As I put pen to paper, or in this case, fingers to keypad, a light mist hangs over county Limerick. Not often would the natives of Foxrock in Dublin be jealous of their Limerick “Culchie” counterparts, but maybe this week is an exception? As we sit on the cusp of what is for all intents and purposes the highlight of the Irish National Hunt season, all eyes will be on the going report from Leopardstown over the next few days. With eight Grade 1s, two Grade 2s and some fascinating handicaps on the two-day card, the one wish among all race goers is that we will not have a smatter of non-runners due to the ground. With no rain on the horizon and an incredibly dry winter in our rear-view mirror, the taps will be on full pressure, one would imagine, at the South County Dublin establishment. Last year’s Dublin Racing Festival was the springboard for the Irish Domination at Cheltenham and hopefully with a full house in attendance, Guinness tapped, and live music booked, hopefully we can unearth some future stars and head to Cheltenham in expectation, rather than hope once more.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the feature races over the weekend. At the time of writing, we are not certain what will run with final declarations Thursday and Friday. Alas, we will do our best to find some value and hopefully declarations will work in our favour.
Saturday
On Saturday we kick off action with the Nathanial Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (G1). This is sure to clear the blurry image that is the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in a few weeks’ time, with some big reputations on the line. Gordon Elliot’s Hollow Games heads the market at a general 9/4. Following on from his run in the Lawlor’s of Naas behind stablemate and the fellow Bective Stud prodigy Ginto, he is entitled to take his chance. Henry De Bromhead is double handed with the Robcour pair of Journey With Me and Grand Jury, both of which, at their best are very much in the equation but given the cloud that hangs over the Waterford yard over the past few months, it may serve you well not to part with too much hard-earned cash in this G1. A speculative nod is given to the Willie Mullins trained Whatdeawant at 4/1. His finishing effort in the aforementioned Lawlor’s of Naas left a lot to be desired but I suspect that may not have been his true running and if he can leave that behind him, he could just be the each way answer to a tricky opener.
Next up is the Spring Juvenile Hurdle (G1). Gordon Elliott heads the market here with Fil Dor and after the bloodless display by stable mate Pied Piper on Saturday at Cheltenham, the trainer/owner axes may hold all the access in the Triumph hurdle division. Willie Mullins’ Vauban chased home Pied piper the last day and is sure to improve for only his first run over obstacles, but to what extent is the question. If they all line up, this is sure to be insightful affair for the Triumph Hurdle in March. Willie also has two debutants, and after last year’s Triumph Hurdle 3rd Haut En Couleurs pitched up without a run, who is to say that something wont spring from left field? Time will tell but a watching brief is advised.
The third race on the card is the Irish Arkle. Many the self-professed shrewd Ante Post “punter” is licking their wounds after news emerged in the last week that the Cheltenham Arkle red-hot favourite, Ferny Hollow is out for the season. As a result, the 2-mile Novice Chase division has been blown wide open and many seem, again, to be looking for the solution within Willie Mullins’ yard. With Blue Lord, Saint Sam and Haut En Couleurs to name but a few, spear heading entries, it’s hard to argue that the answer may well come from W P Mullins. Blue Lord has most certainly improved for fences and seems to have left his keen going style behind him. While the strength of his form can be questioned, he has been very impressive thus far. In terms of trying to find a winner, I would be interested in the Gordon Elliot trained Riviere Detel who came up short against Ferny Hollow at Christmas. On that occasion, the winner had to give 12lbs away and duly did so. I’d suspect none of the geldings in this race would be able to achieve such a feat. This weekend will see her receive 9lbs from Blue Lord and 7lbs from the other two Mullins runners. Despite this being her fifth run of the season, I think she will take a lot of beating in receipt of weight if she lines up.
The Irish Gold Cup has seen some memorable finishes over the years and this year could be no different. Again, declarations may play a major part in how much of a “Classic” this will be. Last year’s Gold Cup winner Minella Indo and last year’s King George winner Frodon for me are the two with the best chance. Frodon’s front running display in the early season meeting at Down Royal is one of the key pieces of form. Frodon came out on top that day but that may not paint the full picture. To say Minella Indo was carrying a few pounds seems to be the understatement of the year based on those in attendance at the county Down track that day. Atop this, Paul Nichols’ horses over the past few days have been running below their best at times. The flu jab seems to be the reason those at Ditchet are leaning upon (I too thought flu related jabs were a thing of the past, but evidentially not!). Therefore, I would side with last year’s Gold Cup winner to get his season back on track after a poor showing at Kempton on St Stephan’s day, a track he clearly did not enjoy. The main danger could well come in the shape of the mercurial and not so well balanced Asterion Forlonge. He is an equine enigma with a huge amount of talent but if you are parting with hard earned cash backing this grey, well then, you too may be mad!
