HAITI Couleurs has been given the option of heading to Leopardstown to derail Galopin Des Champs’ quest for history in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, after the Welsh Grand National hero was one of three British-trained entries for the Grade 1 events at the Dublin Racing Festival.
All eyes will be on Willie Mullins’ home favourite as he bids to rack up a record fourth-straight success in the feature event on day one of the popular two-day meeting.
However, the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup champion will have a point to prove having surrendered his Savills Chase crown over the Christmas period, with Haiti Couleurs’ trainer Rebecca Curtis not afraid of crossing the Irish Sea for her stable star’s final appearance before the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Curtis, who made a successful raid on the Irish Grand National with her nine-year-old last year, said: “We just wanted to give him options, we were wondering what might actually run in Ireland and what the ground might be doing over here, because we’ve had this horrible period with the frost.
“It gives another option for three or four weeks’ time to get a prep run in before the Cheltenham Gold Cup, hopefully. He’s come out of Chepstow well and we’re really happy with him.
“Peter Roe [Head of Racing, HRI Racecourses], who used to manage Fairyhouse, rang me to say he thought it would be worth putting the entry in, why not? He sort of gave me the idea.
“We’ll see how the race ends up looking like and the owners absolute love going over to Ireland. It’s a race with great prize money and although we’re not making plans yet, it’s an option.”
Alongside Galopin Des Champs, Mullins is responsible for nine of the 20 entries, with last year’s second and third Grangeclare West and Fact To File both in the mix, the latter given the chance to return to his sublime Ryanair-winning exploits after faltering at Kempton Park over Christmas.
Gaelic Warrior is another leading player from Closutton having played his part in an all-time classic King George VI Chase over the Christmas period, with the mare Spindleberry in contention after making it five on the bounce at Doncaster recently.
Noel Meade’s Affordale Fury will attempt to back up his Savills Chase heroics, with Christmas runner-up I Am Maximus another Mullins contender engaged and Martin Brassil’s race regular Fastorslow also a notable name.
Toby Lawes’ Challow Hurdle runner-up Klimt Madrik could represent Britain in the opening Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle which has received 37 entries, while impressive course winner Narciso Has looks to set the standard among 16 in the Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle.
It is Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes that jumps off the page in the other Grade 1 on the card, the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase, with the exciting six-year-old poised for just his second start over the larger obstacles after a setback curtailed an outing over the festive period.
Potential rivals could include stablemate and fellow Cheltenham Festival winner Kargese who dazzled over the track and trip at Christmas and Eddie and Patrick Harty’s Racing Post Novice Chase runner-up Irish Panther.
The winner of that race, Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio, is engaged but seems likely to run over further on the Sunday instead.
New Leopardstown CEO Mark Clayton said: “Perhaps the most striking feature is how many rematches are on the cards from our Christmas Festival. Virtually all the Grade 1 races at the DRF have the narrative of scores to settle between the best horses. Combined with course-wide entertainment, the immersive JockeyCam VR experiences and live music before and after racing, it will be a super two days, both on and off the track.”
The weekend will carry over €2 million in prize money across 15 races. Last year, seven DRF participants went on to win Grade 1 races at the Cheltenham Festival. Only two horses - Kopek Des Bordes and Bambino Fever - succeeded at both fixtures.
DUBLIN RACING FESTIVAL ENTRIES >>67
THE Irish Field and the Tote will stage a live Dublin Racing Festival preview in the Sandyford House pub, three kilometres from Leopardstown, on Friday night, January 30th. Tickets (€20) are now on sale for the event. Attendees will receive a free €5 Tote bet and a free copy of The Irish Field, hot off the presses, which will include a €10 matched bet offer. Further details will be posted on theirishfield.ie next week..