Dublin Racing Festival Day Two Tips: Three More Selections At Leopardstown
After a stunning day at Leopardstown to kick off the 2024 Dublin Racing Festival, we get to do it all over again on Sunday with another packed card of high quality action. Both Willie and Danny Mullins had days to remember but Billy Grimshaw fancies the Mullins momentum to slow somewhat on Day Two. Our man tipped up KARGESE in the Spring Juvenile so read on to see who else he fancies on Sunday...
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13:40 Leopardstown - Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle
The race prior to this between Gaelic Warrior, Fact To File and Grangeclare West could conceivably see the Arkle, Turners and Brown Advisory winners of 2024 all clashing - which is a pretty insane thought for a race between three stablemates over the intermediate trip. I cannot really see a bet in the race at present, it is more one to savour, and so onto the second race where we will kick off the staking plan by taking on the hot favourite Ballyburn. I am a huge fan of the horse and he certainly doesn't lack the speed for two miles, but the suspicion in my mind at least is he will prove himself best over two and a half and as such in a race against pure speed horses like this he is vulnerable as the odds on favourite.
One such horse who is all about raw pace is King Of Kingsfield who - spoiler alert - I am unbelievably keen on for the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival should Gordon see sense and send him there. I would absolutely love to see him placed here but not too close to the winner, hopefully his stablemate FARREN GLORY. He was set to cruise to Formby Novices' Hurdle glory at Aintree on Boxing Day before a cruel fall took away his Grade 1 chance, but the way this horse travelled both on Merseyside and in his previous run when winning another Grade 1 in the Royal Bond (King Of Kingsfield finished a length back in second) indicate to me this is an out and out two miler.
Plenty will be keen on Danny Mullins' ride in this Gold Dancer after the jockey's heroics on perceived second and third string horses on Saturday, but he has it all to prove as a new recruit at Closutton, and although I expect a better showing this time from Daddy Long Legs I'd be disappointed were he to beat the big two in the market. Slade Steel looks the type to run well for a long way before being outpaced on his road to the Ballymore - a race in which he'll have a much better chance than this one.
15:20 Leopardstown - O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase
It'll be a fairly major shock if in the two races prior to this El Fabiolo (Dublin Chase) and State Man (Irish Champion Hurdle) don't cruise to glory - although I do think the without markets could prove fruitful if taking on the favourites in those special areas with Captain Guinness and Bob Olinger - but this handicap chase is much more like it from a punting point of view. There are plenty in here that will be familiar to racing fans, with Fakir D'Oudairies somehow still only nine despite running over fences for what feels like more than a decade. He is one of the more unfancied JP runners, with the favourite Inothewayurthinkin one of the more obvious handicap plot jobs after making his way home under a tender ride behind Gaelic Warrior last time out.
Off 10 stone 9 he will be bang there, and Danny Mullins also has an outstanding chance on Classic Getaway for Willie in the Cheveley Park silks providing the ground doesn't turn too soft for him. He is better than a handicapper and his mark looks more than fair, so I could put no one off. Last time they met here, Meetingofthewaters got the better of Closutton stablemate JAMES DU BERLAIS but just as Paul Townend has chosen to ride the double green representative, I believe he can turn the tables come the sixth race on Sunday. This was a horse many tipped for a career of Grade 1 glory when he came over to Ireland from France, and while he hasn't quite hit those heights there have been encouraging signs of late.
The way in which he bowled along in front last time out in the aforementioned race over this course showed he was in rude health and a fine jumper, so this step back in trip could well bring with it glory. Another feather in the cap of James Du Berlais when compared to the winner that day is the drier conditions will suit. Leopardstown is not a track that particularly suits front runners but it does not hinder them either and I'd fancy Townend to lead them all a merry dance on board this lad with a weight swing and a lovely looking mark in his favour. He is rock solid each-way if that is your preference, but I'll be going win only.
15:50 Leopardstown - Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle
This looks another minefield of a race with JP silks aplenty. I would fear So Scottish most of the mega owner's battalion of runners, with the horse still only seven and his trainer Emmet Mullins in fine form after his bumper romp on Day One. So Scottish was travelling like the winner when falling at Cheltenham in a chase last time out, albeit there was plenty of racing left to do, and back over hurdles on a workable mark the seven year old must enter everyone's calculations. The main danger in the race to my pick, however, is undoubtedly Ataboycharlie, who gets in here with a featherweight after winning with any amount in hand over this course and distance forty days ago.
J J Slevin took the horse around the houses that day in a classic learning ride but it was clear he was always in control as the race developed and Ed Cawley clearly saw he had a very useful horse and promptly put him away for a big day. This could well be said big day and it will take a smart one to give him weight and a beating, but that is what I believe MAGICAL ZOE is. This mare's talent is evident for all to see and she was travelling well in last season's Mares' Novices' Hurdle before being hampered at the last when coming with her run. She may not have won but it was clear to see she had plenty of ability and she started this season well with a commanding win at Gowran Park for Henry de Bromhead.
Next time out she was beaten by the smart Irish Point over 2m1f, and while plenty would be discouraged by this with the winner now being aimed at the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham, I am of the opinion he is just a very classy animal and to run him as close as she did - albeit over an inadequate trip - was a better piece of form than anything else brings to this race. It will be tricky in such a big field but she proved she can handle that at Cheltenham last year, so she will be carrying my cash.
