Dublin Racing Festival Day One: Walk in the Park

The Irish Champion Hurdle – the feature race on day one of the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival – has been won by some of the true greats of the game over the years, including Hurricane Fly, who memorably recorded his fifth consecutive victory in the race in 2015. He was unbeaten in 10 starts at Leopardstown, overall, and retired as the winner of 22 Grade 1s, in his time a fantastic standard-setter for the sport in terms of ability, attitude and durability.

Faugheen picked up the baton from Hurricane Fly, and in some style, when winning this race by 15 lengths in 2016. He clearly lacks for nothing in ability – a peak Timeform rating of 176 compared to the 174 of his legendary stablemate – but it his durability that has come into question of late, the 10-year-old having been limited to just two starts since his tour de force here two years ago. He appeared to retain all of his old ability after 22 months off when winning the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November, but the wheels came off in the Ryanair Hurdle here last time.

It's two years to the day since Faugheen did this at @LeopardstownRC... pic.twitter.com/OEAGjgx37y

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) 24 January 2018

The alarm bells started to ring as soon as the fourth that day, where he was headed by stablemate Cilaos Emery, and Paul Townend quickly pulled him up after three out. The Morgiana shows that he's still capable of top-class form (backed up by a big timefigure), but his latest no-show was clearly a huge setback, and even more disconcerting is that connections have been unable to find a reason for it. Simply put, it is impossible to know which Faugheen is going to turn up.

Lightly-raced stablemate Melon looks the most likely beneficiary should Faugheen underperform once again. He shaped as if needing a stronger gallop when third to My Tent Or Yours in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, taking a strong hold and keeping on well, all things considered, to be beaten just two and a quarter lengths. That represented the best effort of his short career to date, and it would be no surprise if there were still more to come. Given the doubts about the favourite, he looks worth a bet at 11/4.

He certainly makes more appeal than the winner of the race in which Faugheen capitulated, Mick Jazz. That was ultimately a weak event, with only he and Cilaos Emery giving their running, and he has generally come up short at Graded level in the past.

Of the remainder, Defi du Seuil cannot be totally discounted if bouncing back from a disappointing return in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot. He is reported to have scoped dirty afterwards and deserves another chance to confirm the promise of his juvenile season, in which he was unbeaten in seven starts, including the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham (Bapaume third).

Supasundae, on the other hand, proved better than ever when second to Apple’s Jade in the Christmas Hurdle over three miles here last time, and is an interesting runner back down in trip. The speed he showed to forge clear between the final two flights of last season’s Coral Cup suggests he could outrun big odds.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins is often at pains to avoid his stable stars clashing on the racecourse, but Min and Yorkhill have been given the nod to do so in the Grade 2 Dublin Chase. Min arrives here having finished first past the post in a C&D Grade 1 over Christmas, only to lose his unbeaten chase record in the stewards' room (caused interference to the runner-up on the run-in). Even if the placings had not been reversed, a half-length defeat of Simply Ned would have been a disappointing result given Min's SP of 7/2-on, and he comes here with questions to answer as a result.

Simply Ned is awarded the Grade 1 Paddy's Rewards Club Chase after interference from Min in the run-in: pic.twitter.com/Bm75glLkBw

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) 27 December 2017

Yorkhill was also disappointing on his most recent outing here, though his below-par effort is much easier to excuse. He actually shaped well for a long way after nine months off but, running over three miles for the first time, weakened in the closing stages to finish well held. The drop back to two miles is expected to see him in a better light, and this mercurial talent remains with the potential to go to the very top over fences.

Rather like the Dublin Chase, the Arkle looks a race to enjoy without having a bet in it, with Footpad fully expected to maintain his unbeaten record over fences in what, nonetheless, should prove a fascinating clash with Petit Mouchoir.

Gigginstown House Stud, owners of the latter, are expected to enjoy more luck in the opening Grade 1 novice hurdle, though, with Dortmund Park appealing as one of the best bets on the card. He has improved with every run and step up in trip so far, including when winning by 16 lengths at Thurles last time, and is a horse that trainer Gordon Elliott thinks a lot of. He should have more to offer after just three starts over hurdles and makes more appeal than the Willie Mullins-trained Fabulous Saga, who needed all of the three miles to win a Grade 2 at Limerick last time and isn’t sure to be suited by the drop back in trip on that evidence.

A pair of handicaps, both worth over €44,000 to the winner, and the concluding Grade 2 bumper complete what promises to be a fantastic start to the Dublin Racing Festival. Brace Yourself is 2 lb clear of the field on weight-adjusted ratings for the latter event, and could be overpriced at 12/1 for the Noel Meade team, having looked a smart prospect when winning his Rules debut by 24 lengths at Down Royal.

Read our preview of day two of the Dublin Racing Festival