A bumper weekend of Irish horse racing takes place on Saturday.
There will be no fewer than 7 Grade ones over two day’s racing, there will be seismic head to head clashes, the biggest trainers, the best jockeys, horses and the most electric of atmospheres.
The Dublin Racing Festival has arrived. Leopardstown sets the scene.
Horse racing folk far and wide will travel in their droves to Foxrock this weekend. Those who make the trip will be rewarded with fiercely competitive racing, comedy, music and a fantastic day, or two days out.
The Sport of Kings will experience a spectacular endorsement of the all round package that is a day out racing. The Dublin Racing Festival is the place to be on February 3 and 4.
24,000 are expected to flock to South Dublin. Whether you’re a sunshine supporter who’s there for the craic with the crew, or a horse-racing purist who’s been studying the form and lives for days like this, you’re all likely to throw on a bet or two.
Many racegoers live for days like this. They follow the Irish racing scene closely on a daily basis. They know their game, they know the horses inside out and they know who they’re going to throw their money on.
They have their favourites and their fancies and they’ll be following their instincts.
Cheltenham Has Come Early 🐴🌟
🚀Samcro
🐎Buveur D'air
🤔Yorkhill
🐴Min
🚀Footpad
🐎Petit Mouchoir
🐴Benatar
🐎Fountains Windfall
🐴Faugheen
🍉Melon
💰Rapid Escape
🐴Espoir DAllen
💰Sharjah
🐎Djakadam
💰Total Recall
🐴Sutton Place
🐎Monalee
🐴Our Duke#DublinRacingFestival 💯 pic.twitter.com/vOdxH86wYp— Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) January 30, 2018
Then there are the less intense racing fans, who are always on the lookout for tips and punts.
Whoever you are, the accumulator with the hotly fancied ‘dead certs’ of the weekend will tempt you. At 20/1, this weekend’s one isn’t a bad bet.
Yorkhill 5/6
The great enigma that is Yorkhill, one of the most talented horses in training. Willie Mullins’ 8-year-old ran a stinker in the Christmas Chase here in late December.
Although the Clonsutton handler insisted he had the staying power, he just didn’t seem suited to the three mile trip. Dropping back down to 2m 1f in the Grade 2 Coral Dublin Chase at 1.45 on Saturday, we reckon he’s primed for a big one, primed to prove his enduring class, speed and gusto.
Stablemate Min will take beating here, but Yorkhill has the ability to do just that.
Footpad 4/7
In terms of bankers, Footpad, again saddled by Willie Mullins is certainly that. The 6-year-old has been in irresistible form this term, romping home with 11 lengths to spare in both of his outings to date.
A clean jumper, a smooth traveller, it will take a bolt from the blue for Paul Townends’ mount to be headed in the Frank Ward & Co Solicitors Arkle Grade 1.
Footpad will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of stablemate Un De Sceaux and Douvan who won this in 2015 and 2016 respectively, before going on to win the Arkle Chase in Cheltenham in March.
“The great Douvan won our race in 2016 & again he went on to win The Arkle in Cheltenham . Our race is truly remarkable for the quality of horses that have won it,” said race sponsor Frank Ward to us today.
Petit Mouchoir provides quality opposition this time around, but Simon Munir’s horse, on top form should be a class apart on Saturday at 2.20.
Faugheen 5/4
Bidding to bounce back from a Christmas howler, Faugheen is back for more Foxrock fun. The 2015 Champion hurdle winner heads a high quality field in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle on Saturday at 3.30.
Mullins’ second string Melon will provide a stern test, as will Philip Hobbs’ Cheltenham winner last year, Defi De Seuil, while Davy Russel’s mount, Mick Jazz, who defeated Faugheen last time out, can’t be overlooked.
The ‘bounce factor’ may have been affecting Faugheen in his Christmas outing. This is where the horses run well on their return after a lay-off, but they struggle in their third run (the Christmas hurdle for Faugheen) after a quick return to the track.
Faugheen had been out for over a year and a half with injury, so the bounce may have got him.
He deserves the benefit of the doubt. We fancy him to take the €150,000 contest.
Espoir D’Allen 8/11
The four-year-old has a 100% strike rate in his five runs this season. His impressed in every single one of those outings, making light work of his rivals in a series of dazzling displays.
“I’d say he’s a good horse, that fella. I love his attitude. I’ve tried a couple of times to beat him and it’s very difficult” – @_Davy_Russel_ tells #OnTheLine viewers to keep Espoir D’Allen onside…
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 8, 2018
JP McManus’ charge has been impeccable, untouchable so far. A big fancy of our’s for the 2m Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle on 1.15 on Sunday.
Samcro 8/13
Probably the most talked about hurdler in the horse racing world this year. Gordon Elliot’s sprightly novice has a frightening crusing speed and jumps like a stag.
Willie Mullins’ Sharjah is a very decent sort, but Jack Kennedy’s mount has the magic.
The five-fold accumulator is 20/1 on oddscheckers’ best prices. It’s worth a few quid.
