You can talk about the Dublin Racing Festival as a springboard to Cheltenham but it has to be so much more than that, particularly in this curious season.

Of course we hope a few horses, especially in the novice categories, emerge to mark themselves down as true strong contenders for Cheltenham but there is plenty to be won here and now and with eight Grade 1 races, two Grade 2 bumpers and five valuable handicaps on ground that might be the softest it will ever be (heavy rain forecast for this Thursday), the stakes are high for DRF mark two.

Here are five horses it could be worth keeping an eye on.

MIN

Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, 9/4, 1:25 Leopardstown Saturday

At the launch to Dublin Racing Festival, the general consensus was that if Footpad came back to his best, he’d be hard to beat in the newly upgraded Grade 1 Ladbrokes Chase. That exact analysis is the problem with this market. There are no ‘ifs’ in Min’s profile. In fact, the son of Walk In The Park is rated 2lbs higher than his stablemate.

He is a Grade 1 winner already this year, courtesy of his John Durkan Chase win and he also won this race last season, where he drew 12 lengths away from the reopposing Simply Ned. Nicky Richards's runner was too strong for Footpad at Christmas and last year's star novice has essentially been disappointing on both of his runs this term, not running close to his current rating of 165. Coming back to two miles will suit Min fine and it isn't crazy to suggest that even if Footpad came back to something close to the level he showed last season, he still wouldn't be good enought to beat his stablemate. Don't forget, Min traded long odds-on heading into the straight of last season's Champion Chase and it took a huge effort from old foe Altior to eventually take his measure.

The addition of Un De Sceaux would shake this market up but the vibes are that he will go for the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury instead. If he does, Min is the rightful favourite to win this race for the second year running.

MOON OVER GERMANY

Matheson Handicap Chase, 9/1, 2:35 Saturday

A mark of 135 may well underestimate Moon Over Germany, who could take his chance in the valuable two-mile-one-furlong handicap chase on Saturday. Moved to Henry de Bromhead’s yard from Eddie Harty for this season, he has performed with credit on each of his two runs over fences, the first when chasing home Getabird and Articulum (both franked form since) at Punchestown and the latest when six lengths away from stablemate Paloma Blue over this course and distance at Christmas. That form looks strong as well considering the winner looks to be heading for the novices' Grade 1 race on this same card and the runner-up Impact Factor ran very well to be second to Cilaos Emery at Gowran Park on Thursday. Also, Real Steel, who fell at the last when contesting the lead, won by 10 lengths at the weekend. The Philip Reynolds-owned gelding was a talented hurdler, he got up to mark of 140, but he has had bad luck with injuries. With a clear run, he could progress into a good horse and on this just his third start for Henry de Bromhead and over fences, he has lots of scope for improvement.

SINORIA

Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle, 8/1, 12:40 Sunday

Honeysuckle heads the market for the opening mares handicap hurdle on Sunday but she is unlikely to run, with connections suggesting it was next stop Cheltenham after the five-year-old’s win at Fairyhouse on Saturday. That provides much hope that Sinoria, who represents the exact same owner and trainer, will take her chance in this race and if she does, she’ll be a tough nut to crack off a mark of 128.

The Oscar mare really caught the eye when fourth on her track debut at Gowran Park. She hung and jumped left, and generally looked an awkward ride for Rachael Blackmore. It didn't stop her travelling into contention coming into the straight but again, she proved awkward, coming wide off the bend, jumping to her left and only really got going when she jumped the last. It wasn’t a huge surprise to see her go and win next time out, up in trip at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day, but the manner of her victory was hugely taking. She travelled all over a 19-runner field before picking up nicely to go clear and win by an eased down 13 lengths from Calicojack. It was the performance of a mare with the potential to win Grade 3 or Grade 2 races and that makes her really interesting now off a mark of 128. She could easily go off favourite if she takes her chance here on Sunday.

AL BOUM PHOTO

Unibet Irish Gold Cup, 11/2, 3:35 Sunday

With Kemboy likely to head straight to Cheltenham, Al Boum Photo is set to be Willie Mullins’s number one hope in the Irish Gold Cup and he can justify that sort of billing on Sunday. The seven-year-old was a real classy chaser last season, winning the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase at Fairyhouse where he gave weight away to impressive JLT Chase winner Shattered Love before going on to that infamous episode that was the Growise Novice Chase at Punchestown. For all that race finish was a mess, it is an important piece of form in the context this race as he proved himself over a three-mile trip. He fought his way to the front that day and looked to have the race sewn up before his jockey’s error. Bar that we’d be looking at a dual Grade 1 winning novice over two different trips.

He started off this season hugely encouragingly, giving weight away and a beating to Total Recall, Invitation Only and Alpha Des Obeaux, with the latter two seriously beefing up that form by finishing first and second in the Thyestes last week. That Tramore race was over two miles and five furlongs, but all the time Willie has said that staying is Al Boum Photo’s game, and this improving second-season chaser can show it at Leopardstown.

LANDOFHOPEANDGLORY

Abbey International Leopardstown Handicap Chase, 4:10 Sunday

Presuming connections had intended to run, Landofhopeandglory missed out on the Thyestes at the declaration stage with his rating of 130 not high enough. It could be tight for him again to get into the above race this weekend but if he does, he will be an interesting player.

He was last seen finishing fifth in the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick over Christmas and that was an eyecatching run. He made a mistake just as he was easing his way into the race and he was also slightly hampered by a faller in the straight, where he stayed on nicely when eventually asked for his effort. He would be racing over a furlong and a half further here and that extra stamina could be the key. Fourth in the Queen’s Vase when that race was run over two miles, he did his best work for Aidan O’Brien over long distances and it might be that an extra stamina test over fences brings about the required improvement. Off his current chase mark, he is still 12lbs below his hurdles assessment and so there could be a decent prize in him.