Two bets for our Irish expert on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
Irish racing tips: Sunday February 2
0.5pt e.w Riaan in 2.45 Leopardstown at 20/1 (Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, Bet 365 - 1/5 1,2,3,4.5)
1pt win Carrigmoornaspruce in 4.25 Leopardstown at 7/1 (Bet365 & William Hill)
The Dublin Racing Festival started in fine style yesterday, Willie Mullins with three winners, Galopin Des Champs confirming his greatness for the umpteenth time and both Majborough and Final Demand marking themselves down as strong contenders for Cheltenham Grade 1 novice events. Meanwhile, Gavin Cromwell continued his rise to the top table of Irish trainers with a double and Paul Nolan and Noel Meade added winners too.
Today’s Grade 1s are again leaving me cold for a selection with the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at 1.10 as close as I came with Impaire Et Passe. It is not so much that I am negative on Ballyburn as positive on Impaire Et Passe who may just be the better horse.
Bet £10 get £50 in free racing bets (Sky Bet)
Even when going through his difficult second season over hurdles, he was finishing runner-up to Teahupoo and State Man under their ideal conditions, his only real disappointment coming when third in the Irish Champion Hurdle at this meeting, unsuited by making the running that day. He has taken well to fences this season and with a number of front-runners in the field should be able to take a lead for most of the race.
The Coolmore N.H. Sires Luxembourg Irish EBF Mares Bumper at 4.25 is one of the most interesting races of the meeting, chalk and cheese with the ordinary running of the bumper for geldings yesterday afternoon, a much classier race. Amen Kate beat CARRIGMOORNASPRUCE seven-and-half lengths on debut but the Declan Queally mare has impressed mightily the last twice, coming from rear off steady paces.
Her last victory came over course and distance at Christmas where she travelled well in last and not only had to come from a bad position but was caught behind weakening rival on turn which cost a couple of lengths, doing well to win and having more in hand than the margin.
That came against geldings, allowing they are an ordinary crop, and the runner-up gave the form a little boost yesterday when filling the same position in the Grade 2 that closed the card while it was interesting to read her trainer say to IrishRacing.com during that week that ‘she was probably only 80 per cent ready going there [Christmas]’ so there could be more to come.
Of the rest, Shesakindofmagic looks a little overpriced, too. She ran well enough on her first start after an absence at Punchestown in November but improved for that to win at Limerick over Christmas with a bit in hand, Aine O’Connor only needing to push her out late, and I am not sure her position around the inner was any advantage either. The form has worked out with the second and fourth winning since.
The handicaps are typically strong, not least the O'Driscolls Irish Whiskey Leopardstown Handicap Chase at 2.45. I was leaning towards Hgranca De Thaix all week and the drop back in trip looks a plus for him, his form over this distance from spring looking strong now, but the ground might be a little quick for him, the going on the chase course faster than that on the hurdle track.
That should suit last year’s runner-up, RIAAN. He would have been third in the race but for the last fence fall of Perceval Legallois but that one is now 18lbs higher over fences while the winner Heart Wood is up 23lbs whereas the selection is 4lbs lower and he looked like backing up that effort in the Festival Plate when travelling well only to hit the fourth last hard and lose all chance.
He ran poorly on his two starts since at the end of last year but the first was over a trip too far and the second came a bit soon while he has had a break and the cheekpieces have been applied here. Perhaps the Festival Plate is again the aim, but Gordon Elliott has won more handicaps at this meeting than anyone (seven, next best had four, Willie Mullins and Charles Byrnes) since it began in 2018.
The two other handicaps are tough. My shortlist for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle at 12.40 comprised Savante, Thisistheway and Arch Enemy while the Timeless Sash Windows Handicap Hurdle (3.50) looks far and away the best race of its type run in Ireland this season.
The unexposed trio of Mclaurey, Brave Troop and James’s Gate all look on reasonable marks though Brave Troop might prefer better ground and James’s Gate is running back a bit quick and needs this run to qualify for a Cheltenham handicap.
My preference would be for Ol Man Dingle and Stormbreaker, both of which are dropping back in trip but shape as if a well-run two miles would suit, but this is very competitive and even horses like last year’s winner Lord Erskine are not without a chance.
Published at 0810 GMT on 02/02/2025
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
