THE quality on show at the Dublin Racing Festival was quite astonishing.
Reputations were both dented and enhanced but one thing is certain, Irish trainers will be heading to next month’s Cheltenham Festival with one of their strongest squads of horses.
Here’s five under the radar horses in action at Leopardstown who I think will make their mark at jump racing’s greatest meeting.
Gentlemansgame
The opening race of the Dublin Racing Festival was notable for several reasons. Firstly, the impressive performance of Gaillard Du Mesnil was obvious and it was no surprise to see him jump to the top of the betting for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
Secondly, it was a very good race. Surely, the best novices’ hurdle run on either side of the Irish Sea this season by some way.
Thirdly, this prize has a decent history of throwing up horses that run well at Cheltenham. It especially has a habit of producing hurdlers that do well in the Albert Bartlett and several horses placed in this 2m6f Leopardstown contest have excelled at the Festival.
Only back in 2015, Outlander was successful in this Grade 1 from Martello Tower, Killutagh Vic and Windsor Park.
The following month, Windsor Park won the Ballymore, Martello Tower took the Albert Bartlett and Killultagh Vic was successful in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
It’s clear that this year’s race was well up to scratch and that makes runner-up Gentlemansgame most interesting.
He saw out the 2m6f distance in the manner of a horse sure to thrive over the stiffer test of the Albert Bartlett. In fact, he looked like he would gallop all day and that’s just what you need for that Festival contest.
Not many people have trained Cheltenham Festival winners in the ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s and ‘10s and Mouse Morris certainly looks to have a horse capable of making it a fifth decade of success at jumps racing’s greatest meeting.
Update – The trainer said on Tuesday 9th Feb 2021 that this horse isn't certain to travel this year.
⬛Gaillard Du Mesnil takes the opener of the #DublinRacingFestival ⬛
The Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors '50k Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff' Novice Hurdle goes to @WillieMullinsNH and @PTownend pic.twitter.com/6dXRPieb5I
— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) February 6, 2021
Fakiera
Just a couple of lengths further back in that novices’ hurdle race won by Gaillard Du Mesnil was Fakiera.
He came into the Grade 1 contest having already run six times over hurdles, with three of those coming when runner-up in all his races last season.
That experience was put to good use this term when he kicked off with wins at Fairyhouse and Navan before finishing second in a Grade 2 back at Navan just before Christmas.
That’s the background and his performance at the weekend makes him very interesting for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Fakiera was ridden with more patience upped to 2m6f for the first time and that can’t have helped considering the three horses that finished in front of him raced much closer to the pace.
His trainer Gordon Elliott has won the Martin Pipe – a race named after his old boss – twice in the last four years. He’s also had two horses placed since his winners in 2017 and 2018 and Column Of Fire was throwing down a strong challenge when falling at the last hurdle last year.
Both of his winners – Champagne Classic and Blow By Blow – were novices making their handicap debuts so Fakiera fits the profile.
It’s also interesting that Killultagh Vic was third in the Leopardstown contest before landing the ‘boys’ race’ at the Festival.
There’s a chance the handicapper will rate him above the upper limit allowed in the Martin Pipe, run over 2m4f, but he should be fine.
If he does get in he will surely be among the favourites so it’s worth backing him now safe in the knowledge that if he is entered for the race and the handicapper does make him ineligible for the race by rating him too high, then you would have your bet voided.
Fakiera to win the Martin Pipe – 20/1
Abacadabras
Honeysuckle was very good when winning the Irish Champion Hurdle for the second successive year.
Now she looks sure to head for hurdling’s biggest prize at Cheltenham rather than the softer option of the mares race she deserves her place as favourite among a rather uninspiring bunch of two-milers.
The mares’ allowance she gets from the boys is a big help and she put it to good use at Leopardstown when she was in the right place throughout to put the race to bed with the minimum of fuss.
Abacadabras was left trailing in second but that was still a step in the right direction having finished a well-beaten fifth behind Sharjah and Saint Roi over Christmas when clearly not right.
Gordon Elliott’s hope will have ten lengths to find with Honeysuckle when they meet in next month’s Champion Hurdle. While that’s unlikely it’s not impossible and, given the lack of depth in the British hurdlers, Abacadabras looks a sound each-way bet.
The best Cheltenham trials are always run exactly 12 months previous and Abacadabras overcame a troubled run to push Shishkin all the way in last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
He is likely to come to life again when he gets a big field and a decent pace in the Champion. It’s worth remembering that Melon was only fifth behind Supasundae, Faugheen and Mick Jazz in the 2018 Irish Champion Hurdle.
A month later he reversed the form with both Faugheen and Mick Jazz when narrowly beaten by Buveur D’Air in the Champion Hurdle.
Abacadabras could easily be one of those horse that brings his A-game to Cheltenham and that would make him a big each-way player for the big ‘un next month.
Abracadabras to win the Unibet Champion Hurdle – 12/1
Melon
For newspaper headline writers, there are few better horses than Melon.
Disregarding the obvious lines about him looking a juicy bet, his ante-post Cheltenham odds are ripe for the picking.
Some might think he’s gone a bit soft after his disappointing last-of-five finish in the Irish Gold Cup behind stablemate Kemboy.
The nature of Sunday’s race was never going to suit him. Melon thrives when going a pace and, although he stays 3m, his optimum distance is around 2m4f when ridden prominently.
Tootling along behind all-the-way winner Kemboy put Melon right up against it so I’m putting a thick black line through the form where Willie Mullins’ chaser is concerned.
When he turns up at the Cheltenham Festival there are plenty of reasons to expect a much better showing.
Incredibly, Melon has finished runner-up at the last four Festivals. It all started back in 2017 when he was chased home Labaik in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and then he was second in the next two Champion Hurdles.
Last year he came as close as he possibly could do snatching that elusive first Cheltenham success when beaten a nose by Samcro in the Marsh Novices’ Chase over 2m4f.
The Ryanair Chase over the same course and distance looks the next logical step and I’m expecting the cheekpieces he’s worn at the last two Festivals to be back on.
It doesn’t look the strongest of contests so, given a prominent ride like he was last year, he has to have a cracking chance at decent odds.
Melon to win the Ryanair Chase – 10/1
Tiger Tap Tap
He might be a long way down the pecking order at Willie Mullins all-powerful stables but Tiger Tap Tap could easily pay his way if sent over for the Cheltenham Festival.
He travelled to the Cotswolds last March for the County Hurdle when his performance was distinctly forgettable in finishing 19th. If he lines up in the same race this time he has the potential to do an awful lot better.
On Saturday, he put in an eye-catching effort in the 2m handicap hurdle. Having been held up in the second half of the field he made smooth headway turning for home before his effort petered out in the closing stages.
The testing ground took its toll and he looked pretty tired approaching the final hurdle but there was definite promise in his performance.
Mullins has had five of the last 11 winners of the County Hurdle and, while last year’s scorer Sant Roi was the 11-2 favourite, the others went in at 25-1, 20-1, 20-1 and 10-1.
The Irish champion trainer has also had numerous horses placed at decent odds and he’s likely to be mob-handed in this year’s race.
He threw similar numbers at Saturday’s race with half a dozen lining up for him and Tiger Tap Tap was first of the bunch home in seventh.
These big-field handicaps suit him well as he likes to come from off a strong pace. He generally travels well through his races and has one sharp finishing burst.
If he were to be granted better ground at Cheltenham he would have a great shout of at least finishing in the money.
Tiger Tap Tap to win the County Hurdle – 33/1
