Those who can’t get enough of their racing Festival’s will no doubt be delighted we have a brand new offering this year with the advent of the two day Dublin Racing Festival. Held at the top class track of Leopardstown, and with no fewer than seven Grade 1 affairs on offer, there is certainly plenty to whet the appetite. Here we pick out our best bets from what looks to be a cracking opening day.
1:10 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle
Dortmund Park didn’t make the most encouraging of starts following his switch to the Gordon Elliott yard from France, finishing a well beaten sixth in a two mile maiden hurdle contest at Navan. He has certainly thrived since though, seeming to improve markedly for successive steps up in trip on his two most recent starts. The son of Great Pretender’s latest outing resulted in a 16 length demolition job at Thurles and results in him being thrust into deeper Grade 1 waters here. We were hugely taken by the manner in which he travelled throughout that Thurles contest, putting him straight into the notebook as a horse to follow for the remainder of the campaign. Quite how high up the ladder this strapping five year old will ultimately climb remains to be seen, but we fancy him to take this.
Tip: Dortmund Park to win at 2/1 with Stan James
3:30 BHP Irish Champion Hurdle
With eight runners set to go to post, and doubts about two of the first three in the market, with favourite Faugheen being pulled up last time, and Defi Du Seuil disappointing massively at Ascot, the feature race of the day looks ideal for an each way punt.
Supasundae looks better over further these days, Jezki appears to be a fading force, Identity Thief hasn’t been sighted at the track in over ten months and we aren’t convinced by the strength of the four year old form from last year, which rules out Bapaume. Melon would be the obvious choice in the first time headgear, but at more than double his price, the one who looks worth an each way interest is Mick Jazz. Winner of the Ryanair Hurdle in which Faugheen flopped last time, he seems best suited by a strong pace at this trip which he will surely get here and is the value call at the prices.
Tip: Mick Jazz each way at 12/1 with Ladbrokes
4:40 Goffs Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race
We are hoping Gordon Elliott will be rattling in the winners on the opening day, as we will be backing his representative, Rapid Escape, to land the concluding bumper. Elliott knows a good horse when he sees one, and has spoken in nothing but glowing terms about this chestnut almost since day one. Given what we have witnessed at the track to date, it’s hard to argue with the master handlers assertion that this is “a very good horse”.
No doubt bigger things await over hurdles and fences for this one down the line, but he is nevertheless a perfect three from three in this sphere this season and simply laughed at the opposition in a Listed contest at Navan last time out. He looks a smart performer in the making and worth keeping onside. The presence of seven other last time out winners in the line-up should help to hold up his price a bit.
Tip: Rapid Escape to win at SP