Dublin Racing Festival: Preview and Tips for Monday’s Racing

It’s the rescheduled first day of the eagerly awaited Dublin Racing Festival and today’s seven-race card features four Grade One contests, the most significant of which is the Irish Gold Cup.

Read on for a preview of and tips for the Leopardstown card, courtesy of BOYLE Sports, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.

We start with a bang with a Grade One Novice Hurdle run over two miles and six furlongs (1.15). This looks a competitive affair at first glance, with some high quality form laced through the card, but it is Willie Mullins’ Doctor Steinberg who is the stand out on the horses he has beaten. He is a proven performer at this level, having lately won a Grade Two novice contest at Navan, and he was third to Kopek Des Bordes in a bumper. His heavy ground form is unparalleled here, so his chance seems obvious.

Next is the Grade One Juvenile Hurdle (1.50). The only one of the seven runners not to have won under this code is North Shore, who did win on the Flat in France. He made a pleasing debut over obstacles at this track in December, and thrived on heavy ground in France, so he could outrun his odds and might be each-way value. He runs for Gavin Cromwell, whose form is beginning to turn for the better, and Sean Flanagan in the saddle is a help.

A Listed three-mile handicap hurdle follows (2.25). This is an ultra-competitive race and could prove to be wide open. JP McManus runs a pair here; Son Of Anarchy, who is trainer Gordon Elliott’s first string, and County Final, who is the owner’s first string, ridden by retained jockey Mark Walsh. Both have similar profiles, but Son Of Anarchy looks likely to improve for the step up to three miles here and is more than capable on the difficult ground.

The Irish Arkle is next, run over two miles and a furlong (2.55). With just three runners, Romeo Coolio, Kargese and Downmexicoway, the market fancies this to be one-horse race, with Romeo Coolio taking all of the money. Unbeaten over fences and certainly the class act here, he should win this on raw ability alone. Downmexicoway could be helped by the ground, though, and could get closer than the market assumes.

Race five is the Irish Gold Cup, run over the extended three miles (3.30). The revered Galopin Des Champs comes back to defend his crown, but was beaten on seasonal reappearance by Affordale Fury. He can likely run a much better race here, with the added fitness, but he could fall victim to younger types. Stablemate Spindleberry, the only mare in the race, goes up against geldings for the first time since winning the Grade One WillowWarm Gold Cup last term, and she could use her mares’ allowance to get closer than her price suggests.

The penultimate race is a Listed handicap chase over two miles and a furlong (4.05). This is another fairly open race, where JP McManus could be due another good result from Inthepocket, who runs for Henry De Bromhead under Mark Walsh. He has come down two pounds since last time, and he is very proficient on soft ground too and could find this easier in handicap company.

Last of all is a Grade Two bumper (4.40). Each of the seven runners have won some sort of race, be it under Rules or in the point-to-point field, and this should be an informative contest. Martin Brassil’s It’s Only A Game could be the winner, though, having won his last start in a good - albeit small - bumper at Punchestown on similar going.

Dublin Racing Festival selections - Monday:

1.15 - Doctor Steinberg 

1.50 - North Shore e/w 

2.25 - Son Of Anarchy 

2.55 - Romeo Coolio 

3.30 - Spindleberry

4.05 - Inthepocket 

4.40 - It’s Only A Game