What and incredible day’s racing yesterday, with Majborough, Final Demand and Galopin Des Champs all putting on impressive performances to shake up the Cheltenham markets and stirring the souls. More on offer at the Dublin Racing Festival today, and there may be a few to take on as well.
Burn Baby Burn
1:10 – Ladbrokes Novice Chase (Grade One) – Ballyburn @ 5/6 (General)
After Sir Gino wiped the floor with him, people dismissed Ballyburn as a good chaser. That’s simply not correct, he’s not good enough over two miles. The likelihood is that he will now go to the Brown Advisory now the two-and-a-half mile chase is a limited handicap. He faces stablemate Impaire Et Passe who has a Grade One in his book, but Ballyburn can stay this trip and he will still improve more with his jumping. He’s not a forlorn hope.
Keep an eye out for Croke Park. Once muted as a fantastic buy and a potential Gold Cup horse, he’s yet to reach those heights. However, in his chasing record he is three from three picking up two Grade One’s in the process. Yes, Mr Mullins dominates this meeting but Gordon Elliott horses are still good enough at this level. A two-time Grade One winner should not be 16/1 (William Hill).
Open The Bordes
1:40 – Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade One) – Kopek Des Bordes @ 11/10 (William Hill, BetVictor)
The Supreme is still very much an open race at this stage, and many will have noted Kopek Des Bordes at the start of the season being the number one pick for this race. Only one run over hurdles saw how big of an engine he has, even his jumping was a little sketchy. He will improve for that debut run and the form has been franked by Kawaboomga. A big performance here, puts him right in the picture.
Shocks A-Plenty
2:10 – Dublin Chase (Grade One) – Quilixios @ 12/1 (General)
It’s a question of why I should back them at the top of the market. Gaelic Warrior has a poor record here and is an untrustworthy horse in general. Marine Nationale has never looked the same since returning from injury and Solness did not strike me as a horse that can repeat that Grade One feat. El Fabiolo may be a little rusty on return as well.
So I’ve opted for Quilixios who is a very good horse in his own right. He comes back from a break but was last seen finishing second to Jonbon, who has franked the form, and was ahead of Solness who also boosted that form. He thrashed Marine Nationale in the Barberstown Castle Chase at the start of the season and may provide another Grade One shock.
And running on for a place will be the Champion Chaser, Captain Guinness. Henry de Bromhead has the best record of not winning this race, placing in most of these renewals since it’s inception. It does take a while for Captain Guinness to find form, but often runs a good race in behind so that he’s finely tuned for the Spring assignments. Discount at your peril at 33/1 (William Hill, BetVictor).
Old Reliable
3:20 – Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade One) – State Man @ 11/8 (BetVictor)
Paul Townend has chosen State Man for a few reasons. One, there is no Brighterdaysahead. Two, he’s top-rated even with Lossiemouth’s allowance. Three, he knows that this is State Man’s final chance at glory before Constitution Hill. Lossiemouth will have her days, but State Man knows his way around Dublin and Leopardstown. Get the odds-against whilst you can, because he’s still the king in Ireland.
The very best of luck!
