Day two of the Dublin Racing Festival brings some quality action on Sunday at Leopardstown with four Grade 1s on the card.
Star mare Honeysuckle is the big attraction in the Irish Champion Hurdle at 3.00pm.
Racing at Leopardstown is from 12.45pm-4.40pm on Sunday and you can watch it all via live streaming when logged into MansionBet – alongside all the action from the UK and Ireland. Our tipster previews Sunday’s Leopardstown card.
12.45 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle (Grade B, 2m1½f)
Brides Hill scooted up here at Christmas but has been clattered with a 14lb rise and that makes things tougher for the Gavin Cromwell mare. Party Central has won 2-3 over hurdles for Gordon Elliott and a mark of 121 is very attainable for her but BANNTOWN GIRL is 6lb better off for a five-length defeat to her at Punchestown in December and has run well since. She has each-way claims.
Selection: Banntown Girl @ 14/1
1.20 – Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade 1, 2m5f)
Given that he looked almost otherworldly on chasing bow over C&D at Christmas, it would be fanciful to predict defeat for GALOPIN DES CHAMPS now. He has lots more to offer and looks a hugely exciting novice chaser, for all that this is a better test of his ability. His stablemate Capodanno is a fair rival, as is Gordon Elliott’s improved Fury Road but Paul Townend’s mount holds the aces paper.
Selection: Galopin Des Champs @ 8/15
1.50 – Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1, 2m1f)
Greaneteen took full advantage when CHACUN POUR SOI had an off-day in the Tingle Creek and Paul Nicholls’ charge has since run as well as could he hoped behind Shishkin. Hopes will be high for the UK raider but his old rival is 3-4 at this track and quite possibly will be a different beast now. He was too poor at Sandown for that to be a true effort and if back on song, will take some halting.
Selection: Chacun Pour Soi @ 4/5
2.25 – Bulmers Secret Orchard Leopardstown Handicap Chase (Grade A, 2m5f)
Tough stuff to sort out here. The Shunter is talented but handicapped accordingly, while Blackbow is similar and the likes of Samcro needs a renaissance. GALLANT JOHN JOE was a talented novice chaser in 2020 before missing the most part of two years. His two runs back came in contests won by Ferny Hollow and Bob Olinger and, from a mark of 142, this is a much more realistic assignment.
Selection: Gallant John Joe @ 10/1
3.00 – Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)
A third Irish Champion Hurdle beckons for the brilliant mare HONEYSUCKLE. There don’t appear to be any chinks in her armour and, as an eight-year-old, the next 18 months or so could be the peak of her career – that’s a worrying notion for anything that intends to have a crack at her and Rachael Blackmore.
Selection: Honeysuckle @ 2/7
3.35 – Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)
This is either the toughest Grade 1 of the weekend at Leopardstown or a penalty kick for Sir Gerhard, depending on your outlook. He could be very, very good but there’s depth to this race and his Willie Mullins-trained stablemate EL FABIOLO could be a player after winning as he pleased at Tramore last month. So could Three Stripe Life, Colonel Mustard, Farout, My Mate Mozzie and Statuaire in a race with more depth than the odds imply.
Selection: El Fabiolo @ 5/1
4.10 – Liffey Handicap Hurdle (Grade B, 2m)
A fiendish handicap hurdle. Cask Mate is a leading contender off 139 and could simply be the class act but at a massive price IN FROM THE COLD is given a chance. Michael Mulvany’s runner won a maiden at Wexford on hurdles bow in the autumn and has shaped well enough behind good horses in two starts since. A smart and experience Flat performer, a big field won’t faze him and he could be an improver no handicap bow.
Selection: In From The Cold @ 28/1
4.40 – Coolmore N.H. Sires Santiago Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2, 2m)
As with Saturday, this is a strong bumper on paper but PINK IN THE PARK cruised away from her rivals at Listowel on debut and with Patrick and Willie Mullins so dominant in bumpers here of late, she’s hard to get away from.
Selection: Pink In The Park @ 13/8
*Odds correct at time of writing.