Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m previewing this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival.
Weekend Preview: Dublin Racing Festival and More
It’s a thrilling weekend for punters as the Dublin Racing Festival kicks off on Saturday. Over two days at Leopardstown, we’ll see some of the finest Irish equine talent on display, with four Grade 1 contests on Saturday alone, building towards the feature Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.30), where Galopin Des Champs bids for a hat-trick.
Here’s what to look out for on Saturday:
Irish Arkle (2.55): Can Majborough set up a Cheltenham Arkle clash with Sir Gino?
Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle (1.50): Ireland's Triumph Hurdle favourite could emerge here.
2m6f Novice Hurdle (1.20): Final Demand, a Turners or Albert Bartlett contender, leads the market.
There’s been plenty of rain at Leopardstown in recent days, which has eased the ground significantly. Thankfully, this means the track won’t require any watering. These natural conditions should ensure a fair playing field for all runners across the two days, adding another layer of excitement to an already stellar weekend of racing.
British Action: Sandown and Musselburgh
Over in Britain, Sandown stages the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2.35), a race that has produced winners like L’Homme Presse and Gerri Colombe in recent years.
However, the weather may cause disruptions. Heavy rain on Sunday left parts of Sandown’s hurdles track waterlogged. A decision on whether to switch to an all-chase card will be made Thursday morning.
You might be wondering why Sandown's hurdle course becomes so testing after rain these days. The answer seems simple: the hurdle track and Sandown’s flat track share the same ground. The Clerk of the Course applies significant watering in the spring and summer to maintain the flat track, leaving the hurdle track struggling to cope during the winter months.
Meanwhile, Musselburgh hosts the Scottish Cheltenham Trials Meeting, with ITV Racing set to cover five races from both Sandown and three from Musselburgh on Saturday.
Sunday Highlights
Sunday promises more top-level action, with the spotlight firmly on day two of Leopardstown’s festival. The Irish Champion Hurdle (3.20) is shaping up to be a blockbuster, with stablemates Lossiemouth and State Man set to clash.
Other Grade 1 races on Sunday include:
2m5½f Novice Chase (1.10)
2m Novice Hurdle (1.40)
Dublin Chase (2.10): Could we see Marine Nationale, Gaelic Warrior, and Solness face off again?
In Britain, Musselburgh’s Edinburgh National (2.25) takes centre stage. ITV Racing is covering four races from Musselburgh and is expected to include several races from Leopardstown in their Sunday coverage, ensuring a feast of top-class action.
Spotlight on the Dublin Racing Festival
Since its inception in 2018, the Dublin Racing Festival has become a highlight of the Irish racing calendar, bringing together the best talent for two days of thrilling competition. Unsurprisingly, Willie Mullins has dominated the event, winning an impressive 47 of the 105 races run so far.
Of the 61 Grade 1 races held at the Dublin Racing Festival since its inception, Willie Mullins has won a staggering 34, including all eight Grade 1 contests last year. If you’re looking for winners at the DRF, you could do worse than to back Mullins-trained favourites in Grade 1 races—especially those who won last time out and are course winners.
Beyond Mullins, some other trainers have shown notable profitability at the festival. According to Horseracebase, Stuart Crawford, Charles Byrnes, Liz Doyle, and Joseph O’Brien rank among the most profitable handlers at the DRF.
Interestingly, all seven of Joseph O'Brien’s festival winners had run at Leopardstown on their previous start. His record stands at 7 winners from 33 runners (21%) with an impressive profit of +62.22 and an A/E (Actual/Expected) figure of 1.98. Additionally, 42% of his runners placed (+86.01).
That said, it’s worth noting his qualifiers haven’t hit the target in the past two festivals, going 0-4 with just one placed effort. Still, his runners are always worth monitoring, particularly those that fit this profile.
In addition to the eight Grade 1s, punters can look forward to several competitive big-field handicaps across the two days. With the quality of racing on offer, it’s no surprise the bookmakers have already priced up most of the weekend’s action.
I’m digging into the DRF races now, and if you’re after weekend previews and picks, you can find them here.
In Thursday's column I'm looking at information overload.
Good luck with your Wednesday bets.
John