Morning all,
With two million Euros in prize money the Dublin Racing Festival goes from strength to strength. And, it was good to see this year’s meeting taking places in front of unrestricted crowds.The atmosphere they create just add to the sport.
It wasn’t all about Leopardstown though. The racing this side of the Irish Sea was of a high quality on Saturday. And, we saw exciting novice chasers La Homme Presse and Ahoy Senor both confirming they’re on course for the festival with comfortable successes at Sandown and Wetherby.
La Homme Presse continued to impress with his jumping and strength at the finish in winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown on Saturday. It wasn’t the strongest renewal of the race but the winner is very good prospect and won’t be disgraced in the Turners Novices' Chase at the festival. Connections will be hoping that Galopin De Champs goes for the longer race.
Ahoy Senor faced just three rivals in the Grade 2 Towton Novices Chase at Wetherby. Unlike last time at Kempton. He got into a good jumping rhythm out in front. He powered clear three out to give his rivals 5lb and good beating. He’s back on track for Cheltenham and which ever race he runs at Cheltenham. Trainer Lucinda Russell has got nice festival problem. Does Ahoy Senor go for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase or do they roll the dice and go for the Gold Cup with him.
Inside today’s main piece and tomorrows, I will be dissecting a great weekend of action at Leopardstown. Plus, there is a selection from this afternoon’s meeting at Fontwell.
Dublin Racing Festival – Day 1
Willie Mullins dominated the first day with four winners. Although it ended 4-1 in favour of Willie Mullins on Saturday. Gordon Elliott saddled the winner of Saturday’s big race the Irish Gold Cup courtesy of Conflated. Day one could easily have ended 3-2 for Mullins. As the Gordon Elliott trained mare Riviere D'etel made a bad mistake at the last which likely cost her the Irish Arkle Novice Chase.
Conflated’s success came as a surprise to many pundits. Although it wouldn’t have come as a shock to readers of this column. In Wednesday’s race preview I said the 33/1 available on his chance was too big. Indeed, the evening before he was even bigger with Bet365 offering 50/1 about his chance to the delight of Victor Value subscribers.
Those were the main headlines for the Saturday card. Let’s dig a bit deeper in to the four Grade 1’s.
Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff” Nov Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 6f
Willie Mullins took the first with Minella Cocooner. Not the trainers first string the 6-year-old, racing in the first-time hood, got a superb front running ride from Danny Mullins. Jumping well, the winner got the run of the race out in front but he’s improving with racing and will have a great chance in whatever race the trainer decides he will run in at Cheltenham.
If the market is any guide, he will be stepping up to 3m in the Albert Bartlett. However, he doesn’t lack pace and you would think he would also have a great chance, if he was dropped back in distance to the Ballymore.
Runner-up Minella Crooner had won over 3m at Punchestown on his previous start. The drop back in trip probably wasn’t in his favour. Held up, he was slightly outpaced two out when the winner quickened up, but he kept on well to finish 2 ¾ length behind the winner. He does need to jump with more fluency if he’s to win an Albert Bartlett but the longer distance will be ideal for this improving 6-year-old.
Racing TV “12 Euros Per Month This Weekend Only” Spring Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m
After last week’s stunning Cheltenham Trial’s success by Pied Piper. We saw an equally impressive win here by the Willie Mullins trained Vauban.
Vauban had been beaten just ½ length by Pied Piper on his hurdle debut at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve. He paid a handsome compliment to that one here.
A Listed winner on the flat when trained in France. He produced an excellent turn of foot to settle the race between the final two hurdles. Going clear on the run he comfortably held off Pied Piper’s stablemate Fil Dor. The runner-up had won his three starts over hurdles and had experience edge but was made to look one paced here.
Back in third was another Mullins’ runner in Il Etait Temps. Coming from of the pace he did best of those held up. He was having his first start since switching to Mullins’ yard. It was cracking effort given he was also making his hurdle debut in hot race. He will surely go on to better things.
The winner jumped nicely and has plenty of flat pace. He’s on course for a rematch with Pied Piper in the Triumph Hurdle. If he settles, was a shade keen in the early stage, his turn of foot could be crucial.
Patrick Ward & Co Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1) – 2m 1f
Ferny Hollow is out for the season because of an injury but Willie Mullins has a strong hand in the 2m novice chase division. Indeed, he has three of the six declared runners: Blue Lord, Haut En Couleurs, Saint Sam.
It was Blue Lord who made it 3-3 over fences with workmanlike success and give the trainer a third win on the day. A useful novice hurdler last season. He’s a much better chaser and his jumping here was sound. However, he was likely a fortunate winner though. The 2/1 favourite Riviere D’etel had jumped even better than the winner. In the lead coming to the last she made a bad mistake there handed the initiative to the winner.
