All eyes are drawn to Ireland over the weekend with Leopardstown racecourse hosting the Dublin Racing Festival.
A yielding to soft track provides perfect conditions for the eight Group 1 features on offer and champion trainer Willie Mullins is odds-on to dominate once again after collecting all eight last season.
Willie Mullins is odds-on to dominate once again (Pic – Leopardstown Racecourse on FB)
The opener on Saturday is an eleven runner Gr1 Novice Hurdle (15h15) where Mullins saddles the top four in the market.
Paul Townend has elected to ride Final Demand, and the hint should be taken. A very easy winner of a Limerick maiden over Christmas with the placed horses subsequently boosting the form, winning well. Stable-mate Supersundae ran on nicely last time out behind the high-class The Yellow Clay in a Group 1 at Naas. He looks the danger.
The JP McManus owned Majborough has always been highly regarded by Mullins and looks his Arkle contender for Cheltenham. He is one of six in the Gr1 Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (16h55) and is selected to catch his front-running stable companion Ile Atlantique on the run to the line.
Day 1’s highlight looks a rematch between stablemates Galopin Des Champs and Fact To File in the Gr1 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (17h30).
Ten compete over an extended three miles, but these two stars are well clear on official ratings. Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs defends his crown here, and on a course he loves, will be hard to catch.
Willie Mullins is enjoying a 31% winning strike rate over the last fortnight and that could increase looking at his runners on Sunday.
The top three in the market in the Gr1 Ladbrokes Novice Chase (15h10) all hail from the Closutton yard. Paul Townend rides last season’s star hurdler Ballyburn. Second to Sir Gino at Kempton on Boxing Day, he will enjoy this step up in trip and this course winner should prove hard to beat. Stable companion Impaire Et Passe has won both his chasing starts this season and provides strong backup for the stable.
Gaelic Warrior renews his rivalry with the Joseph O’Brien trained Solness in the Gr1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (16h10). Course and distance winners Marine Nationale and El Fabiolo are also in the mix, but with Townend now on board, Gaelic Warrior is the selection.
The final Group 1 on the weekend is the Irish Champion Hurdle (17h20). Mullins saddles four of the six runners with defending champ State Man and star mare Lossiemouth the standouts.
State Man has been turned over on both starts this season, but this twelve-time winner could have too much speed at this track. Interestingly, Townend has stayed loyal with him.
