Irish Preview: Dublin Racing Festival Day 1

The 2019 Dublin Racing Festival starts at Leopardstown on Saturday with no less than four Grade 1 races, including a most interesting renewal of the Irish Champion Hurdle, where Apple’s Jade is set to have her first start over two miles since finishing runner-up to Irving in the 2016 renewal of the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle.

However, one of the main surprises when the declarations were made on Friday morning was the defection of Battleoverdoyen in the opening Grade 1 Novices’ Hurdle. His absence has really put a cat amongst the pigeons and leaves a very open renewal. The Pat Fahy-trained Dunvegan looks one of the leading players now, having got off the mark over hurdles in impressive fashion at Fairyhouse in December, matching his useful bumper form on just his second start in this sphere. That race is working out well, too, with both the second and third winning their next starts, and Dunvegan should have no problem staying the extra two furlongs here.

Last year’s Champion Bumper winner at Cheltenham, Relegate, also makes some appeal. She failed to land the odds on her hurdling debut but proved much better for that experience when winning a maiden over two miles at Naas last time, doing it well despite seeming unsuited by the drop back in trip. Her jumping needs to become more polished if she is going to be a contender at this level, but she is another who should have no problem with the trip. Defi Bleu and Salsaretta are a couple of others to consider, particularly the latter who has looked a much improved performer this season, winning both of her starts. The form of her latest win at Limerick looks strong and she remains unexposed.

A winner at the @punchestownrace festival earlier this year, Dunvegan gets off the mark over hurdles in fine style at @Fairyhouse... some final flight exits in behind, but all up safely 👍 pic.twitter.com/gaAiWWqqXT

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 15, 2018

Melon's time to shine

The Irish Champion Hurdle looks a belting renewal, featuring the last two winners of the race, Petit Mouchoir and Supasundae, as well as last year’s Champion Hurdle second Melon and the high-class mare Apple’s Jade. It is the last-named who adds the most intrigue, given that she has looked better than ever winning all three of her starts this season over longer trips, her latest victory in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown coming over three miles. However, Gordon Elliott has been very forthright in his plans that this race would be her next target, and it will be fascinating to see how she gets on up against a top two-miler in the shape of Melon.

He was disappointing in this race 12 months ago, but he had excuses that day, a first-time hood seemingly having an adverse effect, and he showed his true colours when only narrowly beaten by Buveur d’Air at the Cheltenham Festival. Melon was a little disappointing when only fourth to stablemate Sharjah (Supasundae second) in the Ryanair Hurdle over C&D on his return in December, but he looked rusty and will almost certainly sharpen up for that. The yard is in much better form now, too, after not firing on all cylinders over the Christmas period, and, with Apple’s Jade short enough in the betting given there are question marks about the trip, Melon looks a good bet to kick-start his season here. Supasundae ought to run his race once again, but would likely prefer more testing conditions over this trip.

Can Min do it again?

The newly promoted Dublin Chase – the inaugural running was run as a Grade 2 12 months ago – is missing the presence of Footpad, and is likely to be fought out by last year’s one-two Min and Simply Ned as a result. Simply Ned proved age is nothing but a number when winning the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown for the second year running last time, beating Footpad by half a length. He has never been out of the first three in six starts over C&D, winning two of them, and he looks sure to give it his all again, but just as last year, he could find the younger and more boisterous Min too strong.

Min gained revenge on Simply Ned in this race last season having been rightly demoted to second in the stewards’ room the time before, and he looked well when making a winning reappearance over two and a half miles in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase last time. For all he clearly stays that longer trip, he is equally effective at two miles, especially over this C&D – he has finished first past the post on all four starts – and is strongly fancied to make it back-to-back wins in this race. Saint Calvados would be in with a squeak if coming back to his Poplar Square Chase form, but he was found out at this level in the Tingle Creek won by Altior last time.

The Irish Arkle has produced two of the last three winners of the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, both of whom – Douvan and Footpad – were trained by Willie Mullins. The Irish Champion Trainer seemingly has no star amongst his two-mile novice chasers this season, though, Voix du Reve his sole representative here, and he had his limitations exposed when only third to Le Richebourg in the Racing Post Novices' Chase over C&D last time. It looks an average division on the whole, particularly as we have been spoilt with some top-notchers in recent years, and Le Richebourg looks one of the best seen in both Britain and Ireland this season. His only defeat came when beaten by a stronger stayer in the Drinmore over two and a half miles, and he looked well suited by two miles last time, his jumping a standout. Le Richebourg looks very much the one to beat on both form and potential, and he will hopefully announce himself a serious Arkle contender for the Festival next month.

It’s interesting that Gary Moore sends Knocknanuss over for this and he looks the main danger, beaten only by the prolific Master Dino in a novice over two and a half miles at Plumpton last time. He was very impressive over this trip in a handicap at Newbury the time before and looks a solid yardstick. Paloma Blue, who finished fourth in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, also needs mentioning. He built on the promise of his chasing debut when winning a maiden over C&D last time, though the race was very much in the balance when Real Steel came down at the last. However, there’s room for improvement in his jumping and he’s entitled to do better still.

Recommendations:

Back Dunvegan in the Lacy Novices’ Hurdle

Back Melon in the Irish Champion Hurdle

Back Le Richebourg in the Irish Arkle