The Dublin Racing Festival kicks off on Saturday as some of the sport’s biggest stars get set to lock horns at Leopardstown.
The Irish Gold Cup is one of the most prestigious prizes in the Irish calendar and sees the latest rematch between Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs and old foe Fastorslow.
Clive Gilden provides his analysis on the big race as well as some other selections on the first day of the meeting, where they race from 1.20 until 4.40, with the Irish Gold Cup itself due off at 3.35.
WATCH IN THE ZONE WITH MIKE TINDALL
3.35 – Irish Gold Cup Chase (3m, Grade 1)
A field of four is a somewhat disappointing turnout for the feature Irish Gold Cup, but this is still a mouthwatering clash between two of the best staying chasers in training in Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow.
The score reads 2-1 in Fastorslow’s favour ahead of their latest dust up, but there is probably nobody around who can live with a peak Galopin Des Champs, and he was at his imperious best when bolting up in the Savills Chase by 23 lengths last time.
However, it will be difficult to reproduce such a magnificent performance just five weeks later and his connections will be more interested in retaining their Gold Cup crown. Fastorslow is the obvious one to capitalise if Willie Mullins has left something to work on with Galopin Des Champs, but he could have half an eye on the big one too and might improve for the outing as we haven’t seen him since the John Durkan.
Therefore, it may be worth having a small play on Galopin Des Champs’s stablemate I AM MAXIMUS at a monster price. He beat subsequent Grade 1 winner Found A Fifty impressively in the Drinmore over a trip too sharp on his return, and it is worth remembering he was backed all the way down to 6-1 for the Savills before finishing fourth in that much deeper race (strongest company he's ever encountered by some way).
The concern is whether I Am Maximus’s connections are prioritising the Grand National with him, but we know he won’t be running at the Cheltenham Festival and this lightly-raced staying chaser could outrun his odds.
3.00 - Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (3m, Listed)
Willie Mullins is set to dominate the Grade One contests at this meeting but that could easily transcend into the handicaps as well. In the 3m handicap hurdle, FINE MARGIN is fancied to do the business under Brian Hayes.
Fine Margin ran a superb race despite being weak in the betting on his stable debut for the yard in a top handicap hurdle at Haydock on Betfair Chase day, splitting a gambled-on winner from the Emmet Mullins stable and subsequent Grade 1 scorer Crambo in third, and he gets to race off his 3lb lower Irish mark.
To be taking up the kind of races he may be targeting at Cheltenham (he is entered in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett), he will surely need to progress past his rating of 127 as he’ll struggle to get into one of the handicaps. Fine Margin is unexposed as a staying hurdler and must have more to offer.
The biggest threat could prove to be the Martin Brassil-trained Panda Boy, who finished second when caught too far back in the ultra-competitive Paddy Power Chase here over Christmas off his 6lb higher chase mark.
4.10 - Ryanair Handicap Chase (2m1f, Listed)
The Paul Flynn-trained THE BIG CHAP might be slightly underestimated for the 2m1f handicap chase. Were it not for an alarming jump out to his right in a similar event here over Christmas, the progressive seven-year-old might be arriving here seeking a fourth victory from his last five starts.
The Big Chap came to prominence when beating subsequent Grade 1 runner-up My Mate Mozzie, a potential dark horse in the Arkle, on his first completed start over fences at Fairyhouse in October, and he is 3lb better off with Henry de Bromhead’s shorter-priced The Folkes Tiara for their close-run finish 39 days ago.
The Big Chap is interestingly treated off his new mark of 137 if jumping like he did for the most part on his previous start. It is presumed that this lucrative pot has been his long-term target.
We need to see more British representation at the Dublin Racing Festival and it is good to see Sophie Leech sending Madara over. The last time out Cheltenham winner is feared most with French champion jockey James Reveley making the journey over for just the one ride, for all his mount's future probably lies over a bit further.
4.40 - Donohue Marquees Future Stars (C&G) I.N.H Flat Race (2m, Grade 2)
I’m taking it as a bit of a negative that those involved with A Dream To Share are keeping him in bumpers rather than going for novice hurdles.
While he dominated the bumper scene last term, his issues have been well documented and he needs to defy a 283-day absence in this Grade 2 against plenty of smart sorts.
The one to oppose him with is REDEMPTION DAY, who was of a similar calibre in bumpers two seasons ago and ran a superb race when second on his belated comeback over Christmas.
He pulled like a train that day and will need to settle better, but did remarkably well to almost bag the victory from a talented winner in light of that keenness.
He might just have needed the run to knock the freshness out of him and I could see the pair being tough to split in the betting by the off time.
It seems significant that Patrick Mullins has chosen to ride him among a five-strong squad from the Closutton team, and the 3lb he receives from A Dream To Share can prove decisive if the favourite turns up a bit rusty.
