Day Two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown has been described as 'the big day of the weekend.'
Kevin Doyle sat down with Paul Townend and Nina Carberry to dissect Sunday's action and give some tips on who they expect to shine on the jumps.
It'll be an action-packed Sunday with eight of the fifteen races over the weekend set to take place. It all starts with The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle at 12:45 pm.
Townend will be hoping to gather a few winners over the weekend in the saddle. He joined Carberry in tipping some of the biggest races of day two of the Dublin Racing Festival.
Race: The Ladbrokes Novice Steeplechase (Grade 1)
Time: 1:20 pm
The Willie Mullins trained Galopin Des Champs is the pick, with Townend expected to ride him out on Sunday. "A potential superstar in Galopin Des Champs?" Doyle asked.
"You can't take anything away from what he done there at Christmas, it was breathtaking," Townend answered, referring to his impressive chasing debut in the Beginners Chase at Leopardstown.
"But it was a beginner's chase. It's a novice chase. They're not going to let me away and get in my own way in front either on Sunday."
"I obviously can't say much more because Paul obviously has been riding him on his back," Carberry added. "He's gonna have to be at his best now on Sunday so I'll be looking forward to it."
Race: The Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase (Grade 1)
Time: 1:50 pm
Kevin Doyle had a bone to pick with Paul Townend on this one. "Paul, one of your favourites, Chacun Pour Soi. Told me last year he was your cert for Cheltenham and looked it coming up to about a furlong out."
"If you stopped the race at the last, he was the winner!" Townend joked. "By the time we got to the line there was a few after passing us out and you only get paid at the line."
"He gives you the special feel that a special horse does. It's like what I would imagine sitting in a Ferrari is like. I'd love for everyone to be able to get that feeling because it's very very special."
Nina Carberry added an outside pick. "Captain Guinness you can't get away from him either. He's going to be there to run his race as well and he's probably an outsider that could run a big race."
Race: The Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
Time: 3 pm
There are several big names in this one. Townend is expected to be in the saddle on Appreciate It on Sunday who hasn't been ridden since Cheltenham last year.
"Obviously Appreciate It, if he turned up it would be great," Carberry said. "Zanahiyr - he wasn't touched off too far behind Charger the last day either so he looks like he's on the up as well."
Coming down to the wire - Carberry is backing Rachael Blackmore. "Honeysuckle is far above these I think. It'll be interesting to see how Appreciate It handles it."
Townend gave his two cents. "I'll be really looking forward to see if Appreciate It runs. I can't wait to have a crack at Honeysuckle on something of his caliber."
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