The Dublin Racing festival takes centre stage over the next few days, it’s like back to back Christmas days for national hunt enthusiast. We kick off the DRF with the 2m 6f novices, be great to see Wexford trainer Paul Nolan kicking off the meeting with Latest Exhibition, an impressive winner the last day when getting the better of Andy Dufrense in Navan, this after making a shuddering mistake down the back. He won’t have it his own way with the likes of Fury Road, Longhouse Poet and Elixir D’Ainay in the field, a competitive start to the day. The 2m 1f Dublin chase comes up next and this will be fast and furious. A Plus Tard got the better of Chacun Pour Soi the last day at Leopardstown, CPS will go off fav for this as his lofty reputation will see to that but Rachael and A Plus Tard will keep them honest. The 2m 1f novice is next up where Notebook and Fakir D’ouadaries head the betting. Notebook’s victory over Fakir is the best bit of form to go on but this will be a tight affair again with jumping at speed a premium. The Irish champion hurdle looks a shoot-out between HDB very impressive mare Honeysuckle and the Mullins duo of Sharjah and Klassical Dream. The latter of the Mullins duo needs to step up to the mark very soon or he be jumping a fence shortly, that leaves Sharjah who has a great turn of speed inside the final furlong. Honeysuckle ticks all the boxes for me and a win here makes her the one to beat in Cheltenham in the champion. The two handicaps are extremely difficult on Saturday but the Liam Cusack trained Snugsborough Hall is the selection in the chase and the Gordan Elliott Thatsy in the Hurdle.
The juvenile hurdle kicks off the graded action on Sunday and for me this is easy as Aspire Tower wins here and again in Cheltenham. The 2m novice hurdle might only have 7 declared but 5 of them count. Mt Leinster is slowly improving but might need a stiffer task and a very hard one to call. The Flogas novice chase over 2m 5f is fascinating, after watching Faugheen in Limerick over the Christmas you thing it would take a good one to beat him. His stablemate Easy Game got the better of Allaho the last day, the Cheverly park runners first outing and he was impressive the last day out. Battleoverdoyen the Elliot runner will keep the Mullins duo on their toes. The Gold cup is up next where the layers have put in Kemboy as jolly over Delta Work, Presenting Percy and Chris’s Dream for me the only ones that count. The HDB trained Chris’s Dream is the interesting one for me and let’s see can he push himself up onto the top table of staying chasers. Percy is slowly improving so a big run needed here, that leaves Kemboy and Delta Work both clashed in the Savills chase where DW got the better of Kemboy (first run this season) by 3 ½L. I think Kemboy will turn the tables on DW. Going to take a chance on Chris’s Dream an impressive winner of the Troytown in late November, freshness might count when it comes down to a battle inside the final 100 yards. The handicaps Sunday are next to impossible so following the money is always a good guide unless you completely miss the price it’s all about value. Dallas Des Pictons runs for Gordan and Jack in the 2m5f handicap chase and after getting a crazy mark from the British handicapper can go very close here.
Best Bets:
Saturday: Honeysuckle (nap) 6/4. Snugsborough Hall 6/1.
Sunday: Chris’s Dream 6/1. Dallas Des Pictons 7/1.