Leopardstown racecourse hosts the Dublin Racing Festival over the weekend.
Sunny, windy weather is forecast, which should result in the track drying slightly from the current soft ground, on Friday.
Willie Mullins has become the dominant force at this event over the past decade and the champion trainer has assembled another formidable team this weekend.
Mullins, whose current winning strike-rate over past fortnight is an incredible 45 per cent, saddles the favourite in seven of the eight Group 1’s over the two days.
Willie Mullins is in a rich vein of form (Pic – Supplied)
The opener on Saturday is the Gr1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (15h20) and Mullins saddles four of the six runners. Predators Gold with Paul Townend on board has been supported into favourite and should oblige with the mare Jetara, getting 7lbs from the boys, fancied to follow him home.
Next up at 15h50 is the McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle. Eleven go to the 2-mile start and Mullins holds a strong hand. Storm Heart looked superb on his debut over Christmas and Paul Townend sides with him. Highly regarded by the trainer, he is selected from another unexposed stable-companion Highwind, the mount of Rachael Blackmore.
Marine Nationale, last season’s Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, is the only Group 1 favourite not trained at Closutton. The Barry Connell trained seven-year-old is unbeaten and was so impressive on his chasing debut here over Christmas. He should take this, the Gr1 Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (16h25) on his way to Cheltenham. The grey Il Etait Temps, currently at 14/1 is a good play for the exacta.
Finally on Saturday, the brilliant Galopin Des Champs defends his crown in the Gr1 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase (17h35). Only three oppose, although they include Fastorslow who had the favourite’s measure the last twice they met. A great contest between these two top-rated three-mile chasers, but if Galopin repeats his Savills Chase effort, he should be too good.
On Sunday, Mullins saddles the top three in the betting (five runners) in the Gr1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase (15h10). Gaelic Warrior was re-routed from Saturday’s Arkle to run here instead and Townend takes the ride. Second favourite Fact To File, owned by JP McManus gets the owner’s retained rider Mark Walsh in the irons, whilst the Cheveley Park owned Grangeclare West is no back number. Patrick Mullins rides this massive horse, and they could cause the upset at around 6/1 in the betting.
El Fabiolo, unbeaten in five steeplechases, takes on four rivals in the Gr1 Ladbrokes Champion Chase (16h10). Paul Townend retains the ride, and last season’s Irish Arkle winner should be too good for the smart mare Dinoblue who should finish second.
State Man, only ever beaten by Constitution Hill in his last ten starts, is a short-priced favourite to give Mullins and Townend another Group 1 victory in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at 16h45. His top-class stable-companion Impaire Et Passe should follow him home again.
