It’s only three weeks till the Leopardstown Racing Festival and the big question is will us racing fans get to witness some big names up against one another again before Cheltenham.
The Dublin Festival which will be run over the 1st and 2nd February has no fewer than eight Grade 1 races. The very powerful yard of Willie Mullins has many of the market principles but with great prize money up for grabs different connections will be more than happy to race against their stablemates.
First race we will look at is the 2.55pm Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase which is run over 2m 1f. Heading the entries is Majborough trained by Willie Mullins for JP McManus, this 5yo won his debut over the larger obstacles beating Tullyhill by 6 ½ lengths making all the running and when he faced challenges he stayed on after he last when Mark Walsh gave him a nudge. This gelding won the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last season so a tilt at the Arkle looks to be his target further down the line.
The next two entries we will look at are Ile Atlantique trained by Mullins and Inthepocket trained by Henry De Bromhead, the two locked horns last time out in the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase at Naas where the later came off third best, getting beat 12 lengths to Ile Atlantique. The Tony Bloom owned 7yo made virtually all the running racing wide and when facing challenges two out was shaken up and drew clear. He looked a natural for the larger obstacles so more than deserves to take on a Grade 1 now.
Inthepocket was a Grade 1 winning Novice Hurdler after taking a race at the Grand National meeting at Aintree last season but after taking a keen hold he was unable to sustain his challenge against Ile Atlantique so that’s something he will need to brush up on if he is to reverse the form.
Ante Post Betting for this contest: Majborough 8/11, Ile Atlantique 3/1, Inthepocket 7/1, Touch Me Not 7/1 and 8/1 bar.
Another Grade 1 we will now look at is the 3.30pm Irish Gold Cup run over 3m 1/2f where Willie Mullins had the top three entries. Galopin Des Champs got beat first time out this season by Fact to File but that was over an inadequate distance (2m 3f). The two reopposed over three miles in the Savills Chase, where Galopin Des Champs was sent off an odds on favourite with non UK casinos and made all, beating Fact To File by 7 ½ lengths going away.
Fact To File was a Novice last season so this 8yo has an age advantage over the two time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs who will look to take the Irish version before trying to clutch a third Gold Cup in March time.
Fact to File has proven his ability to stay the three mile trip winning the Brown Advisory Novice Chase at Cheltenham last season barely coming off the bridle and jumping with fluency.
We can’t not talk about Embassy Gardens who is another trained by Willie Mullins. This 9yo went off joint favourite with gambling sites that take credit cards and won well in the Grade 3 Chase at Tramore on New Years Day making all the running on heavy ground, beating Montys Star by five lengths. He ran over the gruelling 4 mile contest at Cheltenham last season so you can see him making the running and making it a test of stamina for the two other stablemates.
Betting for this contest: Galopin Des Champs 8/11, Fact To File 10/3, Embassy Gardens 7/1, Montys Star 8/1 and 10/1 bar.
Good luck with your selections and please remember to gamble responsibly.
