STAR RACING PREVIEW Sun: Dublin Racing Festival

Yesterday’s action at the Dublin Racing Festival was excellent, with Galopin Des Champs electrifying the atmosphere and putting himself into the history books. Our selections yesterday mainly disappointed but there’s plenty to get stuck into today, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.  

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1.10pm Leopardstown – Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m5½f (2m5f107y)

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One of the best contests of the weekend and one of the best novice chases of the season so far. In hindsight, Ballyburn was never going to keep up with Sir Gino around Kempton over 2 miles and he didn’t disgrace himself at all there, although this is not likely to be a cakewalk against the high-class Impaire Et Passe, Champ Kiely, and Croke Park, all of whom have plenty to recommend them.

It would be no surprise if he was to prove best today but 4/7 is too short against a well stocked field and it would be no surprise if Impaire Et Passe, who impressed at Limerick over Christmas with a slick display of jumping in the Faugheen novice chase, could throw down a serious challenge. After being stepped up in trip he found his best form over hurdles to win the Aintree Hurdle and Select Hurdle last spring and he’s looked just as good over fences.

There’s clearly a huge engine with Champ Kiely, who was extremely impressive at Fairyhouse after returning from 21 months off. He impressed with his jumping there and looks a better chaser than hurdler, although he’ll need to be as he was no match for Impaire Et Passe twice over hurdles. Croke Park looks overpriced as well, having shown guts to land the Drinmore and the staying novice chase here over Christmas, and if allowed to get his own way in front he could take some passing in what should be a corker.

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1.40 Leopardstown – Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m

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Considering what he did wrong over Christmas on his hurdling debut, backing Kopek Des Bordes requires some faith – he can’t win this if he jumps as badly as he did on his hurdling debut – but considering how awfully he jumped, his Leoaprdstown hurdling debut was extremely impressive and the fact he had impressive subsequent winner Kawaboomga and previous bumper winner Whinney Hill held behind him speaks volumes about his engine. With that experience under his belt, plenty of schooling since and a better sight of his obstacles, he could step forward significantly and will be hard to beat with a clean round here and he’s of serious interest for Cheltenham too.

Kaid d’Authie defied bad stable vibes and a drift to win over 2m4f here at Christmas, travelling strongly before finding plenty to beat the well-regarded Koktail Divin, with the second and third in a decent Naas novice hurdle nine lengths behind. He’s the main threat, with Bleu De Vassy respected for all that he had no answer at all to Romeo Coolio over Christmas (Eastern Legend well behind).

Redemption Day was a disappointment over Christmas when failing to settle and jump, whilst Karniquet, Karafon, and Sea of Sands have something to prove after Christmas disappointments. Good And Clever has run two lovely races over hurdles so far and would be suited by a stamina test, having shaped as if further would suit when third in the Formby at Christmas.

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2.10 Leopardstown – Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m1f

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There has been a big move for El Fabiolo against Gaelic Warrior, with strong cases possible for both. Their ability is obvious but El Fabiolo jumped terribly when last seen and hasn’t been the easiest to train whilst Gaelic Warrior’s Leopardstown record doesn’t match his form elsewhere. Marine Nationale could improve still but he may have found his level over fences (same comments apply to Quilixios) and it’s hard to imagine Danny Mullins getting the same tactical advantage that JJ Slevin got aboard Soleness today compared to Christmas.

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2.45 Leopardstown – O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (5yo+) 2m5½f (2m5f107y)

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Search For Glory has quickly made up into a better chaser than hurdler and 144 looks fair considering his impressive chasing debut and his solid efforts at Graded level since. He makes most appeal and a bold bid should be in the offing.

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3.20 Leopardstown – Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) 2m

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A fascinating and much-anticipated clash between two of the best 2-mile hurdlers in the game, both of whom weren’t at their best over Christmas. Lossiemouth gets the vote on the basis that she can reach new heights, whilst State Man – the choice of Pail Townend and attempting to win the race for the third successive year – has reached his level best after a long and successful career of which any horse can be proud.

If at his best he has the edge on ratings, but there’s a feeling that Lossiemouth hasn’t shown her very best yet and this promises to suit more than the Christmas Hurdle, when she was always a step behind having raced too calmly at a point where many of her stablemates weren’t putting their best foot forward. This should suit her much better with a strong pace likely presuming that Daddy Long Legs goes forward, and he’s the pick of the pair today.

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4.25 Leopardstown – Coolmore N.H. Sires Luxembourg Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) (4-7yo) 2m

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This looks to be a really good race on paper and the answer could be Amen Kate, whose impressive seven and a half length win over Carrigmoornasperuce was boosted by two taking wins for Declan Queally’s mare, who has a chance herself today. If ready to rock today, she will take all the beating.

Future Prospect left a huge visual impression when winning at Fairyhouse by nine lengths on her debut and has obvious claims here along with Bambino Fever, who was impressive for all her form at Punchestown isn’t working out overly strongly.

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Best of the rest

The opener is always fiendishly competitive. The better the ground rides, the better the chance for Queen’s Gamble and Straight Home, the market leaders. This is clearly the day for Savante and she’s weighted to go close but Qualimita would make the most appeal if pushed for a selection. The market will be informative in the 3.55, where there’s clearly high confidence behind McLaurey and Brave Troop, but also the fascinating Storm Heart

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RECOMMENDED BETS
BACK Impaire Et Passe in the 1.10 at Leopardstown 1pt win at 11/4 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Kopek Des Bordes in the 1.45 at Leopardstown 3pts win at 4/6 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Search For Glory in the 2.45 at Leopardstown 1pt win at 11/2 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Lossiemouth in the 3.20 at Leopardstown 3pts win at 4/5 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Amen Kate in the 4.25 at Leopardstown 2 pts win at 3/1 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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PROFIT/LOSS (FEB 2025): -4.34 POINTS

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