Blue Lord drifted to the left on the run in which meant the runner-up had to switch. Fair play to the mare she ran on gamely to get within a neck of the winner who was needing the line.
Saint Sam set out to make the race a genuine test, setting a good gallop. He was headed two out but stayed on to hold third place. He’s only had one start over fences and is capable of better. However, he may need a step up to 2m 4f if he’s to win a Grade 1 chase.
The other Mullins runner Haut En Couleurs was well fancied in the pre-race betting, returned 100/30. Impressive when winning on his chase debut over C&D. The 5-year-old fell at the third so couldn’t show what he’s capable of.
Blue Lord probably deserves to head the betting for the next month’s Arkle. However, it will be interesting to see if the runner-up re-opposes him Cheltenham or goes to the Mares’ Chase. She will be 2lb worse off with the winner in the Arkle.
Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (Grade 1) – 3m
Conflated was given a beautiful ride by Davy Russell. I don’t think there’s a better big race jockey around now than Russell. Tracking leaders Frodon and Kemboy, he had the pace to lay up with the front pair.
In truth they didn’t’ go that quick up front and none got into contention from behind. A good jump three from home saw the winner head Frodon, who quickly folded. Russell kicked for home on the winner in the straight and it was race winning move. Despite a slight mistake at the last he still ran out a comfortable 6 ½ length from Minella Indo in second.
Minella Indo was never nearer than at the finish. A slowly run, three miles around here doesn’t play to his strengths. However, given he’s a horse who seems at his best in the spring and goes well at the Cheltenham Festival form figures 121. This was an excellent prep for his bid for a second Gold Cup success.
Janidil was ridden to get into the places and so it was it was good ride from Mark Walsh to finish third. In taking advantage of plenty of his rivals underperforming. His stamina for a strongly run 3m wasn’t proven here and I think he’s better over shorter.
Plenty of disappointing efforts to report: Frodon was a beaten horse three out. Last year’s winner Kemboy’s jumping lacked fluency and he put in a rare poor run at his favourite venue.
Asterion Forlonge was backed into favouritism. He managed to get around this time after two non completions. However, it was a flat effort compared to the way he had travelled in the King George VI Chase.
Delta Work a previous winner of the race continues to regress and even the first time cheekpieces had no effect.
A Genuine Gold Cup Contender?
Conflated’s win certainly muddied the Gold Cup picture. The bookies like punters are divided. He’s a best priced 12/1 with Bet365 but as low as 7/1 with Paddy Power.
Is the winner genuine Gold Cup contender?
Well the 8-year-old is now getting jumping together and very much an improving chaser. He's Grade 1 winner after that success and deserves to take his place in the Gold Cup. Ok. plenty of his rivals underperformed on Saturday. It also wasn’t a genuine test of stamina at 3m and he has two extra furlongs to go in a Gold Cup. Will he stay? I think he might and given its open looking year and you can’t dismiss his claims.
A Facile Success
Finally, a few words on one of the most impressive bumper winners in years Facile Vega. The 5-year-old made it 2-2 in bumpers with an explosive display in the concluding race. He accelerated clear of what looked a high-quality field a furlong out. In the process making some good horses look very slow in winning by a long looking 12 lengths. The runner-up Sandor Clegane pulled eight lengths clear of the rest and looks a horse who can win races when he goes over hurdles.
The winner is bred for the job being a son of that great race mare Quevega and has the size and now the form to go to the very top. He displaced American Mike at the head of the ante post betting for the Cheltenham Bumper. He will face the Gordon Elliott trained runner there and his own stablemate Redemption Day who winning jockey Patrick Mullins gave a good mention to after the race.
The three of them are well clear of the rest of their rivals in the betting for the Cheltenham race. The other pair will have to be very good horses to beat Facile Vega, if he’s in the same form next month.
In tomorrow’s column I will be looking back at Sunday’s Grade 1’s at Leopardstown. Plus, there’s likely to be an eyecatcher or two from the Weekend's action.
Monday Racing
It’s bit like after the Lord Mayor’s Show this week with plenty of mediocre sport. There are just three meetings on Monday jump fixtures at Carlisle and Fontwell. Plus, a teatime all-weather card at Wolverhampton. I’m off to Fontwell for today’s selection.
Fontwell
4:10 – Lucy Wadham is 2-2 with her runners in the past two weeks and must have a good chance of another winner here with Brandisova. The 6-year-old has shown ability over hurdles and put in a career best when an 8 ½ lengths 2nd of 8 to Love Envoi in mares’ novice hurdle at Warwick last time. She’s bred to be a chaser and its interesting to see connections opt to make her handicap debut over the larger obstacles.
Selection: Brandisova.
Good luck with your Monday bets.
John