Dublin Racing Festival Day One – Saturday 5th February

These are the weekends that you dream of throughout a National Hunt season, where a lot of questions will be answered and clues will be garnered. The Dublin Racing Festival has been a superb addition to the national hunt programme in recent years, and if anyone reading these posts has not been before, and is thinking of going some year soon – I can only recommend. It is the perfect balance between top quality racing, buzzy atmosphere and a picturesque scene. I will be going through the card on Day One with a few that I like. 

The Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Novice Hurdle over 2m6f opens the card and it has thrown up some good winners in the past and this year’s renewal looks no less appetizing. Hollow Games is a worthy favourite but not bomb proof, while a few in here bring unexposed profiles to the table. However, the late withdrawal of Whatdeawant has left this race with only seven runners, and not an attractive each way betting market as a result. I was quite close to putting up Eric Bloodaxe on this page, but with just two places available and the price skimpy – I am happy to let him slide by. 

The Spring Juvenile Hurdle is equally fascinating as there has been a sea of money for Vauban for both this race and the Triumph Hurdle in the last week. The premise of this is through Pied Piper, with that formline looking stronger by the day, but it can often not prove profitable to trust collateral form lines, and he has it to prove to beat Fil Dor. Fil D’Or’s trainer Gordon Elliot has the perfect handle of that formline and his comments suggest he believes this likable gray might be a bit better than Pied Piper. That will be put to the test on the day, and I would side with Fil Dor if pushed, but I’d be struggling to say 5/4 is a value play. 

Similar comments can easily apply for the Irish Arkle, as my preference would be for favorite Blue Lord, who looks a lovely jumper and a great addition to chasing ranks. However, he is only 7/4 with Paddy Power and in a competitive field, he doesn’t quite make the list. 

The 3m handicap hurdle at 2.45 is a brilliant race to be getting stuck into and I have two selections for this competitive handicap. Those that followed in over Christmas, will have hopefully profited from a good ride from Kevin Sexton on Good Time Jonny, who defied a troubled run to win comfortably in the 2m4f handicap hurdle – hitting the line in really strong fashion. That race was not ridden to suit and he should be suited by this step up in trip. Tony Martin has had a resurgent year and this is a like-able horse, who still may be ahead of the grip of the assessor off a mark of 129. Expect this horse to be buried away in the pack and to be produced late under Sexton. At a price of 6/1 with Paddy Power, who offer a monstrous seven places, he is an each way bet. 

When they line up at the 3m start over hurdles in this race, there will be no horse more used to conditions than Unexpected Depth. My WhichBookie colleague, Will Smith, has given this horse a very positive mention in his article for tomorrow (get reading for some great nuggets!), and I have to agree with a lot of his points. Barry Browne was absent on this horse over Christmas, deciding to go down to Limerick to ride the exciting Gatsby Grey, and that was a justified decision. Unexpected Depth looked like he would improve considerably for this effort when walking around the ring, and his run was indicative of one with promise but would come forward from it. His ninth placed effort can be upgraded and he was second in this race last year off just one pound lower. Barry Browne has some exciting rides this weekend, with Gallant John Joe on Sunday coming to mind, and he could kick his Saturday off with a big run on this horse. Unexpected Depth is 12/1 with Paddy Power, and with 7 places available, looks a cracking each way bet. 

The Irish Gold Cup is also a fascinating contest with plenty in this having a good chance. Kemboy and Frodon look the more solid options on this occasion. However, there is a lovable but plenty rogue gray horse with the ability of all of these at his best. That mercurial character is Asterion Forlonge, who has found himself on the turf on his two starts this year. He would have won the John Durkan for standing up and he would have been a highly credible second in the King George if not coming down. Bryan Cooper gets a great tune out of this horse, and his jumping, albeit frail at times, is fundamentally fine. 7/2 with Paddy Power, it may be do or die, but fingers crossed it’s the day that Forlonge shuts down the nay-sayers. 

The 3.50 race is a good looking 2m handicap chase and again I have two bullets to fire at this contest. Mt Leinster and I have a troubled relationship, and Exit Poll can sometimes find one too good – so I am keen to stray away from the top of the market. Instead, Christmas scorer Grange Walk might be worth a bet on a course that he excels on, with the forecast ground going to suit this horse down to the ground. He never raised a gallop at Fairyhouse last time out, but his effort over Christmas was superb to beat Exit Poll, and it was richly deserved after what had been a consistent year. He is up in the weights now but Liam Quinlan’s claim will help massively. If getting into a rhythm early on, a price of 15/2 with Betfair may seem the right price, with 3 places available each way. 

Despite the patchy record from the De Bromhead yard in recent weeks, I am also keen to give a chance to Cappucimix, who gave us all a great day at Killarney when winning at 22/1 for this blog. He is a like-able horse and had run plenty of encouraging races last season before putting it together at Killarney. He wasn’t seen between then and the Dan Moore at Fairyhouse, falling at three out when looking like he was about to get into the race. Darragh O’Keeffe retains the partnership and he is simply too big a price in this field. At 10/1 with Betfair, he can be backed each way. 

The Grade 2 bumper is a cracking way to finish the card but instead of getting involved in the race, it may prove to be most prudent to sit down with the notebook and pen open, as this has the potential to be a cracker. I am hopeful that Sandor Clegane can run very well, but he could run a superb race and come third or fourth in this race, so there is no value to be had. 

Have a great day and hopefully have some luck, and if you have a few minutes free, try to wish Bardenstown Lad home in the 1.29 at Musselburgh – and keep that long shot ante-post dream alive.