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The Mandarin’s Dublin Racing Festival Racecard for Saturday 1st February 2025

The Mandarin’s Dublin Racing Festival Racecard & Saturday Selections

Leopardstown

Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.15
Supersundae
Willie Mullins can get his Dublin Racing Festival campaign off to a good start in the opener. He has dominated the markets this week, with the top four in the betting all Closutton inmates. It is interesting that Paul Townend takes the ride on Final Demand, who did win impressively at Limerick, but lacks some racing experience in comparison to Supersundae, Sounds Victorious, and last season’s Cheltenham Festival Bumper winner, Jasmin De Vaux. Supersundae is the one that appeals the most, and was 14 lengths ahead of Jasmin De Vaux when they chased home our nap, The Yellow Clay, in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle the last day. The step up in trip should suit, and Patrick Mullins is in the chair, so Supersundae to get Willie Mullins off to a super start.

Gannon’s City Recovery & Recycling Services Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 1.50
Saint Lucie
This Juvenile Grade One has gone to the Closutton yard for the last three years, and Saint Lucie can make that four. Bought up by Rich Ricci after finishing third in the Prix Wild Monarch at Auteuil in the spring of last year, she is by the same sire as her stablemate, Lossiemouth, and surprised even Willie Mullins on her first run on Irish soil at Punchestown, scoring by 11 lengths. There should be plenty of support for the yard’s second string, Lady Vega Allen, while Gavin Cromwell’s Hello Neighbour completes the shortlist. Saint Lucie to make it two up in the Grade One’s for Willie Mullins.

Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 2.25
Perceval Legallois
Gavin Cromwell’s Perceval Legallois won this in 2023, and although hasn’t been over timber since then, does arrive on the back of a decent win here at the Christmas meeting. That said, soft ground and giving 23lbs to Meetingofthewaters, who now races out of the Closutton yard is asking a question, but a fascinating duel in store. Mark Walsh and Perceval Legallois to prevail for the in-form Gavin Cromwell.

Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2.55
Majborough
Triumph Hurdle winner at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring, Majborough went straight over fences for this campaign, and didn’t disappoint when scoring at Fairyhouse at the first stab. Sure to be one of the best in the Novice Chasing division this season, it’s no surprise to see him such a short price for this Grade One, with stablemate Il Atlantique drifting in the betting despite being two from two over fences. Majborough even gets a 2lb weight for age allowance over Il Atlantique, and he’s very hard to oppose for a third straight Grade One win for Willie Mullins.

Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) 3.30
Galopin Des Champs (nap)
The fourth Grade One on Leopardstown’s card can go back to Closutton with Galopin Des Champs. Although we hold stablemate Fact To File in the highest regard, as the best novice chaser around last year, he’s in open company now, and has to line up on level terms against the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who is back on his favourite track. Beaten only once at Leopardstown, and that over hurdles, Galopin Des Champs had Fact To File over 7 lengths behind in the Savills Chase over course and distance the last day, and it’s hard to see how Mark Walsh can bridge that gap, despite getting upsides of the selection in the John Durkan over a sharper trip back in November. A great contest in store, but Galopin Des Champs can make it a hat-trick of wins here, before heading to Cheltenham to try for an historic three consecutive Gold Cups at Prestbury Park.

Ryanair Handicap Chase (Listed) 4.05
My Mate Mozzie
It could pay to side with top-weight My Mate Mozzie now sent into handicap company over fences. He should be capable of winning at this level over fences, and remains unexposed after just the four starts, while all the money has been going down on his stablemate Midnight It Is this week. With Gavin Cromwell’s yard in good nick, and not looking the strongest race for the grade, we’ll side with My Mate Mozzie and Keith Donoghue to take this Listed Prize.

Paddy Power Play Card (Colts & Geldings) (I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) 4.35
Sortudo
Although Green Splendour was a course and distance winner here on St Stephen’s Day, it’s stablemate Sortudo that gets our vote. Although a three-quarter length runner-up here at the Christmas meeting, he was only headed in the final strides and remains with plenty of potential having led for most of that bumper. No issues with this ground, and Jody Townend gets the leg-up this time to renew the acquaintance after their win at Tramore in November. Gordon Elliott has a couple of useful types in Classical Greek and He Can’t Dance, but Sortudo is taken to regain the winning thread.

Sandown Park

Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2.35
Handstands
With no Impaire Et Passe making the trip over for this Grade One, all the money’s gone down on Nicky Henderson’s Jingo Baie for the Scilly Isles. However, we’re going to go against him for Ben Pauling’s Handstands, who was a mighty impressive winner here in December, and after doubling up at Ffos Las the last day can make it a hat-trick back on this deeper ground. Handstands has some previous over the jolly too, beating him a length and a half in the Sidney Banks a year ago, and can serve it up to the hot favourite once again. Kalif Du Berlais is one going the right way for Paul Nicholls, so is sure keep them honest in this field of four, but Ben Pauling will be doing cartwheels when Handstands lands this Grade One.

Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 3.07
Henri The Second (nb)
Paul Nicholls should be confident that Henri The Second can take this Premier Handicap, after his fine victory over course and distance the last day. The multiple Champion Trainer has surely aimed his Saddler Maker gelding at this lucrative prize, and with plenty of rain about this week conditions look just the ticket for Henri The Second. Olly Murphy has his string in fine form, so What A Johnny looks the best of the rest, but Henri The Second can land this.

The Mandarin

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