JUST nine British horses are among the 211 entries for the eight Grade 1 races to be run at the two-day Dublin Racing Festival in Leopardstown on February 2nd and 3rd.
All eight races have attracted strong entries, but there is limited prospects for cross-channel participation in what will be the second staging of the fixture in its new format.
The highlight of the opening afternoon is the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle which could feature a clash between ‘supermares’ Apple’s Jade and Laurina. Willie Mullins, trainer of Laurina, may also be represented with Sharjah, successful in the Grade 1 Ryanair Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Last year’s first and second, Supasundae and Faugheen – winner of the race in 2016 – could also take their chance.
The Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle has attracted 57 entries, an increase of 22 on last year. Battleoverdoyen heads the way after his Grade 1 success at Naas and his rivals could include the Pat Fahy-trained Dunvegan, Philip Dempsey’s Derrinross and the Henry de Bromhead’s Honeysuckle.
Course speciailst Simply Ned is a certain British runner in the two-mile Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, which will be run as a Grade 1 for the first time. Naas winner Saint Calvados (Harry Whittington) could also make the journey to Dublin, both raiders having already defeated Footpad this season.
Nicky Richards, trainer of Simply Ned, has entered Reivers Lad for the the Grade 1 Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase. The Joseph O’Brien-trained Le Richebourg looks the leading home-based runner for that two-mile affair.
SUNDAY CARD
Day two of the meeting is headed by the Unibet Irish Gold Cup which has attracted 24 entries.
Willie Mullins has won this race nine times and has five entries for this year’s renewal: Al Boum Photo, Bellshill, Kemboy, Killultagh Vic and Total Recall. Presenting Percy, Sizing John and Road To Respect are other notable entries. Also over fences, the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase has proved popular with trainers with an entry of 25 comparing favourably with last year’s initial take up of 18. La Bague Au Roi, unbeaten in three starts over fences, including the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices´ Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day, heads the way and is a likely runner for trainer Warren Greatrex.
Chris’s Dream and Paloma Blue could represent last year’s winning trainer Henry de Bromhead, while Delta Work and Hardline look to be among Gordon Elliott’s main hopes in this two-mile, five-furlong event.
The younger brigade get their chance to shine in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle which boasts an entry of 27, an increase of 17 on last year.
The Tom Mullins-trained Rocky Blue, winner of the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, could renew rivalry with Gordon Elliott’s Coeur Sublime in a race that could also feature a rematch between Joseph O’Brien’s Sir Erec and the Willie Mullins-trained Tiger Tap Tap, first and second in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown last month.
An entry of 25 was received for the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle last year but 32 horses are in line to take up the challenge this time. Battleoverdoyen is one of nine in Gordon Elliott’s squad, while Aramon, another Grade 1 winner, is one of nine entered by Willie Mullins.
Leopardstown CEO Pat Keogh said: “After only one year the Festival has established itself in the spring calendar and we are delighted to have eight Grade 1 races and an increased prize money purse of over €1.8 million.”
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