Saturday’s card is finished off with the G1 Bumper and it’s a cracker. Facile Vega heads the market at 8/13 after his very stylish win here at Christmas. However, this is a deep race and has plenty of promising sorts lining up. Peter Fahey’s entry The Big Doyen has been very impressive thus far and what has been equally impressive, is how Money For Jam (Owners of The Big Doyen) have turned down some sizable offers for their star recruit. I’m sure the likes of Luke Thomas and Co. would bring Leopardstown to its knees if The Big Doyen was to win and assert himself as Champion Bumper favourite. If you were to push me I would side with the son of star mare Quevega, who lit up Cheltenham for years.
The government fully aware that everyone is going to need at least two days to recover after they witness The Big Doyen on the Wednesday https://t.co/k8Rui0snZ2
— Money for Jam Syndicate (@moneyforjam__) November 25, 2021
Sunday
The first G1 contest on Sunday is the 2.5-mile Novice Chase and this contest revolves around one horse. Galopin Des Champs. He left quite the impression at Christmas and to use the age-old phrase, bar a fall, he will take all the beating. His jumping was electric and the fact that Paul Townend couldn’t pull him up at the bend beyond the finishing post shows he has a huge engine. The talk all week has been revolved around how Galopin Des Champs could remain at 2.5m for the season and take on the all-conquering Bob Olinger in March. If, and hopefully this does not transpire, Galopin Des Champs was to fluff his lines, the most likely suiter could well be the Paddy Corkery trained Master McShee who stunned the Limerick crowd on St Stephan’s Day in the Grade 1, and he is most likely to follow home the Willie Mullins trained favourite.
The Grade 1s come hot and heavy, and next up is the Dublin Chase over 2 miles. Again, Willie Mullins has the favourite (this seems to be a theme this weekend) in Chacun Pour Soi. This is a poor renewal outside of the shock Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen and the aforementioned Chacun Pour Soi. If the latter can leave behind his dismal run in Sandown and shows no signs of any rumoured injury, he should oblige here for short-priced punters. He is going for his third success in this race and bar his attempted raids to the UK, his record is head and shoulders above the rest here.
And now for the showpiece event. Albeit we have a 4/11 favourite in the form of all concurring queen of the Irish Jumps scene, Honeysuckle. Her unbeaten record once again goes on the line this Sunday and I am sure the parade ring will be five deep to see the star mare before heading out on track and with all that has gone on over the past two years and with the return of the Irish race goers to the track, we could see similar scenes to Faugheen’s success back in 2020 should she oblige.
Of the others lining up, the one most likely to chase home the mare is the Gordon Elliot trained Zanahiyr. Last year’s season finished in underwhelming fashion in the Triumph Hurdle, but there has been reason for hope this season and he’s the best of the rest.
If you are not already exhausted from Grade 1 action, last up is the 2-mile novice hurdle, and lo and behold we have yet another Willie Mullins trained favourite in the form of last year’s Champion Bumper winner Sir Gerhard. Having transferred his abilities from the flat to over obstacles, he is to the forefront of the Supreme Novices and Ballymore markets in Cheltenham. This weekend will clarify his credentials for such a task with opposition in the form of Three Stripe Life, Mighty Potter and My Mate Mozzie, to name but a few. If all hold their ground this is sure to be a cracker. Tramore winner El Fabiolo was the talking horse from Willie Mullins, however he seems to be plenty short in the market off the back of what seems a fairly bog-standard maiden hurdle. Willie Mullins has a habit of making a fool of people with what he believes to be an untapped asset, and this may be no different, but at 4/1 I would look elsewhere for a bet. Mighty Potter took G1 spoils at Christmas here but was a close third to Statuaire at Fairyhouse the time before. I think Sir Gerhard will be hard to beat, but if there is a bet in the race it may well be the each way angle with Statuaire at 7/1.
Outside of the Grade 1s listed above, there are some competitive handicaps on both days. I have listed below 4 selections over the two days and hopefully we can see some profit come Sunday evening.
Saturday
- Nathaniel Lacy Novice Hurdle – Whatdeawant 4/1 2pts win
Sunday
- Liffey Handicap Hurdle – Carrarea 8/1 1pt ew
- Mares Bumper – Battling Bessie 16/1 0.5pt ew
- Leopardowstown Handicap Hurdle – Birchdale 8/1 2pts ew
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