There are Grade 1 races galore at Leopardstown on Dublin Racing Festival day 1 this Saturday. In the 2m 1f Dublin Chase (13:25), Min looks overpriced to win this event for a third consecutive year.
One of three in this race for Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins, the nine-year-old has been cut by bookmakers from a best-price 6/1 in the ante post market.
Besides winning the only two previous runnings of the Dublin Chase, Min is a dual John Durkan scorer at Punchestown over three furlongs further.
This Walk In The Park gelding is owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci is versatile as regards ground after winning on going as varied as good and heavy.
Min has impressive career Leopardstown form figures of 1211. He has been first past the post on all four previous occasions, but once got demoted a place behind Simply Ned in the stewards’ room.
Although now facing some younger rivals, Min is a proven Grade 1 performer with five successes at the highest level. It’s more than his seven opponents have achieved.
With Robbie Power now taking the ride, Min is 3/1 with Betfred to complete a Dublin Chase hat-trick.
The dangers may lie within his own stable in Chacun Pour Soi and Cilaos Emery, with the latter trying elite company over fences for the first time.
There is also A Plus Tard to consider – a Grade 1 scorer over course and distance during the Christmas Festival.
Henry De Bromhead’s charge is only a six-year-old and came on for his return to action with Leopardstown success last time out.
A Plus Tard is 3/1 with Bethard to follow-up, but may have caught Chacun Pour Soi needing the run here in December. Min is the most reliable betting proposition in the Dublin Chase.
Notebook the Irish Arkle bet
A cracking renewal of the 2m 1f Grade 1 Irish Arkle for novice chasers follows later on Dublin Racing Festival day 1 (14:00), where a case can be made for five of the seven runners.
Mullins has four engaged, but Notebook looks the true two-miler in the field for De Bromhead.
The Gigginstown House Stud owned seven-year-old has quickly notched a hat-trick over fences and progressed with each outing.
Notebook made a taking chase bow when jumping well at Punchestown, before returning to that venue and landing the Grade 2 Florida Pearl by five comfortable lengths.
He then proved more slick at his fences than the re-opposing Fakir D’oudairies over course and distance.
As the front two pulled 16 lengths and further clear of the remainder, that Grade 1 form has a smart look to it.
There is no reason why Notebook shouldn’t confirm form with Fakir D’oudairies – a previous scorer at elite level over further.
Three Mullins mounts are also dangers. Bapaume made an impressive start to life over fences and is pitched straight back into Grade 1 company.
Cash Back has won two minor events with plenty in-hand, meanwhile, and Melon possesses a touch of class.
The latter may want further as a chaser despite twice finishing runner-up in the Champion Hurdle.
Melon was only behind Fakir D’oudairies on his bow over fences, but has come out and stayed on well to score on his second start in this sphere.
Notebook makes the strongest form case ahead of the Mullins mob in the Irish Akle, and odds of 15/8 with Unibet reflect that.
Fury Road fancied for four-timer on Dublin Racing Festival day 1
In the 2m 6f Grade 1 novice hurdle that opens Dublin Racing Festival day 1 (12:50), Fury Road is a proven stayer and looks value to extend his winning sequence.
Trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown, the six-year-old is three from three over hurdles. Fury Road is another who has progressed with each outing.
After bolting up by 18 lengths over this trip in a Down Royal maiden hurdle, he followed-up in the Monksfield at Navan.
What he beat that day is open to question, as Fury Road was sent off very long odds-on at 1/25. This son of Stowaway did nothing wrong in following-up, however.
He completed the hat-trick when stepped back up in trip for a Grade 2 contest at the Limerick Christmas Festival in December last time out.
Fury Road found plenty for pressure on the run-in to score by a cosy length.
The runner-up, Well Set Up, had won a Grade 3 on her previous start, while the fifth horse home Alpine Cobra came out and belied odds of 25/1 to place next time up.
This demands more, but Fury Road has stamina assured whereas others lining up against him at the Dublin Racing Festival have to prove that.
Odds of 3/1 with BetVictor look generous for him to land the four-timer under Davy Russell.
Paul Nolan’s Albert Bartlett hopeful Latest Exhibition and the Mullins trained, JP McManus owned Elixir D’ainay are dangers.
An interesting each-way alternative is one of the other Gigginstown runners, Cobbler’s Way.
He is course winner who previously stayed on in-behind subsequent Grade 2 winner Andy Dufresne at Navan.
An impressive Limerick bumper win and stamina laden pedigree suggest Cobbler’s Way is no forlorn hope at 12/1 with Coral here.
Eric Bloodaxe the bumper bet
In the Grade 2 bumper that closes proceedings (16:20), Eric Bloodaxe is one of two course and distance winners trained by Joseph O’Brien.
He is preferred to stable companion Risk Factor despite giving weight all-round. Eric Bloodaxe is another Gigginstown owned horse is unbeaten in both career National Hunt Flat races.
In the first of those at Fairyhouse, the five-year-old Saint Des Saints gelding beat Ferny Hollow by 2 1/2 lengths.
He then followed-up over course and distance last time out when keeping on well and asserting inside the final furlong.
Eric Bloodaxe again won by 2 1/2 lengths from the re-opposing Wide Receiver, and he is 1lb better off at the weights with that rival.
After those two victories, he is now prominent in the betting with bookmakers for the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
If Eric Bloodaxe is to justify his odds for that, he needs to be winning this at 13/8 with Betfair despite the penalty.
Mullins has Appreciate It against him, but that horse has won over further and the drop back in trip may not suit this Irish bumper winner.
That leaves Eric Bloodaxe’s stable companion Risk Factor as a bigger danger.
Owned by Michael Tabor, who is better known for having Flat thoroughbreds, the five-year-old Duke Of Marmalade gelding finished runner-up on his first two bumper outings.
Risk Factor duly showed the benefit of that experience when scoring by 6 1/2 lengths over course and distance.
He is 100/30 with Paddy Power to follow-up on Dublin Racing Festival day 1, but Eric Bloodaxe appeals most.
