Dublin Horse Racing Festival Preview

This Saturday is the start of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown and in this article we will look at the main principles in the two novice hurdle races. 

The first being the opening race 1.20pm Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle over 2m 6f, heading the entries is Final Demand trained by the maestro Willie Mullins. This 6yo gelding won his sole start between the flags before making his NH debut at Limerick leading from 4 out winning in a canter by 15 lengths. We obviously don’t know how good this horse is just yet but he has a few entries at the Cheltenham festival so this race will be a good marker to which race he goes for come March. 

Willie Mullins has a few potential candidates for this contest the next being Supersundae, this 6yo gelding was second last time out in the two and a half mile Lawlor’s of Naas Grade 1 being between 8 lengths by The Yellow Clay who looks likely to drop back in distance at this meeting. After taking a keen hold he made headway 3 out but albeit making a mistake at the last he was no match for the winner. He will be stepping up in distance but prefers soft ground.

Another noticeable entry for Mullins is Sounds Victorious, this 6yo won a maiden hurdle on New Years Day at Fairyhouse, he was headed 2 out but railed and stayed on after the last to show the signs of an out and out stayer. He has an entry in the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham so it will be interesting to see how he fares in this race. 

Lastly for us to look at is another trained by Willie Mullins in Jasmin De Vaux, this 6yo gelding was a beaten favourite in the Grade 1 at Naas and has 14 lengths to make up on his stablemate Supersundae on the last run but this talented horse won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last season so it’s far too early to write him off just yet. 

This Grade 1 is dominated by the Irish Maestro Willie Mullins for which it will be a massive surprise if he doesn’t take home the prize.

Betting for this race (Antepost Rules Apply):
Non UK Licensed Casinos: Final Demand 13/8, Supersundae 7/2, Sounds Victorious 6/1, Jasmin De Vaux 8/1, The Yellow Clay 8/1  and its 12/1 bar.
American Betting Sites For UK Players: Final Demand 6/4, Supersundae 7/2, Sounds Victorious 13/2, Jasmin De Vaux 7/1, The Yellow Clay 8/1  and its 14/1 bar.

The second race of the meeting is the Juvenile Hurdle run over 2m, this race looks likely to massively cut up but we will look at the first three in the entries. Firstly is the Gavin Cromwell trained Hello Neighbour, this 4yo gelding had two runs on the flat for his trainer before making a transition to hurdles winning a Grade 2 Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown on Boxing Day when visibility was bad, he took a keen hold but led approaching the last beating Lady Vega Allen by a short head.

The latter who is trained by Willie Mullins is due to look to take her revenge in this contest, this 4yo filly was the third string of Mullin’s in that race but rocketed home to only just get beat. It was her first run for her new trainer after being bought from France so making her British debut in  Grade 2 shows the trainer thinks highly of her.

The Irish powerhouse Willie Mullins also has the Ricci owned Saint Lucie in this race, this 4yo filly won her maiden hurdle easily on New Years Eye and steps up to Graded Company here for the first time. She was purchased by the owner after being placed in a fillies hurdle at Auteuil. Like Willie’s other runner she will get the weight allowance being a filly so that will pay dividends, she also holds an entry in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham so will this be a stepping stone for her.

Betting for this race (Ante Post Rules Apply):
Gambling Sites That Take Credit Cards: Saint Lucie 13/5, Hello Neighbour 11/4, Lady Vega Allen 11/4 and its 12/1 bar.  
Gambling Sites Not on Gamban: Saint Lucie 5/2, Hello Neighbour 3/1, Lady Vega Allen 3/1 and its 12/1 bar.  

We wish you the best of luck at the Dublin Racing Festival and please remember to gamble responsibly.