13:50
Leopardstown
Odds correct as of 9:39am 28th Jan
The Dublin Racing Festival takes place at Leopardstown this weekend and we have two days of top racing to look forward to. Will Willie Mullins dominate again, or could Gordon Elliott take charge? Everything is still to play for and we will get some helpful Cheltenham form pointers.
We’ve picked out four horses who might shorten for Cheltenham if they manage to win at Leopardstown, so backing them beforehand could be the play. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
This juvenile hurdler was a winner in France before joining Willie Mullins and he looked in need of the run when second on stable debut at Fairyhouse. He left that run well behind him when bolting up in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown over Christmas and an impressive win here would obliterate his current odds for the Triumph Hurdle in March.
An impressive winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season, Kopek Des Bordes looked very good when winning over fences at Navan in November. An injury setback led to him missing an engagement over Christmas but he’s back now and a big win would tighten his Arkle odds.
Joseph O’Brien’s exciting novice hurdler really could be anything and he looked booked for victory before falling at the last in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle last time out. If he can put that right here, the five-year-old will be at the top of many people’s lists for the Supreme.
The Champion Hurdle has taken another knock recently, after Sir Gino’s injury at Cheltenham last weekend, and Lossiemouth now looks like the most likely winner. Obviously the Mares’ Hurdle is also open to her but if confirming the form with Brighterdaysahead this weekend, there are fewer and fewer horses around who could stop her at Cheltenham.
If you back any of our selections you can watch them live on the free Racing Post app or racingpost.com. Simply log in to one of your bookmaker accounts and click ‘Watch live’ on the racecards.