With British racing looking like being completed decimated this weekend due to the cold snap, here at 888sport we are going to divert our attentions instead towards the Emerald Isle.
So, without further ado, let's take a look at some of the feature races at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Irish Gold Cup (3rd February)
Three horses have won both this race and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same year, those being Jodami, Imperial Call, and Sizing John.
Whether any horse in this race can emulate those greats at Prestbury Park remains to be seen, but there will certainly be lots of betting horse racing interest in Leopardstown’s feature race this weekend.
Trends
Willie Mullins has won this contest on nine occasions, including three on the bounce from 2011-2013.
In more recent years, Jessica Harrington took this and then the Gold Cup with Sizing John and Joseph O’Brien came through and surprised everybody last year with Edwulf.
Main Contenders
Road To Respect, fourth in the last season’s Gold Cup, is the current favourite in the market.
He was an impressive winner of the JN.Wine Champion Chase on his seasonal reappearance before finishing third in the Christmas Chase where a string of unfortunate events checked his run in the closing stages of the race.
Monalee, second in the RSA, must have some sort of a chance.
Henry De Bromhead’s eight-year-old is an extremely sound jumper but has not always been the strongest stayer at this trip. A bit more mental fortitude is all he needs to figure in this.
Al Boum Photo was the winner of the Powers Gold Cup last season in a very successful novice season.
He was impressive on his return in the Savills Chase when beating the likes of Total Recall and the subsequent Thyestes Chase winner Invitation Only.
Kemboy is an extremely progressive seven-year-old and must be in with a shout of completing a Grade 1 double this weekend.
He has looked a different horse since falling in the Irish Grand National, with four straight wins, and Danny Mullins gets on with him well. His tactical speed should once again come to the fore in this race and he is a big player for the top honours.
Bellshill, a Punchestown Gold Cup winner, made a fine reappearance in the Christmas Chase, making up late ground after a solid round of jumping.
He should come on for that run, and a stronger pace here should suit his running style better.
Anibale Fly is a horse currently flying under the radar in the betting, which is strange really considering he was third in the Gold Cup – ahead of Road To Respect, and then fourth in the Grand National.
A course and distance winner, he will have to put his Hilly Way Chase performance behind him, but a return to form would give him a great shout.
He was beaten on his return over two miles last year before romping home with the Paddy Power Chase, so there is every chance he could put in a repeat performance in this.
The Willie Mullins-trained Total Recall, previously trained by Sandra Hughes, took two notable scalps last season, the Munster National at Limerick and Newbury’s Ladbrokes Trophy.
Those results earned him a crack at the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, where he was still travelling well on the heels of the leaders, when falling three from home.
He appears to be bubbling just under his best so far this season and with a small step forward he could easily make the grade once again.
Other Big Races At Dublin Racing Festival
Undoubtedly the Irish Gold Cup is the focal point of the weekend but there are plenty of other high quality races taking place over the course of Saturday and Sunday. Here are some horses to look out for:
Saturday (1.25pm) - Min
Willie Mullins took the inaugural running of the Grade 1 Dublin Chase at last year's Dublin Festival with Min and he can repeat the feat again this year.
Stablemate Footpad is vying for favouritism but has plenty to prove after finishing second to Simply Ned at Leopardstown last time out.
Saturday (2pm) - Kocknanuss
The Gary Moore-trained Knocknanuss found only the well-regarded French runner, Master Dino, too good for him at Plumpton last time and heads to Leopardstown with a really solid chance of picking up the spoils.
Le Richebourg is certainly going to be the horse to beat here but Moore’s British raider will certainly lead them all a merry dance from the get go and is worth taking on the favourite with.
Sunday (12:40pm) - Sassy Diva
Sassy Diva has not been out of the first three in two seasons and can be taken to run another good race at a decent each-way price in this race.
She runs off just 10st and is certainly one to watch for in this opening Mares Handicap Hurdle.
Sunday (3pm) - Delta Work
This will be Delta Work’s toughest task to date but he can maintain his unbeaten record, even with the likes of La Bague Au Roi and Winter Escape snapping at his heels.
Delta Work’s stamina will be vital in this race and it will be what gives him even stronger favouritism in the RSA betting at The Festival after the conclusion of this contest.
Sunday (4:10pm) - Cubomania
The Abbey International Leopardstown Handicap Chase can go the way of the Gordon Elliott-trained Cubomania who has been knocking on the door on his last couple of runs.
His half-length second in the Dan Moore is very good form and he is well worth an each-way punt here.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
