The highlight of the Irish national hunt calendar takes centre stage this weekend as some Irish jump racing superstars put their Cheltenham Festival credentials on the line at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Two days, eight Grace 1s, and unmissable action lie ahead, but we all need to know who will win on day one of the DRF.
The novice hurdlers are first up at 1:15 in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle, and Willie Mullins looks to have a stranglehold on proceedings with the top four in the betting all trained by the master of Closutton.
Supersundae comes in here with the best form after chasing home The Yellow Clay in the Grade 1 Lawlors Of Naas, but he may have to settle for the same position behind the exciting FINAL DEMAND.
Having been bought for six figures after his point-to-point win, this son of Walk In The Park put on a display that made everyone stand up and take notice of him on his hurdling debut.
The form has already been boosted, with the well-beaten second and third on the day going on to win next time out.
There should be so much more to come from Final Demand, and he can get the packed stands at Leopardstown off to a flying start.
It may be a case of Deja Vu in the 1:50 as Willie Mullins and Paul Townend team again, but this time with the exciting SAINTE LUCIE.
28 December 2024; Trainer Willie Mullins after sending Galopin Des Champs out to win the Savills Steeplechase (Grade 1) 5-y-o plus on day three of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Grey Pretender, who has produced Grade 1 winning mares Lossiemouth and Benie Des Dieux, may have another superstar mare to add to his list with Sainte Lucie.
You could not but have been taken at how Sainte Lucie got the job done on debut at a time when Willie Mullins's string were not running to their best.
The vibe at the time was that she was only ready to run at Punchestown, and if that was the case, then we may finally see the stand-out four-year-old in Ireland.
Hello Neighbour and Lady Vega Allen are respected on the back of the first and second over course and distance at the Christmas Festival but may be left in the wake of the next superstar mare.
I'll skip over the following two races and give you my selections at the end because how can we go any further without talking about the star attraction, GALOPIN DES CHAMPS!
The two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup hero is looking to make it three wins in a row in the Grade 1 Irish Gold Cup, and if the Savills Chase at Christmas was anything to go by, it is only a matter of making it around in one piece for this horse racing mega-star to lift the roof off Leopardstown.
The parade ring was ten deep after he won here at the Christmas Festival, so expect to see the same, if not more today, as his droves of fans send him off with a roar as he gets ready to try to become only the fifth horse to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups.
DRF Day One Tips
- 1:15 Final Demand 11/8
- 1:50 Sainte Lucie 15/8
- 2:25 Gaoth Chuil 12/1 (e/w)
- 2:55 Touch Me Not w/o Majborough 13/2
- 3:30 Galopin Des Champs 1/2
- 4:05 Facile Mode 8/1 (e/w)
- 4:35 Colcannon 9/1 (e/w)
