All eyes are on this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, as Willie Mullins shows some of his hand for the Cheltenham Festival.
Mares Novices Hurdle
Now we’ve had Cheltenham Trials Day, it’s time for the Irish rendition as this week culminates in the Dublin Racing Festival, Leopardstown’s own two-day dress rehearsal for Cheltenham.
However, regardless of its Festival implications, it’s a weekend that stands out on its own with eight Grade 1’s taking place over the two days. Saturday will see Arkle favourite Marine Nationale and Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs before Sunday welcomes El Fabiolo, State Man and Ballyburn as Willie Mullins looks to lay down the gauntlet.
Away from Leopardstown, Sandown also hosts the Grade 1 Scilly Isles chase on Saturday alongside Musselburgh hosting the Edinburgh National and the Scottish County Hurdle in an action packed day.
What did we learn from Cheltenham Trials Day?
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Trials Day was in the first race, where Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino ran away from Royal Ascot winner Burdett Road and simultaneously ran away from everyone else in the market for the Triumph Hurdle market, establishing himself as the 6/4 favourite.
Ginny’s Destiny landed the Timeform handicap chase and will bid to emulate stable mate Stage Star in the Turners Novices’ Chase, a race in which he is now 2nd favourite behind Gaelic Warrior at a best price 9/1.
Capodanno identified himself as a Gold Cup outsider in the Cotswold Chase but it was in the Ryanair Chase market where he shortened up the most, down to a best priced 14/1.
Jonbon’s defeat saw him pushed out to 9/2 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with El Fabiolo shortening up to 4/7 whilst Lossiemouth was mightily impressive in the International Hurdle, a victory which made her an odds on shot to follow up in the Mares’.
Finally, Grand National winner Noble Yeats won the Cleeve Hurdle and was trimmed to a best priced 12/1 for the Stayers’ Hurdle - a possibility that was outlined in last week’s Trials Day preview where he was available at 33/1 for the race in March.
Away from Cheltenham, Supreme favourite Jeriko Du Reponet drifted out to a best priced 9/1 (Bet MGM) for the Supreme after his laboured victory in the Grade 2 Rossington.
Which Cheltenham Festival entries will we get this week?
There are no entries to look forward to this week with the remaining entries schedules as so:
- 13th February – Mares’ Novice Hurdle & Mares’ Chase
- 20th February – Handicap Races
- 27th February – Cross Country, Champion Bumper & Hunters’ Chase
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Tips
Although the majority of the action took place on Saturday, it was a horse running on Sunday that features in this week’s Festival tips; DYSART ENOS. Fergal O’Brien’s mare is a best priced 4/1 with Betfair for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle and is included in our ante post portfolio.
Last year she was a formidable bumper performer, winning twice before successful in Aintree’s Grade 2 Nickel Coin. She won by an impressive nine lengths that day, and the form is starting to be advertised.
Indeed, 2nd placed Golden Ace reappeared this month and beat the 131 rated and Grade 2 placed, Insurrection, by over seven lengths. Williamstowndancer was 3rd that day, beaten 10 ½ lengths, and has since won three times, including a Grade 3 at Tipperary to achieve a rating of 135.
Dysart Enos has been impressive herself, with two odds on wins bookending a mightily impressive win at Cheltenham in December. In 2nd that day was 132 rated Beat the Bat, a horse who holds Festival entries himself. Yet it wasn’t just the form that impressed.
That day, as Race IQ reports, she clocked an entry speed of 34.12 mph into the final flight. This was the 3rd fastest entry speed of the whole meeting and was the fastest of everyone into the last. This ability to jump at speed is critical in a Championship race.
Although Sunday’s victory at 1/9 told us little about her ability, it allowed connections to get another run into her away from Class 1 level. This means she will avoid carrying the 5lb penalty awarded to those who win at the top class in March.
This is the fifth of 10 Road to Cheltenham round-ups running each Monday from 1st January until 4th March, featuring ante-post tips every week!
See below for Jamie’s ante-post tips so far in the series, as well as Architect Tips’ ante-post previews for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Stayers’ Hurdle, Arkle Chase and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
This Week’s Cheltenham Ante-Post Tips
- Dysart Enos @ 4/1 (1pt Win) for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle
