Andrew Asquith outlines the Timeform view on the opening day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday.
Recommended Saturday bets
Back The Moyglass Flyer in the 15:50 at Leopardstown
Back Chacun Pour Soi (13:35 Leopardstown) and Energumene (14:10 Leopardstown) in a win double
There are four Grade 1 races at Leopardstown on Saturday and, as is usually the case, Willie Mullins holds an incredibly strong hand, responsible for the favourite in each of the top-level contests bar the Irish Champion Hurdle.
The opening Golden Cygnet Novices’ Hurdle (13:05) has a more competitive feel to it than the betting suggests, but the market leader Gaillard du Mesnil tops Timeform weight-adjusted ratings. He built considerably on his hurdling debut when beating two subsequent winners over two and a half miles at this course in December, looking a novice hurdler of serious potential, and he should be suited by the extra two furlongs here. Gaillard du Mesnil faces a group of highly promising types in this Grade 1, though, and a case can be made for several. It therefore makes sense to sit and watch rather than get financially involved.
In the following race, Chacun Pour Soi, Timeform’s highest-rated chaser in training, looks a good thing in the Dublin Chase (13:35). He achieved his 176p rating when defeating Min by three and three quarter lengths in this race 12 months ago and has looked at least as good as ever this season, leaving the impression he could have even more to offer. He proved a cut above Notebook in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at this course last time and there is no reason why either Min or Notebook should get the better of him here. His stablemate Min is probably better over further nowadays and should find this race aiding his preparation for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, and Chacun Pour Soi looks a solid short-priced favourite.
At the prices, I would suggest backing Chacun Pour Soi in a double with the very exciting Energumene, who takes his chance in the Irish Arkle (14:10) 35 minutes later. Energumene has looked something out of the ordinary on both of his starts over fences, the visual impression he has created fully backed up by excellent timefigures. His latest win, when beating Captain Guinness by eight and a half lengths in a novice chase at Naas, marked him out as a serious contender to Shishkin in the Sporting Life Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.
The ease with which he asserted after the last under a hands-and-heels ride at Naas suggested he is something special, and he should be even shorter in the betting for this than 4/5. Stablemate Unexcepted, who won with any amount in hand on his chasing debut at Tipperary in October, looks the obvious danger, but it is a little concerning we haven’t seen him since and he faces a top-class prospect in Energumene.
The Irish Champion Hurdle (15:15) has a little more depth to it than last year, but Honeysuckle is again a short price to retain her crown. She ran to a level rarely seen by a mare when beating Benie des Dieux in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle last season, and extended her winning sequence under Rules to nine when winning a second Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse on her return in November. Honeysuckle has been kept fresh for this race since and clearly has a leading chance, though backing her at around 6/4 doesn’t make much appeal back at two miles.
A better bet comes in the 25-runner two-mile handicap hurdle (15:50) in the shape of The Moyglass Flyer. He has a classy pedigree and very much caught the eye on his return to action in December in a handicap he had won 12 months previously over this course and distance. The Moyglass Flyer failed to settle in the early stages of the race, and that early exuberance along with a lack of peak fitness hindered his prospects. That run should have put an edge on him and he appeals as being ahead of his mark.
