Stars Shine In Dublin

The Dublin Racing Festival looked a cracking couple of days on paper and it didn’t disappoint, although we had a couple of non runners, this didn’t stop there being some great performances.

First up we have the Grade 1 Novice hurdle over 2m6f, Fury Road went into the race as the unbeaten favourite. He chased the leaders throughout the race, before making a mistake at the 6th hurdle. He then was disputing 4th 2 from home with Elixir D’ainay, but neither of them were a match for the first 3 home. The winner was the Paul Nolan trained Latest Exhibition, he along with Longhouse Poet tracked the leader Cobbler’s Way. Cobbler’s Way led till the last where he was passed by Longhouse Poet. Out of the 3 it Latest Exhibition stayed on the best in the run in to win by 2 lengths, with Cobbler’s Way just getting 2nd in the final strides. It was a good performance from Latest Exhibition, who came into the race with some nice form when beating Andy Durfresne and chasing home Abacadabras. He’s now 6/1 2nd favourite for the Albert Bartlett and 10/1 for the Ballymore.

(Latest Exhibition jumping the last with Longhouse Poet and Cobbler’s Way, Credit Emma O’Brien)

Next was the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, this was won in the past two years by Min who was seeking the hat trick. A Plus Tard was a late absentee due to the drying ground. There was only 4 finishers with Cilaos Emery falling at the first fence, Duc Des Genievres fell 2 from home and Ordinary World was pulled up. The race was effectively between the Ricci pair in Min and Chacun Pour Soi, they both tracked the leader before Min took up the running after the 5th. He was joined by stablemate Chacun Pour Soi with 2 to jump, where he was going the best and easily went passed Min. He made a slight mistake at the last but kept on well to win by 3 3/4 lengths. It was a good performance to beat Min although he is better seen over further. For me I couldn’t have him over Defi Du Seuil or even Altior come March, plus it’s hard to be seen if he could even reverse the form with A Plus Tard.

(Chacun Pour Soi jumping in splendid isolation. Credit Emma O’Brien)

The Arkle Chase was up next and unfortunately we had another late absentee, as Joseph O’Brien felt the ground was too fast for Fakir D’oudairies. This left Notebook to go off a short priced favourite, he tracked the Cash Back who was the leader for most of the race. This was until Notebook took over the lead before the final fence. Both were ridden out with Notebook coming out on top by 3/4’s of a length. This wasn’t really a performance that screamed Arkle winner come Cheltenham, but he still remains unbeaten. For me I’d still be siding with Fakir D’oudairies if they both meet again in March. The two that really disappointed me were the Mullins trained Melon and Bapaume, both made no impression on the race and looked beaten a long way out. 

(Notebook and Cash Back jumping side by side, Credit Emma O’Brien)

Next on the card was the final Grade 1 of the day, this was the Irish Champion Hurdle. Klassical Dream was pulled out on the day of the race due to being lame which was obviously a shame, as he was looking to get his season back on track after two disappointments. Honeysuckle went off the odds on favourite for the race, she followed Petit Mouchoir who lead for the majority of the race. Honeysuckle’s jumping wasn’t the best, with her making a few mistakes along the way. It wasn’t till just before the last that she made her move and went past Petit Mouchoir, where she then made a mistake jumping the last handing Petit Mouchoir another chance. It wasn’t just Petit Mouchoir after her then, as Darver Star was running a massive race and closing with every stride, but in the end couldn’t quite get to Honeysuckle who won by 1/2 a length, to give Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore a grade 1 double. It was a great run from Honeysuckle and you could see her being in the picture for the Champion Hurdle, for which she’s 7/2 3rd favourite. But I feel it would be best if she’s kept to the Mares hurdle, as ultimately 2m4 is her trip. The disappointment of the race was Sharjah who had most things in his favour, he ultimately didn’t turn up and finished a poor 6th, which was a shame as I expected him to put it up to Honeysuckle 

(Honeysuckle clearing the last followed by Petit Mouchoir, Credit Emma O’Brien)

Day 2 of the meeting had the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle, which saw yesterday’s main duo of Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore send out the 1/3 favourite in Aspire Tower. They attempted to make all and he was jumping well, before being joined at the last hurdle by Cerberus. It was then that Aspire Tower took a crashing fall which resulted in Rachael being stood down for the rest of the day. With the resulting fall leaving Cerberus in front it just looked to be a matter of how far he would win, till appearing to idle in front, allowing for Wolf Prince and A Wave Of The Sea to go past him. A Wave Of The Sea finished better of the two and went on the win by 1 1/4 lengths. It’s hard to know if had Aspire Tower stayed on his feet if he would of won, or maybe his presence would of helped Cerberus concentrate. I’d still be favouring the UK pair of Allmankind and Goshen over the Irish juveniles, although it could be possible that we are yet to even see the Triumph winner on the racecourse.

The Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle then took centre stage, this saw what for me was the stand out performance of the whole meeting. The race looked to be between two horses from the start, with Asterion Forlonge and Easywork leading the way. Both of them jumped well, other than Asterion Forlonge jumping slightly out to his right. Easywork took up a narrow lead 3 from home, but he was soon headed by Asterion Forlonge before 2 out and after that the race was over. He quickly made his lead over Easywork bigger, going on the score by 9 1/2 lengths. This was a really impressive performance, as a result he has shot up to 5/1 for the Supreme at Cheltenham. There’s just one problem, the owners also have Shiskin for Supreme, you’d assume they’d split them up with one going for the Ballymore, hopefully we will get some answers soon.

(Asterion Forlonge stretching clear of his rivals, Credit Emma O’Brien)

Just over an hour later it was the Flogas Novice Chase, there was joint favourites in Faugheen and Battleoverdoyen. Battleoverdoyen made much of the running jumping well out in front and holding a 2 length lead. He was joined by Faugheen 2 out who himself made a mistake, he quickly cut back Battleoverdoyen’s lead and went clear, where he was not fluent at the last. As Faugheen was clear and over the last, Battleoverdoyen’s race was ran with him coming down at the last fence with him then in 4th, leaving Easy Game to chase home Faugheen. He was closing on him with every stride by Faugheen managed to hold on to win by 1/2 a length. This result wasn’t about the form, it was about Faugheen being 12 years of age and now being a two time Grade 1 winner over fences, this is a result that epitomises national hunt racing. I must add i thought it was a nice performance from Easy Game in 2nd, if any of these could win a Marsh chase or RSA remains to be seen, but this race certainly wont be forgotten soon.

(Faugheen on his was to another Grade 1 Novice Chase win, Credit Emma O’Brien)

The final race i want to cover from the Dublin racing festival is the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup. Willie Mullins trained Kemboy was sent off the short priced favourite. He was just off the leader, he was jumping pretty poor compared with what he had done in the past, making several mistakes throughout the race. Between the last flight you had the 3 horses all there with a chance that you’d of wanted to see. Kemboy, Presenting Percy and Delta Work, Presenting Percy looked to be travelling the best, before he and Kemboy were headed at the last by Delta Work. Presenting Percy faded into 3rd whereas Kemboy kept on well and tried to battle back against Delta Work but it wasn’t enough, with Delta Work winning by 1 1/2 lengths. It was a solid performance from Delta Work, which ultimately once again proves how good last years RSA was. He is a worthy contender for the Gold Cup and you can only assume he will relish the extra 2 furlongs that will come with the test.

(Delta Work, Kemboy & Presenting Percy after the last fence, Credit Emma O’Brien)

Back in England we had the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown, the last 3 renewals of this race had been won by Buveur D’Air. With him being out due to injury Nicky Henderson had another short priced favourite in Call Me Lord. He and Quel Destin tracked the leader throughout the race, before Quel Destin took up the lead with 2 to jump. He was then ridden and jumped the last with a narrow lead, keeping on well up the hill to cause an upset and beat Call Me Lord by 3 lengths. It was a disappointing performance from Call Me Lord on a track and ground that he likes, but take nothing away from the winner who is a Grade 1 winner in his own right. The one that caught my eye and was running a massive race was the outsider of the field Benson. He was yet to be asked and came there with the others 2 from home before unseating his jockey, I’d say he’s worth sticking in a tracker to see when he next runs as there looks to be some potential there.

(Quel Destin leading the way up the hill, Credit Michael Harris)

There was a Grade 1 on the Sandown card, this being the Scilly Isles Novice chase, the star attraction was Willie Mullins trained Laurina, she was in turn sent off a 5/4 favourite. Unfortunately for her supporters she was never in the race, being held up out the back and not jumping well, she was eventually pulled up before the last fence. The race in the end went to Itchy Feet, giving Olly Murphy his first Grade 1 winner, he chased Midnight Shadow after 2 out, before heading him on the run in and staying on strongly. It was a really good performance form Itchy Feet, this saw him changed to 7/1 2nd favourite for the Marsh novices chase and there’s a few in there that you’d fancy him to beat.

(Laurina and eventual winner Itchy Feet, Credit Michael Harris)

Meanwhile at Musselburgh and in the Scottish County Hurdle, turning in with 3 hurdles to jump it looked like the winner was going to be the Paul Nicholls trained Miranda. She looked to be going easy when others were already beat, but she had no extra to offer and was headed approaching the last by eventual winner Sebastopol. He was ridden out and stayed on well to beat Ashington by 1/2 a length, who ran passed Miranda on the run in. If she could have another go at it, I’d say Byrony Frost would of waited longer on Miranda before taking up the lead.  

On Sunday there was the Scottish Supreme Novices Hurdle, there was two short priced horses here, Fred and the unbeaten Wild Max. Late market support saw Fred go off favourite and he justified this by winning, albeit by only a head, but he showed a determination to get himself to the front approaching the line. Wild Max was disappointing, but he lost the race himself by being far to keen and pulling hard, he will be of interest next time should he decide to settle.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post, join me next week where we will be looking back at Newbury’s Super Saturday meeting featuring the Game Spirit Chase and the Betfair Hurdle.

A special thanks to Emma and Michael for allowing me to use their photos throughout my blog, you can find more of their work here:
Emma: 

Twitter; @EmmaOBrien2204 

Michael: 
Twitter; @mjyharris