Ahead of an amazing weekend's racing and entertainment at the Dublin Racing Festival, we had our racing expert Ian O'Rourke give us four solid betting recommendations for this weekend's racing at Leopardstown. Spoiler alert - he's backing Faugheen)
The Leopardstown festival is timed to perfection. Six of the favourites across the two days are within the top 3 in the betting for graded Cheltenham races. The card is so good one could almost eat it and with seven Grade 1s in two days. With roughly six weeks until Cheltenham, the top stables can aim both at Leopardstown’s Grade 1s and those at Cheltenham. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliot look set to go to battle in most races. It seems like Mullins may be really targeting this festivals since the Closutton yard had a disappointing Christmas period.
SATURDAY
Tip 1: 2.20 Irish Arkle Chase - Petit Mouchoir (3/1)
Footpad heads the betting in a race that has been won recently by the likes of Douvan. Footpad didn’t touch a twig at Christmas and was imperious in winning the Racing Post Novice Chase. He is a worthy favourite but PETIT MOUCHOIR may just be the fly in the ointment. Both horses ran extremely well in last year’s Champion Hurdle with Petit Mouchoir finishing 3 lengths to the good. Their form ties in quite closely as they have both brushed aside Gordon Elliot’s Brelade with ease. The value bet is the De Bromhead trained 7-year-old, his higher rating over hurdles and his tactical speed should just shine through.
Tip 2: 3.30 Irish Champion Hurdle - Faugheen (11/10)
He’s back, the Nachine, the one that before his last run had mercilessly demolished Grade 1 fields with ease. Plain and simple, the race revolves around the wellbeing of the mighty FAUGHEEN. Many of the Mullins stable stars disappointed over Christmas such as Djakadam, Yorkhill and Min but none more so than the Ricci owned 10-year-old. The trainer doesn’t seem to have an excuse for the poor performance but if on song he will take this in his stride before taking on Buveur D’air at Cheltenham. Defi Du Seuil looked like a horse of some promise but has found the step up into the senior ranks too hard to take and it looks like it will be a Mullins 1-2 with Melon chasing home the Machine.
SUNDAY
Tip 3: 3.00 Flogas Novice Chase- Sutton Place (5/2)
The novice chasing talent on display looks of the highest calibre and therefore guarantees a thriller. Invitation Only who is close to the top of the betting has been very positively ridden in his last two races and looks like he has plenty under the bonnet. He is yet to be truly tested and if Any Second Now runs well on Saturday in the Arkle it may be very informative for this race. Monalee was a faller at Christmas when favourite and if Noel Fehily’s mount stays on his feet he will surely be in the reckoning. Although all of the horses mentioned look like top class performers in their own right the selection is SUTTON PLACE. The ‘word’ coming from the yard is that his form at home has made everyone stand up and take notice. His form is stacking up well with Kemboy, the horse who he defeated most recently winning well in a decent novice chase.
Tip 4: 4.10 Chanelle Pharma Steeplechase - Vieux Morvan (8/1)
This is a trappy affair with plenty of well fancied runners from the top stables. Harry Fry has decided to bring Hell’s Kitchen for a venture across the Irish Sea and this is only something he does when he feels he has a really live one. Polidam was poor when fancied in the Paddy Power last time out and judging by the market has been well backed to compensate his punters for his previous run. The selection is VIEUX MORVAN who on his first run on Irish soil failed to last home over 3 miles and with the drop back in distance may well be able to go and win from the front for the young maestro Joseph O’Brien.
