zanahiyr, Saint Roi and mares Echoes In Rain and Heaven Help Us.
Sir Gerhard will be well-backed in the 3:35 Novice Hurdle, whilst stablemate El Fabiolo also appears.
Statuaire, bidding for a four-timer, will have it all to do to overturn the favourite, but could go off at a decent each-way price.
KM
THE CONDITIONAL 
One thought on “Saturday’s Selections from Leopardstown & Sandown (05/02/22)”